ding

her

by

befo

tain at the same distance; dark shadowy vales, lofty her hemlock, laurels and cedar, with the same rolling riv and ulets; in imagination, it seems as though I were transported one hundred miles in the opposite direction. A few miles above Staunton, we cross Middle river, which is no more than a creek; it has its source in the North mountain. The land on this river is fine, and the farms display the wealth and independence of the farmer's vast barns, extensive meadows covered with droves of sleek cattle, and elegant buildings. I have always remarked, that wealth forever accompanies good land. This county (Augusta,) is the wealthiest county, except two, in West Virginia.

--

sp

som

and

hous

ed,

dia

Blu

tion

Indi

ofte

ther

Burt

is st

is t

Staunton. Although Staunton is on Middle river, it may be called an inland town. The nearest navigation is Port Tobacco, forty miles. It is the seat of justice for Augusta county.. The Superior Court of law and Superior Court of Chancery also hold their sessions there twice in every year. It is situated in a beautiful valley, between the North and South mountain, and contains two court-houses, one prison, two clerk's offices, a fire office, one printing office, one post-office, three churches, one for Episcopalians, one for Methodists, and one for Presbyterians. There are no public squares in I say Staunton; the public buildings are on the streets. alter Staunton contains two hundred and forty dwelling-hous- had cs, ten stores, three Doctors, and thirteen Lawyers. had

whe

ton.

at w

ular

History.-Staunton was first settled by an emigrant whe from Ireland, by the name of Cunningham; who built her the first framed house where Staunton now stands, on cour the land contained in Beverly's grant. In the year its i 1746, there were two log cabins, a log court-house and man a log prison, on the site, when Cunningham arrived; a who man by the name of Brown, lived in one of the cabins lei and a woman by the name of Molly McDonald (not of her very good fame) lived in the other. I had these partic bec ulars from Mrs. Reed, daughter of the same Cunning The ham. This lady is now living in Staunton; and, al the though in the eighty-fourth year of her age, she retains fert

es, lotty ling rive trans

tion.

A

r, which e North

he farms

farmer's roves of ways re›d land.

, except

river, it avigation stice for nd Supeons there

yers.

I

her intellects in their full vigour. She hears distinctly, and converses with judgment and uncommon understanding; although her eye sight, owing to a disorder in her eyes, is very imperfect. She never was confined by sickness in her life, she informed me, until a few days before my visit to her; she was then in bed; but when spoke to her, she sat up in the bed, and conversed some time without fatigue. She was born in Ireland, and was in her seventh year when her father built the house mentioned. She said they lived there unmolested, until after her marriage with Reed; when the Indians became troublesome, she had to escape over the Blue Ridge. The citizens built a fort for their protection, where the centre of Staunton now is, though the Indians killed none in or nearer than five miles off.

I lived myself near Staunton, when a child; and was often in company with this same Mrs. Reed; who was then an old woman, and a widow; she had a sister, Mrs. Burnes, also a widow, whom I used to know; and who tiful val- is still alive, though she does not live in Staunton; she and con- is two years younger than Mrs. Reed. Mrs. Burnes offices, a when I knew her, kept a tavern, the best one in Staune, three ton. I was likewise acquainted with Mrs. Chambers, lists, and at whose tavern I now am. It is thirty-six years since quares in I saw Mrs. Chambers, but I did not find her so much streets. altered by time, as Mrs. Callahan; although she has ing-hous had as many children, she had shrunk down a little, and had grown corpulent, but her stature, her eyes particularly, retained much of her former likeness. She was, emigrant when young, a very handsome woman, and is still so for who built her years. Of all parts of the United States, Augusta tands, on county must be the most healthy, from the longevity of its inhabitants. Besides the two instances above cited, many others exist. The mother of Mrs. Chambers, rived; a who was a very old woman (upwards of seventy) when e cabins I left Augusta, thirty-six years ago, has been dead (as Id (not of her daughter informed me) only five years. She had se partic become in every respect like an infant, for several years. Cunning The salubrity of the climate is abundantly displayed in and, al the appearance of the inhabitants. From this cause, the he retains fertility of the soil, and numerous streams of the purest

the year ouse and

water, may be ascribed that exuberance of nature every where visible. Every thing seems to be propelled beyond nature; the people, horses, and cattle, as well as inanimate productions, are of great size. Even the Af rican race are overgrown, and look as though they would burst. Staunton is situated in a circular hollow, or low spot of ground, entirely surrounded by hills. In approaching it from any direction, the traveller never secs it till he may be said to be in the town. No town in the world can boust better water, or more abundant, than Staunton. The most beautiful springs burst out in every part: they are found in every street, and almost in every lot. This contributes greatly to the health and cleanliness of the place. Staunton is inhabited by a sober, industrious, and moral people; it is likewise the seat of some retinement; some of the first men, both for talents and erudition, have their residence in Staunton.

Among these are Major Shelly, Judge Brown, Judge Stewart, Major Baldwin, Mr. Peyton, and Chapman Johnston. Staunton, however, has not improved latterly, in proportion to that success which marked the first twenty years of its growth. It received a great check by those enterprising merchants west of it, some of whom have been mentioned in these sketches. Provious to this, Staunton drew all the trade of the wost, which was considerable. It has no market-house, nor has it either watch or patrol, although it is an incorporated town.

