USA > Virginia > Sketches of Virginia : historical and biographical > Part 17
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Sabbath, 11th. - Lay in camp. In the evening we were ordered to prepare for a march ; after we were ordered to stay ; after our orders for the future were read out, we cooked two days' pro- visions.
Monday, 12th. - Marched first S. W. to the end of camp, then turned directly back, and stood some hours; at last we left camp at the High Rock, and marched near six miles. Again we turn back about a mile, and encamp near Haw river.
Tuesday, 13th. - We paraded several times, and at last fired in platoons and battalions ; in doing which one of the North Carolina militia was shot through the head ; a bullet glancing from a tree, struck Geo. Moore on the head - of our battalion. In the evening we marched from Haw river about three miles, and encamped. .
Wednesday, 14th. - Decamped at Reedy Creek, and marched to Guilford Court House, ten miles.
Thursday, 15th. - Was rainy in the morning. We often paraded, and about ten o'clock, lying about our fires, we heard our light in- fantry and cavalry, who were down near the English lines, begin firing with the enemy. Then we immediately fell into our ranks, and our brigades marched out, at which time the firing was ceased. Col. McDowell's battalion of Gen. Stephens' brigade was ordered on the left wing. When we marched near the ground we charged our guns. Presently our brigade major came, ordering to take trees as we pleased. The men run to choose their trees, but with diffi- culty, many crowding to one, and some far behind others. But we moved by order of our officers, and stood in suspense. Presently
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the Augusta men, and some of Col. Campbell's fell in at right angles to us. Our whole line was composed of Stephens' brigade on the left, Lawson's in the centre, and Butler's, of N. C., on the right. Some distance behind were formed the regulars. Col. Wash- ington's light horse were to flank on the right, and Lee on the left. Standing in readiness, we heard the pickets fire ; shortly the Eng- lish fired a cannon, which was answered ; and so on alternately, till the small armed troops came nigh ; and then close firing began near the centre, but rather towards the right, and soon spread along the line. Our brigade major, Mr. Williams, fled. Presently came two men to us and informed us the British fled. Soon the enemy ap- peared to us ; we fired on their flank, and that brought down many of them ; at which time Capt. Tedford was killed. We pursued them about forty poles, to the top of a hill, where they stood, and we retreated from them back to where we formed. Here we re- pulsed them again ; and they a second time made us retreat back to our first ground, where we were deceived by a reinforcement of Hes- sians, whom we took for our own, and cried to them to see if they were our friends, and shouted Liberty ! Liberty ! and advanced up till they let off some guns ; then we fired sharply on them, and made them retreat a little. But presently the light horse came on us, and not being defended by our own light horse, nor reinforced, -though firing was long ceased in all other parts, we were obliged to run, and many were sore chased, and some cut down. We lost our major and one captain then, the battle lasting two hours and twenty-five minutes. We all scattered, and some of our party and Campbell's and Moffitt's collected together, and with Capt. Moffitt and Major Pope, we marched for headquarters, and marched across till we, about dark, came to the road we marched up from Reedy Creek to Guilford the day before, and crossing the creek we marched near four miles, and our wounded, Lusk, Allison, and in particular Jas. Mather, who was bad cut, were so sick we stopped, and all being almost wearied out, we marched half a mile, and encamped, where, through darkness and rain, and want of provisions we were in distress. Some parched a little corn. We stretched blankets to shelter some of us from the rain. Our retreat was fourteen miles.
Friday, 16th. - As soon as day appeared, (being wet) we de- camped, and marched through the rain till we arrived at Speedwell furnace, where Green had retreated from Guilfordtown, where the battle was fought, sixteen miles distant ; there we met many of our company with great joy, in particular Colonel M'Dowell ; where we heard that we lost four pieces of cannon after having retaken them, also the 71st regiment we had captured. After visiting the tents, we eat and hung about in the tents and rain, when frequently we were rejoiced by men coming in we had given out for lost. In the evening we struck tents and encamped on the left, when the orders were read to draw provisions and ammunition, to be in readiness, which order struck a panic on the minds of many. Our march five miles.
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Saturday, 17th. - On account of the want of some of our blankets, and some other clothing, many proposed returning home, which was talked of in general in M'Dowell's battalion, till at last they agreed, and many went off; a few were remaining when General Lawson came and raged very much ; and about ten o'clock all but M'Dowell came off. We marched twelve miles to the old Surry towns on Dan where we encamped.
