186 
RURAL HOURS. 
bered with flood-wood to allow tlieir boats to pass. To remove 
this difficulty, General Clinton ordered a dam to be built at the 
outlet, thus raising the lake so much, that when the work was 
suddenly opened, the waters rushed through with such power, 
that they swept the channel clear ; by this means, the troops 
were enabled to pass in their boats from these very sources of the 
stream to the rendezvous at Tioga Point, a distance of more than 
two hundred miles, by the course of this winding river. This 
is the only incident which has connected our secluded lake with 
historical events, and it is believed that upon no other occasion 
have troops, on a warlike errand, passed through the valley. 
Probably in no other instance have so large a number of boats 
ever floated on our quiet lake, and we can scarcely suppose that 
a fleet of this warlike character will ever again, to the end of time, 
be collected here. Some few traces of this military dam may 
still be seen, though every year they are becoming more indistinct. 
Friday, 20th. — Warm ; thermometer 85, with high wind from 
the southward. Light sprinkling showers through the day, barely 
enough to lay the dust. No thunder or Hghtning. 
The fire-flies flitting about this evening in the rain ; they do not 
mind a showery evening much ; we have often seen them of a 
rainy night, carrying their little lanterns about with much uncon- 
cern ; it is only a hard and driving shower which sends them home. 
These httle creatures seem to have favorite grounds ; there is a 
pretty valley in the county, about twenty miles from us, where 
they are very numerous ; one sees them dancing over those mead- 
ows in larger parties than about our own. 
Saturday, 21st. — Fine weather; heat not so great; thermome- 
ter 11. 
