Upon the field of battle, where, even at this day, the plough could not trace a furrow without turning up bones whitened by time, and fragments of arms corroded by rust, is situated the large and elegant mansion of Mr. Wallace, by whom we, as well as our companions, were received with the most touching and amiable hospitality. We there found already assembled a numerous deputation sent by the city of Pittsburg, to meet the general, and the next morning at daylight, detachments of volunteer cavalry arrived to serve as an escort on our route to that city.
The road which led from Braddock’s field to Pittsburg, although many miles long, was soon covered by a considerable crowd, in the midst of which the cavalcade advanced slowly towards the city. On the road we visited the United States arsenal, which was about half way. The discharge of twenty-four guns announced the entrance of General Lafayette into that establishment, when Major Churchill, and the officers under his command, invited him to breakfast. After having examined the armoury and workshops, in which we remarked great regularity, order, and activity, we continued our route towards Pittsburg, where the general was received, on his entrance into the city, by the magistrates, at the head of the people, and the militia in order of battle.
I have had to describe so many triumphal entries into great and rich cities, whilst narrating General Lafayette’s incomparable journey through the twenty-four states of the American Union, that, to avoid repetition, I am obliged to pass over in silence a great number of receptions whose principal features were alike. It is for this reason I omit the account of his reception at the national hotel at Pittsburg; although that city yielded to no other in the United States in the splendour of her festivals, and in the expression of her sentiments of patriotic gratitude. But I have yet before me so long a route to survey, and so many things to relate, that I am forced to imitate Lafayette, who was obliged to shorten the delicious moments that friendship had every where prepared for him on his journey, that he might be present at the celebration at Bunker’s Hill. I will not, however, quit Pittsburg without paying my tribute of admiration to the eloquence of Mr. Shaler, who addressed the general in the name of the citizens, and that of Mr. Gazzam, charged with the presentation of the children of the public schools. These two orators, so remarkable for elevation of thought, and elegance of expression, obtained the approbation of their auditors, and excited in the heart of him whom they addressed the most profound sentiments of gratitude.
Among the persons or corporations officially presented to General Lafayette, was a group of old men, who, by their enthusiasm in speaking of old times, were easily recognized for soldiers of 1776. One of them addressing his old general, asked him if he still remembered the young soldier who first offered to carry him on a litter, when he was wounded at the battle of Brandywine? Lafayette, after having attentively surveyed him, threw himself into his arms, crying, “No, I have not forgotten Wilson, and it is a great happiness to be permitted to embrace him to-day!” Wilson himself, who asked the question, was much affected, and the incident penetrated the spectators in the most touching manner.
General Lafayette recognized one of his old companions in arms during the revolution, in the person of the Reverend Joseph Patterson, who came to visit him with the ministers of different denominations in the city and neighbouring counties. Joseph Patterson, although a clergyman, had shouldered his musket, and fought for the independence of his country through two terrible campaigns of the revolution, and had assisted at the battle of Germantown.
After having devoted the day of his arrival at Pittsburg to public ceremonies, the general wished to employ a part of the next day in visiting some of the ingenious establishments which constitute the glory and prosperity of that manufacturing city, which, for the variety and excellence of its products, deserves to be compared to our Saint-Etienne, or to Manchester in England. He was struck by the excellence and perfection of the processes employed in the various workshops which he examined; but that which interested him above all was the manufacture of glass, some patterns of which were presented to him, that, for their clearness and transparency, might have been admired even by the side of the glass of Baccarat.
Pittsburg is situated on the point where the rivers Alleghany and Monongahela mingle their waters, forming the majestic river Ohio, which, flowing towards the western and southern states, and even to the Atlantic, afford an easy outlet for the products of its industry. These, with the population, increase each year with wonderful rapidity. Pittsburg now contains eight thousand inhabitants, and a great many workmen, strangers, who are drawn hither by the prosperity of the manufactories, coming every year to communicate to them secret processes and improvements, brought to light by the activity of the European manufacturers.
CHAPTER XII.
Route from Pittsburg to Erie—Commodore Perry’s Victory—Night Scene at Fredonia—The Indian Chief at Buffalo—Falls of Niagara—Visit to Fort Niagara—Appearance of Lockport—Passage from Lockport to Rochester—Aqueduct over the Genessee River—Route by land from Rochester to Syracuse—Passage from Syracuse to Schenectady, Rome, and Utica—Grand Canal.
On leaving Pittsburg, the general was obliged to part from his old friends of the state of Ohio, represented by Governor Morrow, who had accompanied him with his staff. Conducted by a committee of the city of Pittsburg, and escorted by a company of militia, we took the route by way of Franklin, Meadville, Waterford, and Erie, to gain the shores of the great lake which bears this name. All this western portion of Pennsylvania, watered by French Creek, is remarkable for the beauty and variety of its scenery. In each of the villages through which we passed, the general was detained several hours in receiving the honours which had been prepared for him by the citizens and public officers.