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 59
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83
In consequence of the distance which the pursuers had to go, and the haste with which the Indians bad retreated, the expedition failed in its object ; they however accidentally came on a party of six or seven Mingous, on the head of Cross creek. in Ohio, hear Steubenville. These had been prowling about the river, below Fort Fitt, seeking an opportunity of committing depredations. As Captain Gibson passed the point of a small inok, just after daybreak, he came unexpectedly upon them. Some of them were lying down ; the others were sitting round a fire, making thongs of green hides. Kiskepila, or Little Eagle, a Mingo chief, headed the party. So soon as he discovered Captain Gibson, he raised the war-whoop and fired his rifle; the ball passed through Gibson's hunting-shirt, and wounded a soldier just behind him. Gibson sprang forward, and swinging his sword with herenloan force, severed the head of Little Bagle from his body. Two other Indians were shot down, and the remainder escaped to their towns on the Muskingum.
When the captives who were restored under the treaty of 1763 came in, those who were at the Mingo towns when the remnant of Kiskepila's party returned, stated that the Indians represented Gibson as having cut off Little Eagle's head with a long kmfe Several of the white persons were then sacrifeed to appease the manes of Kiskepila and a war-dance ensued, accompanied with terrific shouts, and bitter denunciations of revenge on " the big knife warrior." This name was soon after applied to the Virginia militia generally; and to this day they are known among the northwestern Indians as the " Long Knives," or " Big Knife nation."
-
MONROE.
MONROE was formed in 1799, from Greenbrier, and named from President Monroc ; its mean length is 31 intles, mean breadth 183 miles. New River forms its southwestern boundary, and receives in its course the Greenbrier River, Indian Creek, and sour minor streams. Much of the county is mountainous ; but as a whole, it is a thriving agricultural section, having a large proportion of fer- tile soil, well adapted to grazing. . Pop., whites 7,457, slaves 868, free colored 97 ; total, 8,122.
Union. the county-seat, lies 229 miles west of Richmond. It is a beautiful little village, situated in a picturesque and fertile valley, 1.1 miles west of the Alleghany mountains, and contains 3 mercan- tile store . 3 Methodist. and I Presbyterian church, and : population of about 400. Peterstown, named from its first settler, Christian Peters, lies in the south angle of the county, on Richi's Creek, near the point where New River breaks through the Alleghany, and about 20 indles southerly from Union, in a wild. romaniie cosairs. Ity site is well adapted for machinery, and it contains about 25 dwellings. Gap Mills, 8 miles w. of the C. H., contains 1 fulling,
381
- MONROE COUNTY.
1. flour, I saw, and I oil mill, 1 woollen factory, 1 distillery, I tat nery, and a few dwellings.
This county is favored with several noted and popular mineral springs. They are the Salt Sulphur, the Sweet, and the Hed Sub- phur Springs; the improvements at all of which are extensive. The descriptions below are from published sources :
The RED SULPHUR SPRINGS are situated on Indian creek, about 40 miles ss. of the White Sulphur, and To from the Salt Sulphur. The spring is near one side of a little triangular plain, almost buried in mountains. The water is clear and cool-its tempe- rature being 54º Fahrenheit-is very strongly charged with sulphureted hydrogen gas. and contains portions of several neutral salts. The water is believed to be directly sedative, indirectly tonic, alterative, diuretic, and diaphoretic.
The water has been found efficacious in all forms of consumption, serofals, jeundice, and other bilious affections, chronic dysentery and diarrhea, dispepsia, diseases of the uterus, chronic dietaavisos wat uru, dropsy, gravel, neuralgia, trenger, syphon. scurvy, ercsipelas, letter, ringworm, and wich; and it has long been celebrated as a vermifuge.
The BALL Semaine Sparte are 25 miles from the White sulphur, and 3 miles froms the village of Union, on Indian Valley creek. There are at this place three springs -. the Sweet, the Salt Sulphur, and the New Spring. The last contains a large portion of iodine. and is highly beneficial for scrofula, and those affections for which iodine is generally given. The two firet are soun what alibe in their properties. The analysis of the Salt Solphine is thus given by Prof Rompre:
SOLD INGREDIENTS- - Sulphate of lane, salphate of magnesia, sulphate of soda, car- bonate of lime, carbonate of magnesia, chloride of sodium, chloride of magnesium, chloride of calcium, iodine. probably combined with sodium-sulpho-hydrate of so- dium and magnesium, sulphur, mingled with a peculiar organic matter --- peroxide of iron derived from proto-sulphate.