Sabbath, 18th. - Crossed Dan, in our march touched on Smith's River on our left, at which place we received a little bacon and a bushel of meal. A little afterward, many went to a tavern where some got drunk and quarrelled. We marched through the lower end of Henry County, and encamped on the borders of Pittsylvania, which evening I opened the clothes in possession of Jo Weir. That same night Robert Wardlaw burned the butt of his gun. Our march was fifteen miles.
Monday, 19th. - Marched into Pittsylvania, and encamped with a Dutchman, where we got some meat. Our mess bought ten quarts of flour and some hoe-cake. The day's journey twenty-two miles. Our sick were lodged in the house, and Dr. Brown took care of them.
Tuesday, 20th. - In the morning Dr. Brown and Captain Alex- ander disputed about the wagons. Near the middle of the day we left the wagons, and took off the great road under the direction of a pilot, whom some fearing he was leading us into a snare, they charged their guns. We crossed Stanton River, and dined, fifteen of us, at Captain Chiles, from which we marched two miles and encamped. In all fifteen miles.
Wednesday, 21st. - We paid Murphy one dollar a man, for horses to carry us over Goose Creek. Had breakfast with Mr. Butler, and three pints of brandy. In the evening I was sick ; came to Mr. Rountrees, where we lodged. I got a little milk and peach- dumpling, the rest a dinner of meat and so on. I lay in a bed with Jas. Blair, and the rest on the floor.' Our day's march was twenty- one miles.
Thursday, 22d. - My brother and I hired Mr. Rountrees' horses, and his son came with us to Mr. Lambert's, where, after he received forty-three dollars, he returned. We eat with Mr. Lambert, and paid him ten dollars each. I bought five books from him, and paid him four hundred and twelve dollars and a half. We crossed the mountain, and in the valley saw the wonderful mill without wheels, doors, or floors. . In that same valley Jos. Boagle met us with brother's horses, and he with one of them went back for Robert McCormic. We proceeded to Greenlee's, got dinner, and when they came up crossed the river and came to Boagle's, where we lodged. Our day's march was thirty-two miles.
Fridag, 23d .- Left Boagle's and came to brother William's. Here I conclude my journal of the expedition under Colonel M'Dowell against Cornwallis, the British General in North Carolina. Rock- bridge County, Virginia, in the year 1781, March 23d.
SAMUEL HOUSTON. 1
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Occasionally in speaking of this battle among his friends he related two circumstances respecting himself; one was that on the morning of the battle, he got an opportunity for private prayer in an old tree top, and with unusual freedom committed himself to the wise and protecting providence of God; the other was that in that battle of two hours and twenty minutes, he discharged his rifle four- teen times, that is once in about ten minutes from the time he heard the first fire of the approaching enemy, till his company joined the retreat of Greene. Others in the battle said -that Mr. Houston was the first in his line to answer the command "fire," and that he was quite in advance when he discharged his rifle. It is easy to find the position of the Rockbridge militia in the battle from the diagrams and statements in the life of General Greene. Greene with the regulars were at the Court House; some distance in front, cross- ing at right angles the great Salisbury road, on which the British forces were advancing, were stationed the Virginia militia; some dis- tance in front, and across the same road lay the North Carolina militia. The Virginia line was in the forest; the Carolina partly in the forest and partly on the skirts of the forest, and partly behind a fence inclosing the open space across which the British force was advancing with extended front. According to orders the Carolina line, when the enemy were very near, gave their fire, which on the left of the British line was deadly, and having repeated it retreated ; some remained to give a third fire, and some made such haste in retreat as to bring reproach upon themselves as deficient in bravery, while their neighbors behaved like heroes. The right wing of the Vir- ginia line was soon turned by the British regulars pressing on to the position of Greene, and like the Carolina line gave vivid examples both of timidity and heroic courage; the left wing, in which Hous- ton was, maintained its position till Greene retreated, almost con- stantly engaged, but not pressed so hard as they might have been by the regulars occupied with the main body of the American army.
