Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-02-09
A sian of the Revolution.

The Hon. J. M. Fl. Beal has written an
Interesting letter TO the editors OF the New
York Herald,in reference to meeting held
18th June, 1774, in Shenandoah (tben Dun.
more) county IN this State, to take some
steps towards resisting the encroachmentS
of Great Britain upon the rights of the
colonies. OF the Chairman of the meeting,
the Rev. Peter Nluhlenburg MIR. Beale
gives the following account, concluding with
the narrative of thrilling incident:
The Rev. Peter Muhlenburg. Lutheran
clergyman, from Trappe, Pennsylvania, re-
moved, in the year 1772, TO Woodstock,
Dunmore county Virginia, and became the
pastor of the church in that village. he q
was descended from German parentage, and
although born in Pennsylvania, was edu-
Gated in Halle, in Germany. He soon won
the confidence of his flock, and the aftec-
tlon of the whole Gemanic family which
had settled between The Blue Ridge and
the Alteghany, in the now counties OF Page
Shenandoah and Rockingham.
Mr.. Muhlenburg was chosen mem:
Der of the House of Burgesses in ITO, and
took sides with Patrick Henry. who was the
leader of the war party; and when 1t was
determined to raise six regiments from Vir-
einia, he returned home with the purpose
TO dof' his gown and gird on the reglmentals
and the sword At the earnest solicitation
of General Washington and Patrick Henry,
the House of Delegates elected him Col
onel of the eighth Virginia regiments.
Upon lns return home, he gave noilcc 10
his scattered parishioners that he would de-
liver to them on the following Sabbath his
farewell sermon. The rude country church
was filed to overfowlng with the hardy
mountarneers of the frontier counties OF tho
valley. So great was the asscmblagc, that
tire quiet burial-place was filled with crowds
of stern, excited men, who had gathered
together, believing that something, they
knew not what, would be done in behalf Of
their suffering country. They awaited pa.
tiently the appearance of their pastor. lie
came, and assembled the pulpit, his tall iorm
arrayed in full uniform, over which his
grown, the symbol of his divine caliing,was
thrown. He preached to them OF God, q
Saviour and a Country, with all the zeu!
and eloquence of Paul, and they hung up.
on his fiery words with all the intensity OF
their souls. His conclusion turned their
thoughts upon their sufferngs aud wrongs,
and he SAID he had unsheathed the sword,
and that, in the language of the Holy Writ,
.there was time for all things-a time 10
preach and time to pray, but those times
had passed away, 'aad IN voice that ech-
oed through the church like trumpet.
blast 'fhat there was time to fight, aud
that time had now come." y-
After the bened:ction, his gown was unr
loosed, and, falling to the floor, he stood be-
fore his congregation girded warrior. and
descending from the pulpit, ordered the
drums at the. door 10 beat for recruits
Then followed bright example OF pa'rlotic
devotion. His audience, excited IN The
> highest degree by the impassioncd words
which fell from his lips, ,Aocked around him,
eaaer TO be ranked among his followers
Oid men were seen bringing forward their
;, children, wives their husbands, and widow
J. ed mothers their sons to fight The battles o
!, their country. Nearly three hundred mcn
= that day enlisted under his banner. Wha
j noble sight A cause thus supported coul'
not fail.
S &seOne Christmas-eve young girl,in thu
r district Of Inverness, assembled her irient
J. together to witness the celebration OF he
S nuptials with the lad who had wooed an
n won her. AT the appointed hour she re
J. ceiyed,the intelligence that her lover. la
!. altered his mad, She was about to be .
}. tackled with mysteries. when another yout
i. popped the question,was accepted, and th
j. marriage rite was performed = 80