GASEOUS INGREDIENTS,-Sulphureted hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, carbonic acid. The bubbles of gas that are seen adhering to the sides of the spring, are composed almost entirely of nitrogen. The temperature of this is 50º Fahrenheit.
The Salt Sulphur, like almost all the sulphurous waters, being a stimulant, should consequently not be employed in acute of highly inflammatory affections. Nor ja those in which there exists much active determination of blood to the head, or at least not until this determination has been quarded against by previous diet, purgation, aud, it necessary, blood-letting. But in all chronic affections of the brain, nervous system, some diseases of the lungs, stomach, bowels, liver, spleen, kidneys, and bladder, it is one of the most valuable of our remedial agents, In diseases of the joints (gout and rheumatism) and skin; in mercurial sequela ; in hamonhoidal affections; and in chronic diseases of the womb, it is also a remedy of immense importance.
The SWEET SemiGs are situated in a wide and beautiful volley, 18 miles from the White Sulphur, and 29 from Fincastle. The following description of the medicinal pro. perties of the Sweet Spring waters, is taken from Dr. Bell, on baths and mineral waters :
The water of the spring rises into a large cylindrical réservoir, from opposite sides of which it flows out by small pipes : one conveying water to the bath for the moon, the other to that for the ladies. The men's bath is of a quadrangular form, surrounded by a wall, and open at the top; it is of tolerable extent, and pleas. the bottom bring of gravel, and the water constantly flowing in, and as conver de passing ent. after it reaches a certain height. The temperature of the spring is 739 Fahr., the same as that which in England, by a strange blunder, is called Bristol hot wells. There is a consid- crable resemblance between the two in other respects, as well in the abundant evolution of the carbonie a. id gas, as in the earthy and salire watters held in solution. In the Virginia aptain, however, mon has been detected, whereas the Bristol hot wells bas aoac in its composition. If we can rely on the rather crude analysis of Bouelle, one quart of the water of the Sweet Spring contains --
Saline substances in general, 12 to 15 grains ; earthy substances, 18 to 21 do ; iron ¿ to l do.
'The saline substances are sulphate of magnesia, muriate of soda, and muriate of lime, with a little sulphate of lime. The earthy substances consist of sulphate of lime, a small portion of carbonate of magnesia'and lime, with a small portion of silicioos earth. "The name is calculated to convey erroneous impressions of their taste, which is like a solution of a small quantity of a calcareous or magnesian carbonate. The excess of
-
3.85
MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
carbonic acid gives, however, the waters a briskness, productive of a very different effeet on the palate from what au imperfect mixture of the earths would produce. The first effects of this water, due to its temperature and gaseous contents, when dronk, are a feeling of warmth at the stomach, with a sensation of fulness at the head and some giddiness. Taken at stated intervals in moderate quantity, it will produce a moisture on the skin and increase the flow of urine. If the stomach be in a good state, it gives additional appetite and imparts fresh vigor to the system. The Sweet Spring water is serviceable in the varieties of dyspepsia accompanied by gastrodynia or spasm, with pains occurring at irregular intervals, and heart-burn -- when the extremities are cohl, and the skin torpid. In secondary debility of the digestive canal, from the exhan ting heat of summer, or in chronic diarrhea, and dysentery without fever, or not sustained by hepatic inflammation, much good will be produced by the internal use of the ...
The harassing cough to which young persons are occasionally subject, and whi a: often has its origin in an enfeebled state of the stomach, or in scrofalous babits f .... enlargement of the bronchial glands, as also the tussis humoralis of old people, will ali he materially benefited by the use of these waters. The Telef afforded in such case's as these has usually given Bristol hot wells its reputation in the cure of pulmonary con. sumption. Females of what are trained a servons habit of body, will find their strength and health restored by drinking these waters, as well as bathing in the manner to be soon mentioned. Frregularity in the uterine factions will often son disappear after the restoration of the digestive system to us tonner energy. As we should have inferred from the excess of carbonic acid, and the presence of the earthy carbonates in the water, it is useful in calculus and nephritic complaints.
About a mile north of the Sweet Spring, is the RED SPRING of Alleghany. This spring is a popalar one, and the waters are said to by peculiarly efficacious in rheumatic complaints.
MONTGOMERY.