The greatest loss of the Rockbridge and Augusta forces, was ex- perienced after they commenced their retreat. 'Lee's light-horse were not ready to cover them, and their retreat became a flight, exposed to the sabres of the British light-horse. Mr. Samuel Steele, that died an old man, near Waynesborough, in that retreat shot one horseman that followed him. 'Two others came upon him before he reloaded, and he surrendered himself a prisoner - " Give us your gun." "Oh, no," said he, "I can't think of that." "I say, give us your gun !" "Oh, no, I can't think of that." Bursting into a laugh at his simplicity - " Well, carry it along, then," motioning him to follow in the rear. He went along some distance, when sud- denly springing into the thick top of a fallen tree he commenced loading his gun. The horsemen unable to get at him with their swords, put spurs and rode out of reach of his shot. He took ad- vantage of their disappearance, and was soon out of danger. David Steele, of Medway, where Waddell addressed the militia before their march, was cut down in the retreat, and left for dead. The scar of
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a deep wound over one of his eyes, was frightful to strangers, through his long life. Judge Stuart, of Staunton, was in the battle, a messmate of Houston, and retained a friendship for him till his death ; excelling in talents, he could not, in the opinion of the soldiers, surpass him in the cool facing of danger. Captain James Tate, of Bethel, was killed in the early part of the battle. Captain Andrew Wallace, from near Lexington, was in 'the regular service, and had always shown himself a brave man. That morning he expressed a mournful presage that he would fall that day. In the course of the action, he sheltered himself behind a tree with some indications of alarm. Being reproached, he immediately left the shelter, and in a moment received his death wound. A brother of his, Captain Adam Wallace, was with Buford at the terrible massa- cre on the Waxhaw ; after killing many of the enemy with his espontoon, he died bravely fighting. A third brother, Captain Hugh Wallace, in the regular army, died in Philadelphia, of small- pox. Major Alexander Stuart, of whom Mr. Houston says - "We lost our Major," -was mounted on a beautiful mare. A shot was fatal to her, on the hasty retreat. As she fell, the Major was seized, and surrendered. His captors plundered him, and left him standing in his cocked-hat, shirt, and shoes. He was unwounded. Cornwallis took him and other prisoners with him in his retreat to Wilmington. For a time Greene greatly harassed Cornwallis in his daily marches. Mr. Stuart said, the prisoners suffered severely, particularly from thirst. So great was the haste of flight, and the unkindness of the guard, that the prisoners were not suffered to intermit their speed even to drink in crossing the runs; those that attempted to drink were warned by the bayonet point to go on. He dipped water with his cocked-hat; and others with their shoes. Archibald Stuart was commissary, but at Guilford he took his musket and entered the ranks as a common soldier. Major Stuart said, that Greene afterwards told him, that there was a turn in the battle in which, if he could have reckoned upon the firm stand of the left wing of Virginia militia, he could have annihilated the army of Cornwallis. He knew they were good for a short fight, but was not prepared to see them stand it out as regulars. The defect of the militia system, was apparent. The second day after the battle - when they must either march further from home in pursuit of Corn- wallis - "to offer the British force more cannon and another regi- ment of recaptured prisoners, on the same terms as on the 15th" - or return home; they all, the very men who called those that flinched at the Dan, " cowards ;" all, in face of their Colonel, and the dis- pleasure, "the fury" of the- General of Brigade, all marched off home. Some, both of the Carolina and the Virginia militia, fled from the battle-ground on the 15th, and never rested till they reached their homes. Some of the Virginia men that fled thus, in the fear lest they should be called to account for their flight re- treated into the western ridges of the Allegheny - and even to old age dreaded the approach of a stranger, as perhaps an officer for
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their arrest for desertion. The American Generals soon learned to object to short terms of service, and at the same time had full confidence in the courage of their countrymen.
