USA > Virginia > Historical collections of Virginia : containing a collection of the most interesting facts, traditions, biographical sketches, anecdotes, &c. relating to its history and antiquities ; together with geographical and statistical descriptions ; to which is appended, an historical and descriptive sketch of the District of Columbia. > Part 31
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In Sept., 1782. immediately after the Indians had been defeated in their attempt to take the fort at Wheeling, they sent 100 pick- , ed warriors to take Rice's Fort, which was situated on Buffalo Creek, about 1 or 15 miles from its month. This fort* consisted of some cabins and a small blockhouse, and, in dangerous times, was the refuge of a few families in the neighborhood.
* " The reader will understand by this term, not only a place of defence, but the residence of a small number of families belonging to the same neighborhood. As the Indian mode of warfare was an indiscriminate slaughter of all ages, and both sexes, it was as requisite to provide for the safety of the women and children as for that of the nien.
" The fort consisted of cabins, blockhouses, and stockades. A range of cabins com- mouly formed one side at least of the fort. Divisions, or partitions of logs, separated the cabias from each other. The walls on the outside were ten or twelve feet high, the slone of the roof being turned wholly inward. A very few of these cabins had puncheon Boors. the greater part were earthen. The blockhouses were built at the angles of the fort. They projected about two feet beyond the outer walls of the cabins and stockades. Their upper stories were about eighteen inches every way larger in dimension than the under one, leaving an opening at the commencement of the second story to prevent the enemy from making a lodgment under their walls. In some forts, instead of block- hoases. the angles of the fort were furnished with bastions. A large folding gate, made of thick slabs. nearest the spring. closed the fort. The stockades, bastions, cabins, and blockhouse walls, were furnished with port-holes at proper heights and distances. The whole of the outside was made completely bullet-proof.
" It may be truly said that necessity is the mother of invention : for the whole of this work was made without the ald of a single nail or spike of iron ; and for this reason, such things were not to be bad. In some places, less exposed, a single blockhouse, with a cabin or two, constituted the whole fort. Such places of refuge may appear very trifling to those who have been in the habit of seeing the formidable military garrisons of Europe aad America ; but they answered the purpose, as the Indians had no artillery. They seldom attacked, and scarcely ever took one of them." -- Dudridge's Notes.
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BOTETOURT COUNTY.
The Indians surrounded the fort at night ere they were discovered, and soon made an attack, which continued at intervals until 2 o'clock in the morning. In the intervals of the firing the Indians frequently called out to the people of the fort, " Give up. give up, too many Indian. Indian too big. No kill." They were answered with defiance. " Come on, you cowards ; we are ready for you. Show us your yellow hides and we will make holes in them for you." They were only six men in the fort, yet such was their skill and bravery, that the Indians were finally obliged to retreat with the loss of a number of their men.
" 'Thas was this little place defended by a Spanian band of six men, against 100 chosen warriors, exasperated to madness by their failure at Wheeling Fort. Their name shall be inscribed in the list of the heroes of our early times. They were Jacob Miller, George Lefler, Peter Fullenweider, Daniel Rice, George Felebaum, and Jacob Jeffer, jun. George Felebaum was shot in the forehead, through a port-hole at the second fire of the Indians, and instantly expired, so that in reality the defence of the place was made by only five men."
BOTETOURT.
BOTETOURT was formed in 1960 from Augusta, and named from Gov. Botetourt Its length is 14 miles, with mean breadth of 18 miles. The Blue Ridge forms its E. boundary, and much of the county is mountainous. The James River runs through the N. part. Much of the soil is fertile.
Fincastle from Grove Hill.
FINCASTLE, the county-seat, lies 175 miles west of Richmond. This town was established by law in 1772, on forty acres given for the pur- pose by lerael Christian, and named after the seat of Lord Bote. tourt in England. It is compactly built in a beautiful rolling country. It contains 5 mercantile stores, 1 newspaper printing office, 2 academics; I Presbyterian, 1 Baptist. I Episcopal, and 1 Methodist church ; and a population of about 700. The above view shows the principal part of the village as it appears from Anderson's or Gross Hill. The publie building on the left is the Episcopal, and that on the right the Presbyterian church. Then
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North mountain, 5 miles distant, appears in the background. Pattonsburg and Buchanon lie immediately opposite cach other, on the James River, 12 miless. of Fincastle, They are connected together by a fine bridge, and in a general description would be considered as one village. They are beautifully situated in a val- ley, between the Blue Ridge and Purgatory mountain, at the head of navigation on James River, though in high water, batteaux go up as far as Covington in Alleghany.co. These villages were in- corporated in 1832-3, and contain at present I newspaper printing office, a branch of the Va. bank, 5 stores, a tobacco inspection, 2 tobacco factories ; 1 Free, 1 Presbyterian, and 1 Episcopal church ; and a population of about 450. Eventually the James River Canal will pass through here to Covington. and probably a mac- adamized road from Sinunton to Knoxville, Tennessee.
