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 43
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At last one of the young meu, remarking that it was impossible to combat with long and established prejudices, wheeled around, and with some faaufiarity exclaimed, " Well, my old gentleman, what think you of these things ?" If, sand the traveller, a streak of vivid lightning hed at that moment eressed the rough, their amazement could not have been greater than it was with what followed. The most eloquent and unanswerable appeal was made for nearly an hour, by the old gentleman, that he ever heard or read. So perfect was his recollection, that every argument nayed against the Christion reli- gion was met in the order in which it was advanced. Hume's sopbistry ou the subject of miracles was. if possible, more perfectly answered than it had already been done by Campbell. . And in the whole lecture there was so much simplicity and energy, pathos and sublimity, that not another word was uttered. Au attempt to describe it, said the traveller, would ve an attempt to paint the sunbeams. It was now a matter of cursos. ity and inquiry who the old gentleman was. The traveller concluded it was the preacher from whom the pulpit eloquence was heard-bat no -- it was the CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE UNITED STATES.
In the Presbyterian grave-yard, at Winchester, is the grave of Gen. Daniel Morgan. ilis monument is a horizontal slob, raised a few feet above the ground. It bears the following inscription :
Major-General DANIEL MORGAN departed this life On July the 6th, 1802, In the 67th year of his Age. Patriotism and valor were the prominent Features of his character, And the honorable services he rendered to his country during the Revolutionary war, crowned him with Glory, and will remain in the Hearts of his Countrymen a Perpetual Monument to his Memory.
The military history of the brave commander of the celebrated riffe corps of the revolution, -- whoin to confront was almost instant death -- is generally weil known. At the end of the war, Gen. Morgan retired to his estate, nanand Saratoga, a few miles from Winchester
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After the expedition against & the insurgents in the Whis- key insurrection, he was se- lected from this district to Congress, where he served two sessions In 1300 be removed to Winchester, where, after a coalmement of two years from extreme debility. he expired. The house where he resided and died, was the frame building now (Isi4) occupied by the Rev. Mr. Boyd, in the ww. part of the town. llis widow moved to Pitts burg. His two daughters married officers of the revolution.
A writer in a recent number of the Winchester Republican has, in an article descriptive of the Winchester grave-yards, some in- teresting facts respecting Gen. Morgan, which we here annex :
'This " thunderbok of war," this " brave Morgan, who never knew fear," was, ir camp, often wicked and very profane, but never a disbeliever in religion. He tostickd that lomself. In his latter years General Morgan professed religion, and united hum. alf with the Presbyterian church in this place. under the pastoral care of the Rey. Mr. (now Dr.) Hill, who preached in this house some forty years, and may now be occasionally heard ca Loudon sucet. His last days were passed in this town ; and while sinking to the grave, he related to his minister the experience of his soul. " People thought," said he, " that Danej Morgan never prayed ;"-" l'eopic said ofd Morgan never was aurait ; -" People did not know." He then proceeded to relate in his blunt manner, among many other things, that the night they stormed Quebec, while waiting in the darkness and storin with his men paraded, for the word to advance, he felt unhappy ; the enter- prise appeared more than perilous ; it seemed to him that nothing less than a miracle could bring them off safe from an encounter at such an amazing disadvantage. He stepped aside and kneeled by the side of a munition of war -- and then most fervently prayed that the Lord God Almighty would be his shield and defence, for nothing less than an almighty arm could protect him. He continued on his knees till the word passed dig the line. Be falis believed dot his saity during that night of porit was from the interposition of God. Again, he said, about the battle of the Cowpens, which covered him with so much glory as a leader and a soldier-he had felt afraid to fight . Tarleton with his numerous army flushed with success -and that he retreated as long as he could-till his men complained -- and he could go no further. Drawing up his army in three lines, on the hill side ; contemplating the scene -- in the distance the glit- ter of the advancing enemy -- he trembled for the fate of the day. Going to the woods in the rear, he kuevled in an old tree-top. and poured out a prayer to God for his army, and for himself, and for his country., With relieved spirits he returned to the lines, and in his rough manner cheered them for the fight ; as he passed along, they answered bim bravely. The terrible carnage that followed the deadly and of his fines decided the vic- tory. In a few moments "Parieton fled. " Ah," said he, " people said old Morgan never feared :" -- " they thought old Morgan never praved, they did not know :"_" old Morgen was often miserably afraid." And if he had not been, in the circumstances of amazing responsibility in which he was placed. Low could be have been betze!
