Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1859-10-01
L. C. HESKITT,
V. Nj. BUTLER,
J. w. GRANT,
VIM. MOULDER,
Committee Of Arrangements.

o. The following is all extract from d
letter dated Oakland, August Is, 1859,
written to the Richmond Dispatch. Ii
gives some very interesting features OF
this surrounding country, and will be read
with interest -
"Martinsburg has population Of 5000
and some very remarkable old buildings,
am ong which is the old Courthouse, built
year after the formation Of the county,
which took place in 1878. Braddock' 5
army passed near the town in lis unlor-
tunate expedition. Near LeetoWn, now
in Jefferson county, but then in Berkeley.
lived, after the revolutionary war, no less
than three General officers Of the Amer-
can army of that struggle Alexander
Stephens, Horatio Gates, and Charles Lee.
Gates was suspended from his military
command until 1882, the year after the
peace, from the time of the disastrous bat
tie of Camden, where was singuarly veri-
fled the prediction of Lee that his North
ern IdurelS would dwindle into Southern
aCiH0aUS. Gates was one Of the cabdl
which endeavored to suppant Washing
ton; but did justice to his character before
he died.
General Lee was the bitter enemy of
Washington. He was not in active SER
vice after the battle of Trenton, owing to
his strange conduct there. He published
a pamphlet filled with abuse of Washing
ton, which provoked a challenge from
Colo Ell Laurens, one of Washington 5
aids. and duel ensued in which Lee was
wounded in the side, after which he re-
tired TO his estate in Berkeley, "to learn
to hoe corn and tobacco, which," observ-
ed he in letter TO a friend, with sarcastic
inuendo at Washington, sis the best
school to form cOnsummate general.
This is discovery have lately made. y
H led hermit's life in his retirement,
his dogs and horses being his compan-
ions. His house was a mere shell, destl-
tute of comfort and conveniences. There
were no partitions in 1t, and the parts al,
lotted 10 different purposes were marked
by chaked lines on the floor. In one cor
ner was his bed, in another his books, his
| saddl les and harness in third. This he
said to a friend, was convenient, because
he could st in one corner and overlook
the whole house ! His prejudices were
exceedingly strong, and he was dIsap'
pointed and bitter man. The county
abounds in anecdotes of him. It's said
that, seeing some one he did not like ap.
preaching his house, one day, he wrote
upon his front door, ''no meat cooked
here to-day and retired by the rear way
Hearing that Congress proposed to dis
miss him from the service, he wrote tina
body most insulting note, which induced
them to do what possibly they might no
have done. dismiss him from the army
This was in 1880. In 1872, weareG ant
broken in spirits, he went to Philadelphia
and died in an obscure public house. Hi
last words were "Stand by Inc, my brav
Grenadiers J!
Lees will contained very remarkabl
passage, which, as some of your reader
may nat have seen it, copy below
II desire most earnestly that | may nc
. be buried in any church or church-yard,o
within IA mile OF any Presbyterian or Ar
ahaptist meeting house, for since hav
resided in this country, have kept s
j. much bad company while living, that
do not choose TO continue it when dead.
Ii is certainly bad to be in bad comp;
u ny,here or hereafter; but it is least debate
e able whether the old warrior or thos
whom he repudiaied' had the best reaso
for desiring TO keep respectful distanC
/ between them after death. But of cours
d after death this lilte bitter dreg left by ii
ebbing current Of The old soldiers life,ar