This town, and the whole county of Augusta, is famous in history for its courage and patriotism during the revolutionry war: the most of the people volunteered their services, both against the Indians and the British. It will be recollected the Virginia legislature was drove from place to place, during that war, until it finally took refuge in Staunton. While it was in session there, word came one night, that Tarleton, with a British force, was approaching, and that he was expected to arrive at the Rockfish gap by ten o'clock next day. Colonel Samuel Lewis, (son of Gen. Lewis, already mentioned,) called about midnight at the house of his uncle, William Lew is, late of the Sweet Springs, who then lived about a

qua wh

and

aur

rep qui

and

(me whe San bo:

Dic

quid

said

and! tain der

the with

111111

stre

clot

frigh

had

was

most

the

Lo

the

ed, t

to th

the WOO

tain The

likes

a m He

Virg Juli

every ed be

well as the Afwould or low

In ap

er sees in the t, than out in almost th and

1 by a se the

oth for unton.

Judge apman latterhe first

check me of Previwest, -e, nor

согро

is fang the

teered

British. drove y took .word

e. was

at the amuel called Lew

cout a

quarter of a mile from Staunton. Mrs. Lewis (from
whom I had the story) said that Samuel opened the door,
and calling her, hastily asked, "Where are the boys,
aunt?" (meaning her sons, who were men grown.) She
replied, they were up stairs in bed. "Call them up,
quick," said he, "Tarleton is coming on with his forces,
and we want to stop him at the pass of the mountain,"
(meaning the gap.) She instantly called up her sons,
who were soon equipped, and set off with their cousin
Sam. In the mean time, several of the members, who
boarded with Mr. Lewis, arose, calling out, "Bob, Sam,
Dick," (speaking to their servants,) "saddle the horses,
quick" and here they came running down stairs, she
said, as though they would overturn each other. She,
and Mr. Lewis, thinking they were going to the moun-
tain, gave them all the assistance in their power, in or-
der to hasten their departure; but instead of going to
the mountain, they steered their course toward the west,
with all possible dispatch. Next morning disclosed a
marvellous spectacle.-The streets of Staunton were
strewed with portmanteaus, saddlebags, and bundles of
clothes tied up in pocket-handkerchiefs, which the af
frighted tuckahocs, (as these members were called,)
had dropped in their hurry to escape. Not a member
was to be found next morning. They rode with the ut-
most speed during the night, and continued their flight
the best part of the ensuing day. One member, (a Dr.
Long,) rode twenty miles without a saddle! Meantime
the Cohees, as the Augusta people were called, repair-
ed, to a man, old and young, without fear or trepidation,
to the place of danger. But Tarleton, getting wind of
the reception he was likely to meet with from these back-
woodsmen, turned his course, nor was it clearly ascer
tained that he ever intended to cross the Blue Ridge.-
These particulars, which I had from Mrs. Lewis, were
likewise confirmed by Major William Royall, who was
a member from Amelia county, in the same legislature.
He proceeded with the Augusta troops, (the only low
Virginian,) on his way to Charlottesville, to see Major
John Archer, a relation of his, who was badly wounded

8*

in an engagement with the British. He said it was
truly pleasing to see (when day broke upon them) old
gray headed men, and little boys, with their guns and
shot-pouches on their shoulders, marching cheerfully on
to meet the foc. "Ah," said he, "
"Ah," said he, "you are fine fellows
-I will disown my country, (meaning East Virginia,)
and come and live among you." He was as good as
his word, for in a few years he fixed his residence in
the west of Virginia, near the Sweet Springs, where he
died.

Staunton lies in what is called the Limestone Valley, which commences in Botetourt county, Virginia, and ends with Frederick and Jefferson counties, near the junction of the Shenandoah with the Potomac. Shenandoah is formed by Middle river, South, and North rivers. Middle river takes its name, from running between these two last; they are nearly one size, and one length. South river is bounded by the South mountain, which lies between it, and the main Blue ridge. North river is bounded by the North mountain, and runs parallel with it to its junction with South river, where it ceases, and the united streams take the name of Shenandoah.

Having rested a few days at Staunton, I took the stage for Washington, my companions having pursued their journey on horseback, I dislike this travelling in stages, on account of performing great part of the journey in the night, which deprives one of the pleasure of seeing the country. A little after day-light, we arrived at Peter Hanger's, where the horses are changed, and the passengers take breakfast: and here I had the worst breakfast in all my journey, notwithstanding the encomiums bestowed on the house. We had coffee, indifferent bread, and the offal of hogs fried to a cracknel, and as black as tar. The old man, a bit of a dried up piece of stuff, paid no attention, whatever; he left us, the driver and myself, to the care of his son, a doctor, and his ill-natured daughter-in-law, whose pride was on. ly equalled by her low manners. This same Peter langer has lived at this place since I can remember,

*Father of the Hon. Wm. S. Archer, now in Congress.

thou

in b view

leav

whe

dle

posi once

hous long

and

thirt

sand

plea gate. shall

stone beau

ings lecti

towa