noon
A line of ten men with the cordelle was attached to each boat to pull it up the stream , and at the same time ten more on each boat planted the great pole at the bow , and then , pushing on it , walked back to the stern , lifted it out of the soft mud , carried it forward to the bow , planted it again in the mud , and , pushing mightily , again walked back to the stern . In this way we made great progress . We moved as fast as the ten men on shore carrying the cordelle could walk , and the men at the pole lightened their load so greatly , they were able to walk at a good round pace . So it was not yet quite noon when the white walls of Mulberry House came in view , the blue smoke curling from its chimneys giving promise of good cheer awaiting us . The men at the cordelle walked faster , the men at the pole pushed harder , and , there being here a chance to use them , two great sweep-oars were fastened in the rowlocks , and , four men at each oar , we went forward at such a gait that the water curled back from our prow in two foaming streams , and before many minutes we were running our nose into the bank at the foot of Mulberry Hill . Down the bank came a long line of men and boys , chiefly negroes , shouting in every key , and running to catch the ropes our crew were throwing them , and tying us fast to big stumps left standing on the bank for that purpose . Foremost to step foot on board was young John O'Fallon , running first to greet his uncle William , whom next to his uncle General Clarke he thought the greatest man on earth , and then coming to greet me , whom he called `` cousin '' in his kindly Southern fashion , for I could not claim to be kin .