Dagger's Springs are situated in the northern part of the county, near the James River, 18 miles from Fincastle, 16 from Buchanon, 2 from Lexington. The scenery in the vicinity is very fine. Some years since extensive improvements were made there for the accont- modation of the guests.
"The most active mineral ingredients in the water are carbonated alkalies. In this it differs materially from the White and Salt Sulphur, and is more nearly assiinflated in its qualities to the Red and Gray Sulphur. It is, however, more decidedly alkaline than either of those springs. This peculiarity will ever recommend it to persons subject to acidities of the stomach, and to the other concomitants of dys- pepsia, while the large quantity of hydrogen that it contains will render it useful in all of those com- piaints for which sulphur-water is usually prescribed."
At the small village of Amsterdam, 5 miles s. of Fincastle, there is a large brick church, lately built by the Dunkards. The Dun- kers at Amsterdam are descendants of Germans who emigrated to Pennsylvania. The following, regarding the tenets and practices of this seet. is from a published account :
The Tunkers ore a denomination of Seventh-Day Baptiste, which took its rise in the year 1724. It was founded by a German, who, weary of the world, reared to an agreeable solitude. within sixty miles os Philadelphia, for the more free exercise of religious contemplation. Curiosity attracted followers, and his simple and engaging minners made thenr proselytes. They soon settled a little colony, called Ephrata, in allusion to the Hebrews, who used to sing psalms of the border of the river Euphrates. This denom- bestron seven to have obtained their name of na their baptizing the ener converts by plunging. They are also called Tumblers, from the manner in which they perform baptise, which is by putting the person, while kneeling, head first vader water, so as to resemble the motion of the body in the action of tumbling. They use the trine unmer ion, with laying on the bands and prayer. even when the person baptized is in the water. Their hab't seems to be peculiar to themselves, consisting of a long tunic or coat, reaching down to their heels, with a sash or girdle round the waist, and a cap or hood hanging from the shoulders. They do not shive the head or beard.
The men and women Have separate habit.tions and distinct governments. For these purposes, they erected two large wooden buddings, one of which is occupied by the brethren, the other by the sisters of the society; and in each of them there is a brinqueting Yoon, and an apartment for public worship ; for the brethren and sisters do not meet to gather even at their devotions.
They used to live chiefly upon roots and other vegetables, the rules of their society not allowing them flesh, except up in particular occasions, when they hold whit they e il a love-feast; at which time the brethren and sisters ding together in a large apartment, and ent mutton, but no other meat. In each of their little cells they have a bench fixed, to serve the purpose of a bed, and a small block of wood for a pillow. They allow of marriages, but consider celibriey as a virtue.
The principal tenet of the Tankers appear, to be this-that future happiness is only to he obtained by penance and outward merifications in this life, and that, as Jogos Christ by his meritorious sufferings. became the Redeemer of mankind in genere so each individual of the human race, by a life of abit- hence and restriint, my work ont his own salvation. Nay, they go so far as to admit of works of super- erogation, and declare that a man may do much more than he is in justice or equity obliged to do, and that de superabundant works mary, therefore be applied to the salvation of others.
This depour action dopy the eternity of future punishments, and the love that the den have the power! preached to them by our saviour, and that the souls of the just are employed to preach the gospel to those who have had no revelation in this life. They suppose the Jewish Sabbath, sabbatical year and your of Juinice, are typical of certain period : after the general judgment, in which the souls of those who are In: then edartud into happiness are purified from their corruption. Many, within those smeller periods, are so far humbled as to acknowledge the perfections of God, and to own Christ as their only Saviour, they ste received the felicity; while those who continue obstinate are reserved in torments, until the grid prind, typ.ficu by the jubilee, arrives, in which al shall be made happy in the endless fruition of the Deity ...
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BOTETOURT COUNTY.
They also deny the imputation of Adam's sin to his posterity. They disclaim violence, even in cases of self-defence, and suffer themselves to be defrauded, or wronged, rather than go to law. Their church government and discipline are the same with other Baptists, except that every brother is allowed to speak in the congregation ; and their best speaker is usually ordained to be the minister. They have deacons and deaconesses from among their ancient widows and exhorters, who are all licensed to use their gif's suitedi. The Tunkers are not so rigid to their dress and manner of life as formerly ; stal they tet i the faith of their fathers, and load lives of great industry, frug dity, and purity.