At a meeting of Hanover Presbytery at the Stone meeting house Augusta County, November 1781, Messrs. Samuel Houston, Andrew M'Clure, Samuel Carrick and Adam Rankin, were on examination received as candidates for the ministry. In May 1782, at Timber Ridge, on the 22nd, Mr. Houston read a lecture on Colossians 3d, from the 1st to the 8th verse ; and also a presbyterial discourse on 1 Tim. 1. 5, which were sustained as parts of trial. Messrs. Ran- kin, Carrick and M'Clure, exhibited parts of their trials for licen- sure. At this Presbytery Mr. John M'Cue was licensed, and on parts of his examination Messrs. Houston and Rankin were associ- ated. October 22d, 1782 at New Providence, the Presbytery was opened with a sermon by Adam Rankin, from 2 Cor. 5. 14, and Samuel Houston John 17. 3; both candidates for licensure. These were sustained. Messrs. Andrew M'Clure and Samuel Carrick, also produced their pieces of trial. And the four candidates having passed acceptably all their trials, were licensed to preach the gospel. At Hall's meeting house May 20th, 1783, Mr. Houston accepted a call from the Providence congregation in Washington County. The third Wednesday of August was fixed for the ordination ; Mr. Hous- ton to preach from Col. 3. 4; the ordination services to be performed by Messrs. Cummings, Balch and Doak, the second to preach the ordination sermon, the third to preside, the first to give the charge. In August 1785, the Presbytery of Abingdon was formed, and Mr. Houston made a constituent part. In May 1786, he took his seat in the Synod as the first in attendance from the Presbytery. In the events of a few succeeding years Mr. Houston in common with his fellow citizens, took an active part. He advocated the forma- tion of a new State to be called Franklin. After some years of commotion, the State of Tennessee was formed and made one of the Union. Unfortunately the Presbyterian ministers were divided in their opinions in the course of the procedure, and suffered, many of them, much uneasiness on a subject the particulars of which it is not , necessary to record, except in a history of Tennessee in its settle- ment and progress. For various reasons Mr. Houston determined to return to Virginia, and on the 24th of October, 1789, he was admitted a member of Lexington Presbytery.
In September 1791, at Augusta Church on the 20th, when A. Alexander opened Presbytery with his trial sermon, he accepted a call from Falling Spring for two-thirds of his time. At this place and High Bridge he performed the duties of a minister of the gos- pel, faithfully and diligently, till the infirmities of age made it necessary for him to throw the labor on younger men. For many years he taught a classical school with success, mingling firmness and kindness in his discipline. He took great delight in meeting his brethren in the judicatories of the Church. His last attendance on the Virginia Synod was at Lexington, October 1837. Bent with
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age, almost blind, his long gray locks falling upon his shoulders, he sedulously attended the sessions and listened to the debates, and finally gave his vote to sustain the action of the Assembly of '37. None that saw him could forget his appearance. Cheerful through life, he was glad when his end came. His works remain. He was one that cherished Washington College in the days of its, greatest weakness and depression. When his infirmities came upon him, he resigned his pastoral charges, and employed himself in going out into the highways and hedges.
About two miles from the Natural Bridge, and sixteen from Lex- ington on the road to Fincastle, is a brick church on a hill, sur- rounded by a grave-yard. At the western end of the church, is a marble slab inscribed
SACRED to the memory of the REV. SAMUEL HOUSTON, who in early life was a soldier of the Revolution, and for 55 years a faithful minister of the LORD JESUS CHRIST.
He died on the 20th day of January 1839, aged 81 years, in the mature and blessed hope of a glorious resurrection and of immortal life, in the kingdom of his Father and his God.
CHAPTER XI.
THE CAPTIVITY AND ESCAPE OF MRS. INGLIS IN 1756. 1
CAPTIVITY by the Shawanees, or their confederates in Ohio, was not a singular event in the progress of civilization in the Valley and mountains of West Virginia. Commencing in murder, plunder, and the burning of habitations, it was a continued series of exposures, privations and dangers, ending in adoption, ransom, or escape. Sometimes the captive remained cheerfully, to share the joys and sorrows of the barbarians. In all these particulars there is a same- ness in the histories of Indian captivities, while each narrative is diversified with some personal display of courage, activity and en- durance of suffering. The circumstances of some are so full of thrilling interest and exciting events that the narrative may be a
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fair specimen of the almost innumerable instances of loss of free- dom, of property, and of friends by savage hands. One of these types is the captivity of the Draper family, embracing the surprise, bloodshed, plunder, house-burning, exposure, kindness, escape, ran- som, and naturalization to Indian life, the prolonged bondage and the caprice of the savages in their cruelty and kindness to their- captives.
