The Diary of Zadock Cook by Leanna McKay

Author:Leanna McKay [McKay, Leanna]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: McKay Publishers
Published: 2012-03-18T16:00:00+00:00

As we were laying the fireplace stones in, I had a plaque made and inserted in the outer stone wall that recorded David’s contributions to our home. He is such a fine stonemason, and says he is getting too old to do much more. He seemed to think this will be his last major project. It was quite an undertaking, with hearths both upstairs and downstairs at each end. I know that since June, he has done more repair work and has refused to take on any building assignments. I worry that he is not as hardy as he once was.

In August, the British incursion onto American soil was most lamentably aggrandized when they stormed Washington itself! On the 24th, they set fire to the White House and to the Capitol building. Only the most aggressive actions of the local fire brigades and the citizens in general saved anything at all. We later learned that many of the records for the 1790 census had perished, including all of those for Georgia! I was outraged. We had taken such care to preserve the documented beginnings of our fair country only to have an enemy come and make a bonfire of them! Even the more sanguine of our citizens were stirred by this assault upon our young but beloved heritage, so that after that, I had no doubt that we would drive the British into the sea! From that time on, the fighting between us was intensified ten-fold.

A man by name of George Stephenson has put together a steam locomotive. I am not privy to what this apparatus can haul, but if it could even haul four or five times the weight that oxen can pull, it might be of benefit. I am most concerned about the cost of such an enterprise. The contraption seems unwieldy, but some good uses may be found for it. I see the major drawback in the need for large amounts of fuel and water to power it, and how can those needs be satisfied economically? Again, I am reminded of my inability to work out problems that are created with a new invention.

We have received news of many armed disputes with the Creek Indians. The only circumstance that keeps the Indians from completely massacring all the whites, I feel, is that they do not all band together. Many tribes hate each other as much as they hate the white man, and cannot agree to band together in a common goal. If they ever do, God help us all. All the tribes are fierce and brave, afraid of nothing. What a mighty force they would present if united!



Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.