
Step into the rugged wilderness of mid‑18th‑century Virginia through the eyes of a young George Washington. In this faithfully reproduced journal, the future commander‑in‑chief records his daily tasks while surveying land for Lord Thomas Fairfax, noting everything from turnip fields to the treacherous “Hell Hole” valley. The meticulous entries capture the practical challenges of measuring terrain, the cadence of a frontier life, and the quiet moments of reflection that reveal a budding leader’s keen mind.
The edition stays true to Washington’s original handwriting, preserving his spelling, punctuation, and even the occasional mysterious symbol. Accompanying footnotes and detailed illustrations bring the landscape to life, showing farm layouts, river courses, and the very maps he sketched. Listeners will hear a raw, unvarnished voice from a formative period, offering a rare glimpse into the early experiences that helped shape a man destined for greatness.
Full title
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.
Language
en
Duration
~3 hours (214K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Rachael Schultz, John Campbell and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)
Release date
2016-06-23
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
1732–1799
Best known as the first president of the United States, he also led the Continental Army during the American Revolution and helped shape the early republic. His life has come to symbolize both the founding ideals of the nation and the complicated realities of its beginnings.
View all books