The last of his riflemen are gone : the brave and hardy gallants of this valley, that waded to Canada and stormed Quebec, are all gone-gone, too, are Morgan's sharp .. shooters of Saratoga. For a long time two, that shared his captivity in Canada, weze seen in this village, wasting away to shadows of their youth, celebrating with enthu- siasta the night of their battle, as the year rolled round-Peter Luck and John Schatte. But they have answered the roll-call of death, and have joined their leader; the bardy Lauck wondering what Schultz, the feeblest of the band, whom he had so often carried through the snows of Canada, should outlive him. There is interest round the last of such a corps.
GILES,
Giura was formed in 1806, from Monroe and Tazewell, and named from Wie. B. Giles, Gov. of Va. from 1826 to 1829 ; it is 50 miles
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long. with a mean width of 14 miles. The surface is very mon- tainous ; several lofty ridges of the Alleghany chain pass through the county, and much of the scenery is wild. In the mountain valleys, and the low grounds of the streams, the land is very fer- tile. The New River, one of the main branches of the Kanawha, passes through and fertilizes a large tract in the county. Pop .. whites 4,081, slives 571, free colored 10 ; total, 5,307.
Parisburg, or Giles C. H., lies 239 miles southwestern from Richmond, three-fourths of a mile from the bank of New River, just above where it passes through Peter's mountain. The situa- tion of the town is picturesque, being at the extremity of a moon- tain called " Angel's Rest." It was laid off in 1806, and contains at present about 30, dwellings, mostly built of stone. Nine miles from Parisburg, on New River, are situated the Hygeian Springs, the waters of which are highly spoken of.
On the opposite bank of New River, both above and below the springs, the rocks present the most majestic appe arance : there being several natural pillars that rise perpendicularly to the height of from thirty to two hundred feet, and natural archos ; one pillar is denominated " Pompey's Pillar," near which is " Cæsar's Arch ;" the pillar and arch nearly join.
The celebrated Salt Pond is five miles from these springs-sometimes known as the White Sulphur Springs of Giles-and ten miles E. of Parisburg. It is a natural and beantiful lake of pure fresh water, on the summit of the Salt Pond mountain, one of the highest spurs of the Alleghany. This pond is about a mile long and one-third of a smile wide. At its termination it is damimed by a hoge pile of rocks, over which it rung ; but which are passed through the fissures only. In the spring and summer of >504, immense quantities of leaves and other rubbish washed in and filled up the fissures, since which it has risen full 25 feet. Previous to that time it was fed by a fine large spring at its head ; that then disappeared, and several small springs now flow into it at its up. per end. When first known, it was the resort of vast numbers of elk, buffalo, deer, and other wild animals, for drink ; hence its name of " salt pond." It has no taste of salt, and is inhabited by fine trout.
The above description of the Salt Pond is from the inss. for the 2d edition of Kercheval's History of the Valley of Virginia, From the same source we derive the annexed particulars of an Indian incursion into this region, and of the captivity of Mrs. Hall :
In the year 1774 the Indians commenced their outrages in the vicinity of Sinking Creek, on the New River, in Giles county. In July of this year Joha Lybrock, (now living, 1836,) with several other children, while at play near the stream was discovered by four Indians. One ahead of his party pursued young Lybrook, who escaped by jump- ing a gully twelve feet wide. The rest of the children sprang into a canne and were followed by the Indians, who killed and scalped five of them. A sister of Lybrook, a girl of thir een, jumped out of the canoe and ran, pursued by one of the Indians. Her Me was saved by a remarkably feree dog, who, attracted by her screams, jumped upon the savage and throw him down, hung and jerked violently upon him while the girl got out of danger. The Indian struck at him with his wir cinh, and finally knocked him down ; the dog then can to the carne and guarded the dead children and the pente took them away for burial. The animal refused to follow them-immediately ran off, and soon raised a most piteous howl. This attracted some of the party to the spot, who found a Bitte beachten of Mr. Lybrook, aged about 6 years. with his scull severely free- tored and his brains oozing ont, and sealped. He lived about 24 hours and then ex- pired.