In 1201, about sixty Shawanec warriors penetrated the settle. ments on James River, committed several murders, and carried off several prisoners, among whom were Mrs. Renix and her five children. The Indians were overtaken in their retreat by a party of whites, and nine of their number killed, after which they pro- ceeded towards their villages without further molestation. The remainder of the story is given by Withers :
In Boquet's treaty with the Ohio Indians, it was stipulated that the whites detained by them in cap- tivity were to be brought in and redeemed In compliance with this stipulation, Mrs. Reais was brought to Staunton in 1767 and ransomed, together with two of her sons, William, the late Col. Renix, of Green- brier, and Robert. also of Greenbrier-Bet.y, ber daughter, had died on the Mati. Thomas returned in 1783, but soon after removed. and settled on the Scioto, near Chillicothe. Joshua never came back ; he took an Indian wife, and became a chief among the Miamies -- he amassed a considerable fortune, and died near Detroit in 1210.
Hannah Dennis was separated from the other captives, and allotted to live at the Chilicothe towns. She learned their language, painted herself as they do, and in many respects conformed to their manners and customs. She was attentive to sick persons, and wis highly esteemed by the Indians, as one well skilled in the art of curing diseases. Finding them very superstitious, and believers in necromancy, she professed witchcraft, and afirewd to be a jnophobes. in this mers de came so great a favorite with theme that they gave her full liberty, and honored her as a queen. Not- withstanding this, Mrs. Denais was always determined to effect her escape, when a favorable opportunity should occur; and having remained so long with thein, apparently well satisfied, inny ceased to entertain any suspicions of such a design.
In June, 1763, she left the Chilicothe towns. ostensibly to procure herbs for medicinal purposes, (as she had before frequently done,j but really to attempt an escape. As she did not return that night her inten- tion became suspected, and in the morning some warriors were sent in pursuit of her. In order to leave as little trail as possible, she had crossed the Scioto River three times, and was just getting over the fourth time, 40 miles below the town, when she was discovered by her pursuers. They fired at her across the river without effect; but, in endeavoring to make a rapid flight, she had one of her feet severely cut by a sharp stone.
The Indians then rushed across the river to overtoke and catch her, but she eluded them by crawling into the hollow jimb of a large fallen sycamore. They searched around for her some time, frequently stepping on the log which concealed her, and encamped near it that night. On the next day they went on to the Ohio River. but finding no trace of her, they returned home.
Mrs. Dennis remained at that place three days, doctoring her wound, and then set off for home. She crossed the Ohio River, at the mouth of Great Kenawha, on a log of drift-wood, travelling only during the night for fear of discovery. She subsisted on roots, herbs, green grapes, wild cherries, and river inus- sels-and, entirely exhausted by fatigue and hunger, sat down by the side of Greenbrier River, with no expectation of ever proceeding further. In this situation she was found by Thomas Athol and three nthers from Clendennin's settlement, which she had passed without knowing it. She had been then upwards of twenty days on ber disconsolate journey, alone, on foot; but, till then, cheered with the hope of again being with her friends.
She was Diken back to Clendenrin's, where they kindly ministered to her, till she became so far invigor ated as to travel on horsbrich, with an escort, to Fort Young on Jackson's River, from whence she was carried home to her relations.
Gen. ANDREW LEWIS resided on the Roanoke, in this county. He was one of the six sons of that Lewis who, with Mackey and Sal. Jing, had been foremost. in settling Augusta co., and the most dis- finguished of a family who behaved so bravely in defending the infant settlements against the Indians.
