Zoar. 59 



at discretion soon, and if they had they would not part with it. In 

 this, however, they missed their object. The brave Col. Gibson 

 turned out the flour and meat promptly, and told them he could 

 spare it very well, as he had plenty more. The Indians soon after 

 raised the siege. A runner was sent to Fort Mcintosh with a state- 

 ment of their distress, and requesting reinforcements and provisions 

 immediately. The inhabitants south of the Ohio volunteered their 

 aid, and Gen. Mcintosh headed the escort of provisions, which reach- 

 ed the fort in safety, but was near being all lost from the dispersion 

 of the packhorses in the woods near the fort, from a fright occasioned 

 by a feu dejoie, fired by the garrison, at the relief. The fort was 

 finally evacuated in August, 1779, it being found untenable at such 

 a distance from the frontiers ; and Henry Jolly was one of the last 

 men who left it, holding at that time in the continental service the 

 commission of ensign. 



Zoar. — The boat reached Zoar at 11, A, M., where I disem- 

 barked. This little " city of refuge" is beautifully situated on a 

 rising ground on the east side of the Tuscarawas. It was settled 

 by an industrious community of Germans, from Wittemburgh, on 

 the river Elbe, while yet covered with a dense forest, in the year 

 1817, under the patriarchal charge and pastoral care of Jacob M. 

 Biemler. They are seceders from the Lutheran church, as a reli- 

 gious community. Mr. Biemler is now about sixty years of age, of 

 mild manners and prepossessing appearance. He acts both as their 

 spiritual and their temporal guide, directing their secular affairs with 

 great prudence during the week, and their spiritual concerns on the 

 Sabbath. He is assisted by a council of two or three elders, and in 

 very important matters the whole male population have a voice. 

 Their first purchase embraced four thousand acres, to which they 

 have since added two thousand more. 



The nett profit of their labor goes into a joint stock. If an indi- 

 vidual leaves the community, which is a rare occurrence, he draws 

 from the funds a sum equal to the amount by him first invested, but 

 nothing for his labor over and above the sustenance he has received. 

 A part of the laboring class are employed in agriculture, and a part 

 in the various mechanical pursuits necessary to the comfort of the 

 village. Each family draws from the various deposits all the arti- 

 cles of domestic use needed for its support. The surpluses added 

 to the general fund. They have a common school, at which all the 

 children are equally taught. I passed the afternoon in company 