MONTGOMERY was formed in 1776, from Fincastle county,* and named from Gen. Montgomery : it is about 23 miles long, and 22 broad. New River runs on its southwestern border, which, with the head-waters of Roanoke River, drain the county. The face of the county is broken and mountainous, though the streams are bor- dered with excellent soil, which yield heavy crops of corn and wheat. Pop. in 1810, whites 5,895, claves 1,473, free colored 87; total, 7,105.
'Christiansburg, the county-seat, lies 203 miles southwesterly from Richmond, 46 miles from Fincastle, and 47 from Wytheville, on the main stage-road from Richmond to Nashville, Teon. it was established by law Oct. 19. 1792, and the following gentlemen .p. pointed trustees: Christina Snido. Byrd Smith, James Barnets Hugh Crockett, Samuel Hason. Joseph Cloud, John Preston, Jantes Charlton, and James Craig. It contains 4 stores, 1 Presbyterian and I Methodist church, and a population of shout 400. Blaak, burg. 9 miles north of the C. 11., contains 1 Presbyterian and I Methodist church, and a population of about 250. Lafayette, in the north part of the county, at the junction of the two forks cf the Roanoke, contains a Methodist church, and about 45 dwellings
" Fincastle county was formed in 1772 from Botetourt, and extinguished in 1776 by the formation of Washington, Montgomery, and Kentucky counties from its territory.
386
NANSEMOND COUNTY.
MORGAN.
MORGAN, named from Gen. Daniel Morgan, was formed in 1820 front Hampshire and Berkeley; its menu length is 22 miles, mean. width 16 miles. Great Cacapon and Sleepy creek flow north- wardly through the county. and empty into the Potomac. The Baltimore and Ohio railroad passes through the northern part .. Much of the surface is broken and rocky; but there is considera- ble good soil upon the streams. Pop. in 1840, whites 4,113, slaves 134, free colored 6; total, 4,253.
Bath, or Berkeley Springs. the county-seat, is a small village near the Potomac, and on the line of the Baltimore and Ohio rail-roud. 180 miles from Richmond, 93 from Washington, 45 w. of Harper's Ferry, and 40 N. of Winchester. The springs at this place are much frequented by invalids, and others in search of health or pleasure. Though the waters are but slightly impregnated with the mineral ingredients, they are in high roputo, and are said to be very beneficial in many diseases.
NANSEMOND.
This county was in existence as early as 1639-40 ; at which time an act was passed defining its boundaries. It bore at first the name of Upper Norfolk. In 1645-6 its name was changed to Nansimum, which word is spelt by Capt. John Smith, Nandsanmind, It is 35 miles long, with an average breadth of 15 miles. The rail-road from Portsmouth to Welion, N. C., passes through the county. The Dismal swamp extends along the eastern edge of the county, and a small part of Lake Drummond is within its lim- its. A good portion of the land belonging to the Dismal Swvamp Company, is situated within the county. The growth of the swamp consists of juniper, cypress, gum, ash, maple, and pine. The com- pany manufacture and export large quantities of shingles. Agri- culture is not so thriving in this county as in many others. Marl is found in many places. The leading articles of trade are tar. turpentine, and staves. Pop. in 1840, whites 4,858, slaves 4,530, free colored 1.407 ; total, 10,795.
Chuckatuck, on the stage-road from Suffolk to Smithfield, and Somerton, near the northern line, contain cach a few dwellings.
Suffolk, the county-seat, is on the Nansemond River, on the line of the Portsmouth and Roanoke rail-road, 18 miles sw. of Norfolk, and 85 from Richmond. This town was established by law in 1742, and has generally been thriving, and a place of considerable business. Vessels of 100 tons come up the river to this town. It contains i Episcopal, ! Baptist, and 2 Methodist churches, and a
387
NANSEMOND COUNTY.
population of about 1,200. Smith, an English traveller, who was through here in 1784, forty two years after the town was estab. lished, thus describes it :
Suffolk contains about a hundred houses, and carries on a pretty brisk trade, having a considerable share of the commerce of the northern counties of North Carolina. Suf- fall stands on & soil so very sandy, that in every step in the street the sand comes above your salire, which renders it extremely disagreeable. To tedy this inconvenient in some small dagne, near their dans they have engaged hamle ot tar or bites. which spreads wide-the sand incorporating with it, and forming a hard, solid consistence, some kind of apology for pavement, and thereby renders walking inneh more tolerable. The houses in Suffolk are low, being generally not more than one story high, which is indeed the ground story only. The trade of this place consists chiefly of turpentine, tar, pitch, tobacco, and pork, which is killed, salted, and barrelled up here ; also lumber, In- dian corn, and some wheat.