Mrs. Margaret Halt, now living, when about 10 years old was taken pregner by the Indians on New Rives and conveyed to their towns, with whom she remained Is years,
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until after Wayne's victory. The Shawnese, by whom she was taken, transferred her to the Delaware tribe, where she was adopted into the family of an Indian chief. The Indians were somewhat civilized. In this respect the Shawnese were superior to the Delawares. The Indians had a few cattle, and made better, fritters, and pancakes. Shortly before Mrs. Hall returned home an Indian chief fell violently in love with her, and urged le suit, and upon her refund to marry king threatened to kul her. Mer foster-another used hat persuasione the this faver, and the young squats presented that con- gratulations upon the offer. Annoyed by his solicitatious she fled early one morning, on horseback, to a village about 70 miles distant. where her foster-sister and brother hud removed. She arrived about sunset, and found het faster-Mother absent. There she was pursued by the young warrior, who told her she must immediately consent to marry him or be would take her life. She refused, and he enade a lungo at her with & long knife ; at which her fester-sister threw herself between them and received a slight wound in the side, the point of the knife striking a rib. The Indian guil instantly seized the knife by the blade, wrenched it from him, broke it, and threw it away. A fight ensued, while the subject of it sat petrified with fear. Her sister bade her run and hide, as he would probably kill thein both. The girl proved the conqueror, gave him a severe druhy. bing, and drove hiin from the field. Her foster-brother, on returning home from a hunt- ing excursion, told her not to be uneasy, called him a dog, and threatened to kill him if he made. any further attempts. The fellow never annoyed her again, and was subse- quently killed at Wayne's victory. Mrs. Hall is now hving in Giles county, about 4 miles from the Troy Sulphur Springs.
The following account of " the Lucas family," was written by & gentleman of Christiansburg, and published in the Richmond Com- piler in the summer of 1842. It shows in this family a depth of depravity rarely equalled :
The scene of the lives and depredations of this notorious family is in Giles county, on Des Creek, a small brauch of New River which heads in the celebrated salt pond moon. tain, and from its obscurity and loneliness, and the character of its inhabitants, has al- ways been avoided by civilized man.
The father of Lucas is now about 93 years of age, and is, no doubt, a hoary-headed old villain, although he has, during a long life, been adroit enough to commit no crime of which the law could take cognizance. I will give one trait in the character of this old sinner, which will suffice to show what kind of man he is. On the recent trial of his son " Dove," when his life was in jeopardy, this old man, on being asked what was the character of his son David, responded that he believed " Dave would kill any man for twenty-five cents."
'The first in this family of blood -- perhaps unparalleled in civil society-was the fet son of " Old Ran," as he is universally called. (His name, perhaps, is Randolph ; but I presume he has never soen or heard of the baptismal fount.) Well, this first.bora of " Old Ran," named "Jerry," as long ago as the late war, became criminally connect. ed with a man's wife, who was in the service of his country as a military man ut Hor. folk. In a week after the man returned home. " Jerry Lucas," at the earnest solicita. tion of the fiendish woman, under pretence of friendship, invited him home from muster with him. He was afterwards found murdered, behind a log, with about two hundred weight of stone upon his body. Lucas confessed that the evening they left the muster- ground he beat his victim over the head with a club until he supposed he was dead, and went to his house and stayed all night with his wife. To make assurance doubly sare, he returned in the morning to see if the man was dead. He found him sitting, leaning against a tree, and covered with gore. The poor fellow begged for his life, told Lucas to take his wife, and he would leave the country as soon as he was able, and would never say any thing about what he had done to him. The savage Lucas was in- exorable, murdered, and concealed him. For this murder he was bung at Udes Caoit House, in the fall of 1814. Old Boy, his father, sat under the gallows when he was hanging, and amused hinself by eating gingerbread, Jerry's paramour escaped punish. ment for want of testimony.
. " Dave," the sceond son of " Old Ran," the most notorious of these villains, com- menced his career of crime about 1820, at the age of 19, by stealing a horse, for which he was sentenced to the printentiary for five years, during which than he cacoped, in company with another convict, to his home, was retaken, and served out his time.
