Journal of my journey over the mountains / while surveying for Lord Thomas Fairfax, baron of Cameron, in the northern neck of Virginia, beyond the Blue Ridge, in 1747-8.

by George Washington

Sunday 10^th We took our farewell of y^e Branch & travell'd over Hills and Mountains to 1 Coddys on Great Cacapehon about 40 Miles

Monday 11^th We travell'd from Coddys down to Frederick Town where we Reached about 12 oClock we dined in Town and then went to Cap^t Hites & Lodged

Tuesday 12^th We set of from Capt. Hites in order to go over W^ms Gap[41] about 20 Miles and after Riding about 20 Miles we had 20 to go for we had lost ourselves & got up as High as Ashbys Bent[42] we did get over W^ms Gap that Night and as low as W^m Wests in Fairfax[43] County 18 Miles from y^e Top of y^e Ridge This day see a Rattled Snake y^e first we had seen in all our Journey

[41] Williams' Gap, in the Blue Ridge, is on a line nearly due east from Winchester. It derived its name from a Mr. Williams, who kept a ferry over the Shenandoah river on one of the roads from Winchester into Loudoun and Fairfax counties. This name still attaches to the gap and appears on the early maps of Virginia. It is a notable fact that all or most of the important gaps through mountain passes in the United States were well worn buffalo paths and Indian trails when first visited by white men.

[42] Ashby's Bent is supposed to have reference to the great bend and extensive bottom lands of the Shenandoah, just above which was located Captain Ashby's ferry across that river. Washington uses this term in 1770 to describe a large tract of bottom land on the Ohio which he acquired.

[43] Fairfax county, in which Mount Vernon is located, was created out of Prince William county by the Assembly of Virginia in 1742.

Wednesday y^e 13^th of April 1748

M^r Fairfax got safe home and I myself safe to my Brothers[44] which concludes my Journal[45]