Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-07-30

came to the mansion of ex-President Ty-
Ter, long, irregular wooden house, stand
ing on high ground, a mile and hall
back from the river, which is nearly hid
den by forest, which abounds in all this
part of the State in its primitive condition.
The soil here on the upland is stiff clay,
and travelling in wet time is not done
for pleasure. b..
President Tyler had u good wheat farm
of eleven hundred acres-six hundred and
fifty cleared-but it was in wilderness,
without near neighbor except orerseers
and "poor white trash" The road tc-
ward Richmond, in those days, was simply
horrible, and the county seat, at Charles
City county, FIVE miles northward, where
the e.-President did his court business,
was ike many of the capitals of Virginia
counties-a capital without houses. 1t
had but one. ...r-
Before parting from the dead lion / will
give him one kick, by copying and apply
ing to himself an epitaph which fonrd
upon the monument erected to the mem
ory of his faithful old horse:
!" Here lie the bones of my faithful old
horse, General, aged 25 years, who in sll
his long service never blundened but once.
nOhANl Nlltle his AllSSNGA NAAS
Berkley," the place where the army
is now encamped, is about dozen miles
from the TYLER place. There are some
good farms in the country back from the
river, but the great bulk of the land Is
forest, the country between there and the
ehickahominy comparatively level, clayey
soil, with bad roads, and inhabited by q
miserable looking people. &. a- z.l
The church which served as place OF
worship for the first Harrison family still
serves the gentry of that neighborhood.-'
1t is most woe-begone looking edifice,
outside and in, or was when attended
it a few years ago. Ifit has improved any
since, it has done more than | ever heard
Of any other church in Virginia.
The next plantation above 'Berkley
is called !" "Westover." All plantations
are named, and are as well known by
name as towns at the North. 4
Westover" was the residence of Col.
Byrd. whose tomb is in the garden. He
built an expensive house of English brick, |
more than $50 years ago. There was one
that cost 50, 500. The house
was beautifully located upon the bank Of
the river, which was walled with brick, !
and the lawn enclosed with brick wall, |
entered by massive iron gates. .......
The Byrd estate was extensive, but, af- |
ter being reduced to an area of 1 900 acres
of woodland and 500 acres arable-and |
that run down to starvation point-it pass
ed from the heirs into the hands of John
one of the most improving farm
ers upon james river, who renovated the
land and made it productive and beauti=
full. If he still owns it, shall regret his
fate as that of a personal friend. II seems
hardly possible for such man to be n
81 Secession rebel" @ '. 4
Between Berkley and Westover there
is an extensive marsh, Which Mr.. Sheldon
has tried to reclaim by dyking out the
tide and ditching, but unsuccessfully.-t
That will be q line of defense upon that
flank, against all enemies but mosquitoes,
which it will produce by the ship load. .
Westover" is named as tho second
plantation settled in Virginia. found
here the tomb of Capt. William Perry"
! companion of Captain John smith,,
Eight miles above is another of the " old
places seals of former opulence and
/" Shirley" built by a
nan of the name of Hill, whose tomb re
,ords his death in 100. When was
mere IL was ONllcO Ul I'LL NdAlSii OiAS va
he branches of the original stock. 4,
The buildings here are very extensive,
IL built of English brick, consisting of
our large houses, besides shorehouses and
'arns and negro houses. There were 900
cres in cultivation in wheat and corn,
nd 5000 bushels of corn year for sale
vas common, beside wheat crop. The
,he land is elayey loan. with a surface
emily undulating, and with roads to Rich
nond, about % miles, such as / never
rish to travel again just at the commence
nent of winter. E-71 -.- r-.
Such are some of the surroundings of
he present location of the army of Gen.
icClellan. 1t will be healthy one until
bout the lst of September. twill be Sc
erely sickly then until frosty nights. 1t ]
J surrounded by a country capable of af- J
ording good deal of food for man and
east, if its commander does not consider
ebel property too sacred for such pur-
ose. We shall see. e-....- a--. II l.