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Not long after his return home, he robbed a small pedler of all his wares, for which he was again sentenced to the penitentiary for three years. At the time of his last con- viction, a cousin of Dave's, a lad of sixters or seventeen years of age, was conviried of some crime and also sent to the penitentiary for three years, They were discharged at the same time, and left the penitentiary together. The boy has never been heard of" since ; and Lucas, in some of his drunken frolics, boasted that as they came on home, he killed the boy and threw his body into the river. He told the boy's father, that when he ran his knife into him, he bawled like a calf. So it seems he murdered the boy for the wretched pittance given him on leaving the penitentiary to defray his expenses house.
On the night Dave returned Jast from the penitentiary, a large stack-yard, and a barn full of grain. were burnt in his neighborhood, belonging to witnesses on behalf of the commonwealth in his several convictions, which he subsequently admitted were set ou fre by him. Deve's next exploit was at a militia-muster, in September, 1941. In a quarrel and fight with his sister's son, he killed him with a blow. He was acquitted, on trial, owing to some extenuating circumstances. Since his recent confinement, he has admitted he ought to have been punished for this murder, as he had, at the time he struck the blow, a pound of lead concealed in his hand.
The next erime of which Dave is accused, is founded on the following strong c'reum- stances : Some years ago, a man who had been on north with a drove of cattle, merely as a driver, was returning home through Dave's neighborhood, on foot. Shortly after he passed, Lucas was seen to follow him with a rifle, and in a few minutes a report of a gun was heard in that direction. Dave returned with blood on his clothes, and there was seen, on the same day, a large quantity of blood in the road. But, as the drover was an entire stranger, no investigation was had. Very recently a man's dog, in the vicinity, came to his master with a human skull in his month.
Dave's last crime, and for which the world has been freed from the monster, was the murder of John Poff, a poor laborer, who had been working at the Kanawha salt-works a few months, and who, with the proceeds of his labor in his wallet, was travelling alone, and on foot, to his family and home in Floyd county. Dave fell in with him late in the day, and invited him to go home with him, saying he could entertain him as well as any one. Poor Poff consented, and soon met his fate.
Dave killed him within 200 yards of his residence, and so obscure is the place, that be lay nearly a week above ground without discovery ; and what was certainly a strange infatuation, apparently no pains or care was taken to conceal the foul deed. He was tried, and found guilty by the jury in 15 minutes from their retirement from the court- room. There were 17 witnesses on the part of the commonwealth. The criminal had no witness, and refused to employ counsel. The count assigned him counsel, but his case was so plain and flagrant that the counsel submitted it to the jury without argu- ment. He was sentenced, and hung, at Giles Court.House, Friday, June 24th, 1842. The wretched man died as he had lived, without any outward signs of compunction. He made no particular confession when under the gallows; on the contrary, swore when in this awful situation, in answer to something said by one of the attending clergy ; and finally, while the sheriff was adjusting the rope around his neck, attempted to bite his ear. He met death with such a demoniac grin, that among the many thousands present not one tear of sorrow or sympathetic feeling was manifested.
The next on the list of this family of criminals is John Lucas, "Old Ran's" third son. Hle also has killed his man, and his full cousin too ; for it seems they are like old Cain, their hands appear to be raised against their own kin. John and his cousin engaged in a fight, caused by the cousin tauntingly saying, " Your brother Dave is in the peniten- tiary," which so enraged John that he struck him a blow with his heavy riffs, with so much force as to cleave his skull to the very teeth, breaking stock and barrel off in the middle, and causing instant death. Dave being, in part, cause of this quarrel and its disastrous consequences to John, perhaps accounts for the recklessness of his behavior on heaving of Dave's final fate, and may have been strong in his mind when he made the observation, " that it would have been to the credit of the family if Dave had been hang many years ago."
John was tried for his life ; but as the murder occurred, on the part of the murdered man, under aggravating circumstances, John was sent to the penitentiary. He is a very good fac simile of the Lucas family. They are truly a savage-looking race. There are yet two brothers, younger than those already mentioned, who have not yet retylerea themselves so conspicuous in the annals of crime. What their fate will be time only can tell. They promise fair to be genuine shape of the old block, and although young, are already the terror of the neighborhood. " Old Ran" has also daughters, for these
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GLOUCESTER COUNTY.
