A rainy season soon set in; the streams were overflowing, and the road
became bad and hard, to travel. On arriving at the Ogeechee river at
Summertown I found that it had deborted its banks and was at least a
quarter of a mile wide. I struck camp, waiting for the water to recede.
The following day Geo. W. Kelley drove in sight. He also had a load of
five bales of cotton and he struck camp. But it continued to rain and
the river instead of receding became wider and deeper. The cotton market
was declining rapidly and we were anxious to reach the market. I
suggested to Mr. Kelley that I would take the tallest of the mules and
sound the width of the current. The mule walked in the water up to the
banks, neck deep, when he began to swim, I guided him when again he
struck foothold. I rode to the end of the water, in parts only breast
deep. I retraced my steps and reported my investigation. We held counsel
together and concluded that by using prolongs we could hitch the eight
mules to one wagon and while the rear mules would be in mid stream the
front ones would be on terra firma and pull the team across. We sent to
Mr. Coleman who lived close by, for ropes. We cut saplings, laid them
on top of each wagon, fastened the ends tight to the wagon body so as to
prevent the current from washing off any of the cotton while the wagon
would be submerged in midstream during the crossing. Our plan proved to
be a successful one, and thus we forded the Ogeechee river without the
least accident. We repeated the same tactics for the remaining wagon. We
reached Savannah in due time, sold the cotton and bought merchandise for
other parties, and I received pay going and coming. On returning I
concluded to cross the river by the upper route, at Jenkins Ferry, to
avoid recrossing the river as per previous method. We struck camp at
dark close to the river bank. I told Perry to feed and water the team
while I would examine the ferry flat. Presently Mr. Stetson from
Milledgeville, drove up and also struck camp. I considered the flat a
very shabby and a dangerous affair to cross on with a heavy load and so
reported, but Mr. Stetson thought it all right. The following morning at
break of day the ferryman was on hand as per arrangements that evening.
Stetson and his men hurried up so as to get across first and thus gain
time. My man Perry also hurried faster than was his wont to do, for he
was usually slow in his movements, when I cautioned him to take his
time and go slow and let the other wagon cross first. It was well that I
did so, for the flat went down nearly midstream, and if the front mules
had not had foot hold in time the whole business would have drowned.
Stetson's damage in merchandise was considerable. He was loaded with
salt, cutlery and general merchandise. When I saw that no personal
damage was done I bid them good bye to take another route by a twenty
mile detour, via. Louisville, and crossed the river at Fenn's Bridge.