In the year 1779, Sir Henry Clinton projected a plan to humble the pride and destroy the resources of Virginia. He sent a pow- erful fleet, which anchored in Hampton Roads, landed a heavy force under Gen, Matthews, which took possession of Portsmouth and Norfolk, and committed extensive devastations. It was on thi , or- pedition. May 13th, that Suffolk was burnt, the account of which here given, is from Girardin :
No sooner was intelligence received of the arrival of the British in Hampton Roads, than the militia of Nansemoud county were called to arms. Suffolk was the place of general rendezvous. About two hundred men assembled there, with such weapons as they could procure from their own homes. Few of them had muskets, and still fewer animunition. This, however, they obtained from Capt. Bright, who commanded the letter of marque, the brig Mars. Bright also furnished two pieces of ordnance, which were immediately mounted upon the carriages of carts. The whole of this little army, headed by Col. Willis Riddick, proceeded about eight miles on the Norfolk road, and, on the evening of the lith of May, cheamped in a large uncultivated Gold, in front of Copt. James Murdaugh's house. Before this movement, three well-mounted young Virginians, Josiah Riddick. Tpomaas Granbury, and Thomas Brittle, had been dispatched to recen- noitre the enomy. They were surprised and made prisoners, just below Halt's inits, da Norfolk county -- conveyed to New York, where they remained for eighteen months in a state of captivity. Thus did the party under Col. Riddick continue in entire ignorance of the numbers and motions of the enemy.
To a tavern, about a mile below the encampment of the militia, Captains King and Davis had repaired for the night. In front of this tavern was a lane with draw-bars as its extremity. These were soon heard'to rattle ; alarmed at this noise, King and Davis seized their muskets, and flew to the door. King leaped out, and fired to give the alarm. The British platoon discharged, and shot Davis through the heart. King, well ac- quainted with the country, soon reached the Virginian camp, and informed his comrades of approaching hostility. The violener of the wind, Mowing in an unfavorable diree- tion, had prevented them from hearing the report even of the British musketry, discharge so hear them. Col. Willis Riddick, not suspecting the approach of the for; had retired to his own house. The command, therefore, devolved upon Col. Edward Riddick. The militia retraced their steps to Suffolk, which they reached before the dawn. Few of's cers, mounted on fleet horses, were then dispatched to ascertain the situation and force of the enemy. Four miles below Suffolk they halted, and immediately after sunrise, in the entrance of a lane, about one quarter of a mile long, had a full view of the advane- ing fee, and distinctly counted CAB infantry. They mode back in full speed, and, apon calling the militia to arms, about one hundred only obeyed the call. The others had dis persed. A retreat became unavoidable -- every man was admonished to take care of himself. Most of the inhabitants had already left their homes. New could save their effects. Such as delayed their flight, in attempting to secure their property, were taken prisoners. Ruthless devastation attended the British. They set fre to the town, and nearly the whole was consumed. Several hundred barrels of tar, pitch, turpentine, and rum, had been deposited on lots contiguous to the wharves. The heads of the barrels bring knocked out, and thou contents, which Howed in a conuningird muss, cafeanig tto
-
--
-- -
-
C
388
NEW KENT COUNTY.
blaze, descended to ine river, like torrents of burning lava. As the wind blew from the wharves with great violence, these substances, with difficulty soluble in water, rapidly floated to the opposite shore in a splendid state of conflagration, which they communi. cated to the thick and decaying herbage of an extensive marsh, the growth of the pre- ceding year. This immense sheet of fire, added to the vast columns of undulating flames which ascended from the burning houses in the town-the explosion, at intervals. of the gunpowder in der aregezins the consequent projection through the or of large pieces of ignited timber, which flew, Like meteors, to an astonishing distance -- all con- tributed to form a collective scene of horror, and subliniity, and desolation, such as could not be viewed without emotions not to be described.
NELSON.
NELSON was formed in 1807, from Amherst, and named from Thomas Nelson, governor of Virginia in 1781. It is about 26 miles long, and 20 broad. The face of the country is broken and mountainous, particularly as it approaches the Blue Ridge. The mountains contain generally a fine rich soil : and their intervening valleys. and the low grounds upon the streams, are fertile To- bacco was formerly more cultivated than at present, but the less land-exhausting crops of wheat and rye have succeeded. An in- creased attention is being paid to husbandry, and the off juindi- cious modes of culture are being done away with. As a whole. the county is & fertile and wealthy one. Population in 1840, whites 6,169, slaves 5,967, free colored 152; total, 12,287.