In Braddock's war, he was in a company in which were all his brothers, the eldest, Samuel Lewis, being the captain. This corps distinguished themselves at Braddock's defeat. Thev. with some other of the Virginia troops, were in the advance, and the first attacked by the enemy. Severed from the rest of the army, they cut their way through the enemy to their companions with the loss of many men. His conduct at Major Grant's defeat, in his attack upon Fort Duquesne, acquired for him the highest reputa- tion tor prudener and courage. He was at this time a major. In this action, the Scotch Highlanders, under tirent, were surrounded by the ladins: when the work of death went on quite rapidly, and in a manner quite novel to the Highlanders, who, in all their European wars, had never before seen men's heads skinned. When Major Lewis was advancing to the relief of Grant with his 200 provincials, he met one of the Highland- ers under speedy flight, and inquiring of him how the battle was going, he said they
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were " a' beaten, and he had seen Donald M'Donald up to his hunkers in mud, and d' the skeen af his heed." Both Lewis and Grant were made .prisoners. Before Lewis was taken into the fort, he was stripped of all his clothes but his shirt. Au elderiv Indian insisted upon having that ; but he resisted, with the tomahawk drawn over InA head, until a French officer, by signs, requested him to deliver it, and then took him to his room, and gave him a complete dress to put on. While they were prisoners, Grant addressed a letter to Gen. Forbes, attributing their defeat to Lewis. This letter being inspected by the French, who knew the falsehood of the charge, they handed it to Lewis. He waited upon Grant,* and challenged him. Upon his refusal to fight, he spat in his face in the presence of the French officers, and then left him to reflect upon his baseness. Major Lewis was with Washington July 4, 1754, at the capitulation of Fort Necessity, when, by the articles agreed upon, the garrison was to retire and return without molestation to the inhabited parts of the country ; and the French commander promised that no embarrassment should be interposed either by his own men of the savages. While some of the soldiers of each army were intermixed, an Irishman, ex- asperated with an Indian near him, " cursed the copper-colored scoundrel," and raised his musket to shoot hito. Lewis, who had been twice wounded in the engagement, and was then hobbling on a staff, raised the Irishman's gun as he was in the act of firing. and thus not only saved the life of the Indian, but probably prevented a general warst. cre of the Virginia troops. He was the commander and general of the Virginia troops 11. the battle of Point Pleasant, (see Mason co.,; fought the 10th of May, 1274. Je tti, campaign the Indians were driven west of the Ohio. Washington, in whose regiones Lewis had once been a major, had formed so high an opinion of his bravery and military skill, that, at the commencement of the revolutionary war, he was induced to rocos: mend him to Congress as one of the major-generals of the American army-a recotu mendation which was slighted, in order to make room for Gen. Stephens. It is also enid. that when Washington was commissioned as commander-in-chief, he expressed & wish that the appointment had been given to Gen. Lewis. Upon this slight in the ap- pointment of Stephens, Washington wrote to Gen. Lewis a letter, which is published in Lis correspondence, expressive of his regret at the course pursued by Congress, and promising that he should be promoted to the first vacancy. At his solicitation, Lewis accepted The commission of brigadier-general, and was soon after ordered to the com. mand of a detachment of the army stationed near Williamsburg. He commanded the Virginia troops when Lord Dunmore was driven from Gwynn's Island, in 1776, and announced his orders for attacking the enemy by putting a match to the first gun, an eighteen pounder, himself.
Gen. Lewis resigned his command in 1780 to return home, being seized ill with a fever. He died on his way, in Bedford co., about 40 miles from his own house on the Konoke, lamented by all acquainted with his meritorious services and superior qualities. " Gen. Lewis," says Stuart, in his Historical Memoir, "was upwards of six feet high, of uncommon strength and agility, and his form of the most exact symmetry. . He had a stern and invincible countenance, and was of a reserved and distant deport- ment, which rendered his presence more awful than engaging. He was a commissioner. with Dr. Thomas Walker. to hold a treaty, on behalf of the colony of Virginia, with the six nations of Indians, together with the commissioners from Pennsylvania, New York. aud cther eastern provinces, held at Fort Stanevix, in the province of New York, in the year 1768. It was then remarked by the governor of New York, that ' the carth seemed to tremble under him as he walked along.' His independent spirit despised sycophantic means of gaining popularity, which never rendered more than his merits ex- torted."
BRUNSWICK.
BRUNSWICK was formed. in 1720, from Surry and Isle of Wight. It is nearly a square of 26. miles on a side. The southwest angle
i. This was the same Gol Grant who, in 1775, on the floor of the British Porcamount, said that he had often acted in the same service with the Americans --- that he knew them well, and, from that knowledge. ventured to predict " that they would never dare twee an English army, as being destitute of every requisite to constitute good solvers."
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BUCKINGHAM COUNTY.
touches the Roanoke, and a small section is drained by that stream ; but the body of the county is comprised in the valleys of Meherrin and Nottoway Rivers and declines to the east. Large quantities of tobacco and corn are raised, together with some cotton. Pop. 1830, 15,770 ; 1840, whites 4,978, slaves 8,805, free colored 563; total, 14,346.
Lawrenceville, the county-seat, is 73 miles w. of s. from Rich- mond. it is a neat village, pleasantly situated on a branch of Meherrin River, and contains 2 churches and about 25 dwellings. Lewisville contains about 15 dwellings.