Mr. George Draper removed from Pennsylvania about the year 1750, and took his residence, in advance of the wave of population moving south-westwardly, on the top of the great Allegheny Ridge, in the present bounds of Montgomery County. The place he chose for a residence was, for a length of time, called Draper's Meadows. Passing into other hands it took the name of its owner and was called Smithfield; and is now in the possession of the Preston family. Draper's residence or fort, stood between the residence of ex-Governor Preston and his son. On top of the main Ridge of Virginia mountains, the meadows presented a beautiful extent of rolling country, very fertile, and healthy, and containing within its bounds abundant springs of pure water, some of which find their way to the Atlantic through the James, and the Chesapeake Bay ; and others that mingle their streams with the Ohio and Mississippi and the Gulf of Mexico. In the space of a few moments' one can drink of waters that flow eastward through the "ancient dominion,". and turn and wash himself in those that wander by the numerous Western States, to make a part of the mysterious Gulf-stream.
To this beautiful spot his son John with his wife, and his daughter Mary with her husband, William Inglis, accompanied him.' The " meadows " were glades with few trees or marshes, and fed herds of buffalo and deer. For seclusion, abundance of the means of living, and the pleasure and excitement of hunting, Draper's mea- dows might have been an enviable spot. And some few years passed away in quietness and enjoyment. At a distance, other families, drawn by the same inducements, took their abode, following each other at intervals. Proximity of residence encroached upon the freedom and abundance of the chase; and the families that chose the Allegheny top for a home, like Moore in his valley, preferred solitude to the sight of human habitations. In this situation of the family, Mr. George Draper died.
The Shawanees in their expeditions against the Catawbas frequently passed the Draper settlement, which was in the direct line of one of their great war paths, without molestation or signs of displeasure, till the year 1756. Excited by the French, and jealous of the rapid encroachment upon their hunting grounds, the Alleghenies being already scaled, the Shawanees made a sudden descent upon Draper's meadows in the midst of harvest, while the men were all in the field securing their crop unarmed and unsuspicious of danger. The savages surrounded the dwelling, in which were the women and children, and the arms of the families, and of the men who had come to aid in the harvest; and murdered the widow of
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George Draper, and also Colonel James Patton from Tinkling Spring, in Augusta, who was on an exploring expedition, and spend- ing a few days at the meadows to refresh himself from his journey and some illness that had come upon him. The wife of John Dra- per, and Mrs. Inglis and her two sons, Thomas of four years of age, and George of two years, were made prisoners to be taken to the Indian towns. Mr. Inglis hearing the noise at the house hast- ened home in alarm. He approached very near the dwelling before he discovered the Indians ; hoping to aid his family he drew still. nearer. Two stout Indians discovered him and rushed at him with their tomahawks. He fled to the woods; they pursued, at a little distance from each other, one on each side of Mr. Inglis to prevent his secreting himself by turning aside. He perceived that the Indians were gaining upon him, and attempting to jump over a fallen tree he 'fell, and gave himself up for lost. Owing to the underbrush, the pursuers did not see him fall, and passed by on each side of him as he lay in the bushes. In a few moments he was upon his feet and escaped in another direction. The harvest hands deprived of their arms, believing resistance ineffectual, left the Indians unmo- lested and secreted themselves in the woods around the meadows.
The savages taking what plunder they pleased and the four pri- soners, moved off towards New River, advancing slowly on account of the thick underbrush, and not apprehending any pursuit from the circumstances of the families in and around the meadows; and striking that river they leisurely proceeded down the stream. The captors were partial to Mrs. Inglis, and having several horses permitted her to ride most of the way and carry her two children. Mrs. Draper, who was wounded in the back and had her arm broken in the attack upon the settlement, was less kindly cared for. As usual all the prisoners suffered from exposure, and privations, and confinement on their march. Mrs. Inglis had more liberty granted her than Mrs. Draper. The Indians permitted her to go into the woods to search for the herbs and roots necessary to bind up the broken arm and the wounded back of her fellow captive, trusting probably to her love for her children for her speedy return. They kept the little boy of four years, and his little brother of two, as her hostages ; and were not mistaken. She stated afterwards that she had frequent opportunities of escaping while gathering roots and herbs, but could never get her own consent to leave her children in the hands of the savages, and was always cheered by the hope of recapture or ransom. " When the party had descended the Kenawha to the salt region, the Indians, as was usual, halted a few days at a small spring to make salt. After about a month from the time of their captivity the party arrived at the Indian village at the mouth of the big Scioto. The partiality for Mrs. Inglis exhi- bited by the captors, during the march, was more evident upon reaching the village. She was spared the painful and dangerous trial, of running the gauntlet ; while Mrs. Draper with her wounds yet unhealed was compelled to endure the blows barbarity might
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