Four-and-a-Half Months’ Stay in New Harmony
Description of the region – Natural history – Messrs. Say, Lesueur, and Owen – Hunting excursions in Indiana and Illinois – Wabash, Fox River – Illinois prairies – Albion – Black River – Mr. Bodmer’s trip to New Orleans
December 29, 1832
Early in the morning, hoarfrost and light frost. Sky clear, horizon hazy. At seven thirty, −2°R [27.5°F, −2.5°C]. Mr. Twigg left for Mount Vernon early today with my three natural history chests in order to embark for New Orleans. There he will have them sent to Europe. Mr. Bodmer decided to go along on the journey to New Orleans to make sketches and to collect some natural history specimens. At twelve o’clock, 9°R [52.3°F, 11.3°C]. Dreidoppel returned from hunting, perspiring profusely. He had shot a partridge, which the dog ruined for him. A man 12 miles from here brought three mink and promised six to eight or ten more next week. At three or three thirty, Mr. Bodmer left on horseback with Mr. Twigg; they intend to board the first steamboat in Mount Vernon and to be back here in four to five weeks.
Mr. Say and I took a short walk and found the Wabash rather high. Twelve miles downstream from here, there are two steamboats that were involved in accidents. One sank because the river was too shallow and it ran aground. The other broke its engine. When I came home, I found a very large raccoon and a nice Mergus cucullatus. The weather was as warm as on one of the most beautiful days of spring. Until five o’clock we left our windows open and [had] no fire in the room. Visit in the evening from Mr. Say.