In the upper end of the county, in the vicinity of Avant's and Taylor's creeks, have been found many Indian relies, and this por- tion of the county yet shows traces of having been inhabited by Indians. It is supposed that when the country was first settled, there was a frontier fort, or trading establishment, a few miles below Pennington's Bridge, on the Meherrin : an iron cannon now Jies on a hill near the spot, and in the neighborhood runs a road, called to this day " the fort road." There are also excavations in the earth constructed for wolf-pits, by the early settlers. Tradi- tion says they were formed in the following manner: A hole was dag ten or twelve feet deep, small at the top, and growing wider on all sides as it descended, sloping inwards so much that no beast could climb up, Two sticks were fastened together in the middle at right angles ; the longer one confined to the ground, and the shorter-to the inner end of which was attached the bait-swing- ing across the middle of the pit, so that when the wolf attempted to seize it, he was precipitated to the bottom.
BUCKINGHAM.
BUCKINGHAM was formed in 1761, from Albemarle. It is 34 miles long, with a mean breadth of 24. The James River runs on its N. and w. and the Appomattox on its s. boundary. Willis' and Slate Rivers rise in the south part. On the margin of the streams the land is fertile, but the intervening ridges are frequently sterile and desolate, and in many sections uninhabited. The surface is generally level, and the only mountain of note is Willis', from which is an almost uninterrupted prospect over a vast extent of level country. The Buckingham White Sulphur Spring is 12 miles se. of the court-house, and there are also one or two other mineral springs in the county, none of which have as yet attained any celebrity. Borkingham is rich in minerals ; some dozen gold mines have been in operation, only three or four of which have proved profitable. Limestone found in the county is beginning to be used in agriculture, and iron ore abounds. Upon Hunt's Creek, within 2 miles of James River Canal, is an inexhaustible slate quarry of superior quality. The principal literary institutions of
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BUCKINGHAM COUNTY.
the county are a Collegiate Institute for females, under the patron- age of the Methodist church, and the Slate River Academy, which has two professors, and is liberally supported. Tobacco, corn, wheat, and oats, are the principal products. Pop. 1830, 18,851; 1840, whites 7.323, slaves 10,014, free colored 449 ; total, 18,788.
Maysville. the county-seat. 79 miles west of Richmond, bear the centre of the county, on Slate River, 26 miles from its junction with the James, is a neat village, containing 1 church, 4 stores, and about 200 inhabitants. New Canton contains about 40 dwell- ings. Curdsville, a flourishing village, has 1 Episcopal church, B stores, and about 250 inhabitants.
PETER FRANCISCO, a soldier of the Revolution, and celebrated for his personal strength. lived and raised his family in Buckingham, where he died a few years since. His origin was obscure. He supposed that he was a Portuguese by birth, and that he was kidnap. ped when an infant, and carried to Ireland. He had no recollection of his parents, and the first knowledge he preserved of himself was in that country when a small boy. Hearing much of America, and being of an adventurous turn, he indented himself to a sea-captain for seven years, in payment for his passage. On his arrival he was sold to Anthony Winston, Esq., of this county, on whose estate he labored faithfully until the Branding aut of the revolution. He was then at the age of 16 and partaking of the patriotic enthusiasm of the times, he asked and obtained permission of his owner to enlist in the continental army. At the storming of Stony-Point, he was the first sol. dier, after Major Gibbon, who entered the fortress, ou which occasion he received a bayonet wound in the thigh. He was at Brandywine, Monmouth, and cther battles at the north, and was transferred to the south under Greene, where he was engaged in the actions of the Cowpens, Camden, Guilford Court-House, &c. He was a very brave man, and possessed such confidence in his prowess as to be almost fearless. He used & sword having a blade five feet in length, which he could wield as a feather, and every swordsman who came in contact with him, paid the forfeit of his life. His services were so distinguished, that he would have been promoted to an office had he been ena- bled to write. His stature was 6 feet and an inch, and his weight 200 pounds. ITis complexion was dark and swerthy, features bold and mauly, and his hands and feet un- commonly large. Such was his personal strength, that he could easily shoulder a cannon weighing 1100 pounds ; and our informant, a highly respectable gentleman now resid- ing in this county, in a communication before us, says : " he could take me in his right hand and pass over the room with me, and play my bead against the c.Hling, as though I had been a doll-baby. My weight was 195 pounds !" The following anecdote. itis. trative of Francisco's valor, has often been published :--
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