Lovingston, the county-seat, is on a branch of the The River. near the centre of the county, on the stage-road from Lynchburg to Charlottesville, 105 miles northwesterly from Richmond. It is beautifully situated in a cove surrounded by romantic mountain- ous scenery. The religious denominations are Methodist, Baptist, and Presbyterian. It has several mercantile stores, and a popula- tion of about 300. At New Market, at the influx of the Tye River into the James, in the southern part of the county, there is a tobacco inspection, where several hundred hogsheads of tobacco are annually inspected. The annual amount of tobacco produced in the county, is over two millions of pounds. Faber's Mills, in the west part, contains a Baptist church nud a few dwellings.
NEW KENT.
NEW KENT was formed in 1654. from York. The boundaries were then defined as follows: "It is ordered that the upper part of York county shall be a distinct county called New Kent, From the west side of Scimino creek to the heads of Pamunkey and Mat- taponie River, and down to the head of the west side of Poropo- tanke creek." The Pamunkey rens on its northern and the Chicka- hominy on its southern boundary : to each of these the respective
389
NEW KENT COUNTY.
portions of the county incline. New Kent is about 26 miles long and 9 broad. Population in 1840, whites 2,472, slaves 3,385, free colored 373 ; total, 6,230.
Now Best C. U., er Dasseffville, is 30 miles h. of Bielonord, She's of the Puntualey. It contains several stores and! taverns, and about a dozen dwellings.
Beautifully situated on the banks of the Pamenkey. is the man. sion known as "the White House." It stands on the site of the one in which Washington was married. From Custis's Life of Mrs. Martha Washington, we extract the account of his courtship and marriage :
It was in 1758 that Washington, attired in a military undress, and attended hy a body servant, tall and militaire as his chief, crossed the ferry called Williams's, over the Pa- monkey, a branch of the York River. On the boat touching the southern or New Kont side, the soldier's progress was arrested by one of those personages who give the beas idéal of the Virginia gentleman of the old regime, the very soul of kindness and hospi- tality. It was in vain the soldier urged his business at Williamsburg, important com- munications to the governor, &c. Mr. Chamberlayne, on whose domain the militaire had just landed, would hear of no excuse. Col. Washington was a name and character Ro dear to all Virginians, that his passing by one of the castles of Virginia, without call- ino and pirtaking of the hospitalities of the host, was entirely out of the question. The colonel, however, did not surrender at discretion, but stoutly maintained bis ground till Chamberlayne, bringing up his reserve, in the juthnatioa that he would introdare kis friend to a young and charming widow, then beneath his roof, the soldier capitulated, ou condition that he should dine-only dias-and then, by pressing hus charger and bor- rowing of the night, he would reach Williamsburg before his excellency could shake off his morning slumbers. Orders were accordingly issued to Bishop, the colonel's body servant and faithful follower, who, together with the fine English charger, had been be- queathed by the dymis Braddock to Major Washington, on the famed and fated field of Monongahela. Bishop, bred in the school of European discipline, raised his hand to Lia cap, as much as to say, " Your orders shall be obeyed."
The colonel now proceeded to the mansion, and was introduced to various guests, (for when was a Virginia domicil of the olden time without guests?) and, above all, to the charming widow. Tradition relates that they were mutually pleased, on this, their first interview --- nor is it remarkable ; they were of an age when impressions are strongest. The lady was fair to behold, of fascinating manners, and splendidly endowed with worldly benefits. The hero was fresh from his early fields, redolent of fame, and with a form on which "every god did seems to set his seal, to give the world assurance of a man."
The morning passed pleasantly away, evening came, with Bishop, true to his orders and firm at his post, holding the favorite charger with one hand, while the other was waiting to offer the ready stirrup. The sun sunk in the horizon, and yet the colonel ap- peared not. ""Iwas strange, 'twas passing strange ;" surely he was not wont to be a single moment behind his appointments -- for he was the most punctual of all men.
Meantime, the host enjoyed the scene of the veteran at the gate, while the colonel was so agreeably employed in the parlor ; and proclaiming that no visitor ever left his home at sunset, his military guest was, without much difficulty, persuaded to order Bishop to put up the horses for the night. The sun rode high in the heavens the ensuing day, when the enamored soldier pressed with his spar his charger's side, and specied on his way to the seat of government, where, having dispatched his public business, he re- traced his steps, and, at the White House, the engagement took place, with preparativos for marriage.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.