I'll weeds are very prolific ; but they are worse than the sons -- save the mark -- and there- by hangs a tale. But it is a tale not meet to be told among Christians, and we pass is over.
GLOUCESTER.
GLOUCESTER Was formed in 1642, from York. It lies on Chose- peake Bay, and on the w. side of York River. Much barley was formerly raised in the county ; but, from some unknown cause, the lands have ceased to be adapted for its cultivation. Indian coro is the principal product. Pop., whites 4,412, slaves 5,791, free colored 612 ; total 10,715.
Gloucester, the county-seat, lies immediately opposite Yorktown. on the N. side of York River. It is a small, decayed village, con- taining only a few dwellings. During the siege of York, it was one of the outposts of Cornwallis, and the scene of some minor military operations. There exist remains of redoubts throwm un at that time. The earliest settlers in the co, were from Gloucester- shire in England-who not only transferred the names of places, but the streams also ; hence they have here their Severn, and other rivers, and local denominations.
Rosewell, the seat of John Page, Esq., governor of Va. in 1802, is on the York, nearly opposite the mouth of Queen's creek, It is perhaps the noblest old mansion in the state, and is a most venera. ble relic of antiquity. It is a cube of 90 feet, is four stories high, and its appearance strikingly massive. The roof is flat, and lead- ed. " It has been said that Mr. Jefferson and Gov. Page, in the summer evenings, sometimes enjoyed conversation and the moon- light scene there. From the top of Rosewell house, the view stretches nearly ten miles up and down the river York, which is there about three miles wide-a superb and lovely sheet of water, as bright, as pure, and as sparkling blue as the waters of the ocean. Before the house spreads a fair lawn-around the house are a few trees : this enhances its simple grandeur, standing, as it were, in the dignified solitude of some antique castle." Gov. Page was distinguished for his talents and patriotism, and fulfilled his numerous trusts, as governor of the state, representative in Con- gress, &c., with honor. He died at Richmond, Oct. 11th, 1808, in the 65th year of his age.
Gloucester has connected with its early history some most inter- esting facts. Nathaniel Bacon, the leader of what has been de- nominated " Bacon's Rebellion." died and was buried in this county. The spot is not known, masmuch as, in the language of a writer ('T. M.) of that day, his body " was so made away as his bones were never found, to be exposed on a gibbet as was purposed --- stones being laid on bis coffin-supposed to be done by Laurence."
In a late number of the Southern Literary Messenger, Charles
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GLOUCESTER COUNTY.
Campbell, Esq., of Petersburg, has an article conclusively proving that it was in this county that Pocahontas rescued Capt. Smith. Beneath is an extract from his communication touching this point :
Next to Jamestown, Werowocomoco is perhaps the spot most celebrated in the early chronicles of Virginia. As Jamestown was the seat of the English settlers, so Wero- wocomoco was the residence of the great Indian chief, Powhatan. It was the scene of many interviews and rencontres between the settlers and the savages. It was at Wero- wocomoco that supplies for the colony were frequently obtained; here that Smith once saw suspended on a line between two trees, the scalps of 21 Payanketanks, recoutly slain ; here that Powhatan was crowned by Newport ; and here that occurred the most touching scene in the alole colonial drama-the rescue of Smith by Pocahontas. We. rowocomoco is on the York River, in the county of Gloucester. It may surprise some readers to hear, that the rescue of Smith took place on the York, since, in the general neglect of our early history, it seems to have been taken for granted by many that it took place on James River. Smith and Stith, in their histories, put the matter beyond dis- pute. Smith, Book II., p. 117, describes the Pamaunkee [now York] Giver, as fol- lows :
"" Fourteen myles northward from the river Powhatan is the river Pamaunkce, which is navigable 60 of' 70 myles, but with catches and small barkes 30 or 40 myles farther. At the ordinary flowing of the salt water, it dividesh itselfe into two galfint branches. On the south side inhabit the people of Yough- tinund, who have abon? 60 men for warres. On the north branch Mattapanicut, who have 30 men. Where this river is divvied, the coputry is called Pamaankee, [now West Point.] and nourisheth neare 300 able men. About 25 myles lower. on the north side of this ricer, is Werowocomoco, where their great king inhabited aber Jorge delivered him prisoner."
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