Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1852-04-26

WvrnKyrLLE, Arril Is, 1852.


must saw something OF the country through
which I have passed. since last wrote
you. From Hillsville to this place, the
road lead. through wild. Mountainous
countrv. almost entirely uiinliabired For
The distance Of ten or twelve miles. re-
member TO have passed but one or two
houses. and they were so rudely Construct
ed. that was at some loss TO determine
whether they were built Intentionally, or
whether they were thrown up there by ac-
cident. So wild and uncivii did this coun-
try appear. that would not have been
much surprised at any moment at startling
live Indian. or encourtering some savage
beast of prey. Whilst indulging these nm
pleasant npprehenslons. | came to Sign
board, with an inscription upon ii, that
was by no means calculated to dispel the
gloom that was gathering over my spirits.
II read: ITO the Indian Graves miles"
Thinking that some of them might posi-
bly have survived the disaster that semi
the. rest to the long and quiet home ind
Gated by the signboard. | Immediately
placed my side arms in an available posi-
ton for quick and desperate onslaught
in case of emergency. They however
were not brought into requisition. passed
through the mountains without encounter
ing any thing more formidable than the
pheasants. which saw in large numbers,
and which now and then would suddenly
start up somewhat to the discontinue and
alarm Of my horse.
AS to the poor Indians, that once roam
ID smong these hills lords of the forest,
and the terror of the pioneer-the traveller
need not fear them now. They are all
quietly sleeping that sleep that knows no
waking: and the mountain winds have
ehy since sounded mournful requiem
over their rude graves.
On leaving the mountains the first thing
that struck my attention was what was to
me a singular and antique looking fabrck.
1t wa, built of stone, seemingly ten or ff
teen feet square. and should judge one
hundred feet high. 1t terminated in re
gularly built framed house. and being sit
uated on the top ola hill. seemed 10 shoot
I'D almost to the heavens. How 10 ac-
count for this singular structure. | was
rpr.iectly at loss. AT first | took II to be
species OF that illiated machinery upon
which a certain chivalrous Knight OF old,
The of the "Sorrowful Figure" once COM
'mitred an assault and battery with intent
to kill" Then it reminded me Of the ply
iramIs OF which had read. and | began
ITO think that was emerging into Egypt or
tthe holy land. | however abandoned
,l,oih these conjectures as visionary, and
adopted the more reasonable conclusion
that it was a watch tower. bnlIt 10y the
first settlers to guard their families against
the sudden assaults of the insdInus foe,
from whose strong holds | had just escap-
ed. But this conclusion proved To be cr-
rroneoas. for upon enquiry had the morti-
fcatiou to learn that what had excited my
Especial wonder" was nothing more nor
tless than "a -shot:tower. | found some con-
ISOLATION III the belief that others similarly
.circnmsianccd Nigh have made the same
mistake.
Crossing the bold, rapid waters Of New
River, 1 found myself in the county o
Wy,bc. Here the scsne changed present
ing prospect opposite 10 that OF the
,conntry through which had just been. as
wcareto the antlpodes. The largc riet
field. that here bound the vicw, are cloth
,e,l even at this early stage with coat o'
green uxurian' grass. To look upon which
is indeed refreshing tn the eye and e>hla
rating to the spirits. would Ike 10 travel
Through here when the fields aud forests
arc blooming in the more gorgeous beau
ties OF Muy. Most of the farms thTi | have
seen in this county are in neat order AMI a
high state of cultivation. If the jullali-
tants IRE ne, ceniented and happy, II
seems to me that it is not the fault of Their
country. They have IA generous soil thai
yields in rich proi,l,ion all the more valua
bic Productions; mountains Astounding In
mines of mex hanstablc mineral wealth; "A
healthy c.imate and " alter unsurpassed
In addition TO all this, they have you know
the best McAdamised road in tire State
passing through their centre: and the
whistle of the steam engine, that will soon
be in their mIst. may already be heard by
a small stretch Of the imagination aP.
proaching in the distance. If they are
not contente.l with such facilities as these,
the probability is. they will not be, until
they emf grate TO some other planet.
WI ].