New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-08-16
FROM VIRGINIA.
Old Virginia Fsmiiies.
SIom Gu. Special Correspondent.

SPEkRTyILIR. ' 4, August 70 i"o-'
The indications at present are that no advanced
movement Of any importance isto be made ior sew
eral DAYS. Roads will have to be repaired or'uee'
built the strength and position OF the enemy ie"".'
and an abundance of time given llm 10 place
troops ia the exact position be desires, pe''.e ','
grand columns OF the Army OF virginia oes'n TIC
march to victory.
In the abeepce therefore, Of any nioVemen'st 10
chronicle yonr CORES, obdent has spent tue rh TWO
or three DAYS in whiting several Old mansions OF
,cb b;.toricJ interest in the immediate neighbour
hood of Sperryve. Asyou have probably already
Learned. this entire county, comprising twelve miles
,cp.re ryas once the estate of WIN. Thornton, of
the eares. settlers in the Valley of Virginia Thorn
cons GAP, nov Important stIateglcal point held
nv us the sites OF the villages of Sperryve, Little
Washington and Wo,dvile, Mny's. Rock, said TO
be the highest reak OF the Blue Ridge, Berry's
Mount aud several other e0ne-hke elevations
OF local interest, were all within the boundaries
OF the estate. Thornton Ill., formerly the residence
OF Col. John Thornton, now il the possession of
MIR. Fletcher, wealthy PLANTER Ia perhaps the most
interesting mansion III the nefghborho0d, not only
on account OF the romantic beauty of its situation,
s,ut from the fast that ito mistress niece Of
George Washington and daughter Of Augustine
Washington, his brother. The name OF Mary Jane
Thornton, daughter Of Augustine Washington, Is
,reutioned IN the Will OF Nashiu gton. few days
since rode over TO the mansion, =! miles TO the
east from Sperryve, and found Il occupied rs the
hesdauarters of Col Lee Of The 5Jth Ohio. Mi.
Fletcher the present owner, although the situation
Is much pleasant than the mansion he binfeii
occupies, has rented il 10 family OF the name OF
Iasrcr together with 30 acres of land Immediately
adjoining The old building Is now almost IN ruius,
but traces of its former beauty still remain, and he
view from its porch Is Que OF the lOveieet nagna-
BILE. Mary's Rock, named from Mary Jane Ihofn-
fon whose bridal tour consisted OF AN ascent 10 ts
flx in md IN
'rhornton's Gap. Hills with every variety OF
form, and covered with the deepest verdure,
can be seen In every direction. Thornton
River comes dashmg down through the hills, ana
forever sings "a song she saips over the pep
bss at the foot of the lawn IN front OF the MANSION
Magnificent old oaks, aud eims, and ehestnnis,
planted by the orgiuo proprietor, and covering sew
eral acres afford most delightful shade, aud carry
one in imagination 10 tho oi1 Engish i4"ns snu
PARKS From Mrs. jasper L endcayored to Obtain
some information about Mrs. Thornton, but found
she knew but htie, and was about leaving, When IN
old negress who bad been listening to our converse
tion spoke out and told me that Mrs Green, VIE OF
col Charles Green, WHO resided ahnut three miles
from, there in The direction Of Little Washing
Ton, knew Mrs. Thornton intimately, was In the
habit of visiting Der frequently, and could tel me al
1 desired TO know about her. Upon hearing lhis,
Col Lee said that ii i wOud remain and dine win
him he would ride over with me in the afternoon TO
Mn. Green's. | accepted his invitation, and after
dinner We mounted our horse, crossed the mountain
by q by.path, and in a short time rode up 70 the
mansion OF Col. Green. The Colonel, stout good
natured Virginia planter, came down to the gate 70
meet u.s. ana invited Us TO dinner. We Declined Tue
invitation, having just dined, but walked up TO the
house and sat upon The porch until the family eit the
table. l then inquired for Mrs. Green and sad
that desired 10 converge with her about Mrs Thorn
ton of Thornton Hill. 10 few moments Mrs. Green
entered the room, and received us very cordially.
She said abe the baot OF Visiting MIS- morn
ton very often when little girl; that Thornton Till
,.,ffl e mn Sf de
in VlrQinia; that II WAS place OF great resort IN
Summer by the different branches OF the fsnilly,
among whom were many oil the most wealthy ana
aristocratic families in the State, ana that Airs.
Thornton was oue If the most Temar kabie persons
abe ever knew and had her children survived her
and possessed her business talents the estate would
still have remained 10 the family. Her husband,
however, as .biftless and careless az me was
nrovident ths estate at the close Of her life became
sncumhered with mortgages, and At last passed from
the hands of Col. Thoroion. Mrs. Thornton, beng
q very proud woman, turtlved the dow but snort
time; the thought that Thornton Hill, with all It's
rleasant memories and associations clinging to it,
with the graves If her children and the chapel IN
which she had wOrsliped her God, should fall into
che hands of plebeau, and one too, through whose
veins the blood Of Tue negro codrsed, was unenonr'
able Jealous Episco, allan Ill life, she died a
yroud and broken hearted woman. All the family
Of Col Thornton are buried in the family bury my
arouod, but short distance from Thornton hill
mansion. The SPOT is ncloAed by a rough stone
q trace can be found 10 mark the resting-placo VI
any one of the family. few unhewn stones, with
no inscriptions whatever upon them. placed at the
head aud foot of two or three grayes, are all the
indications left OF there ever having been any one
inferred within the ncloeure.
After having remained an hour or two, conyersed
upon the war, lis causes and probable results, and
discovered that her rympathies were all with the
South isthongI her husband, Col. Green, very
wealthy planter, has lust taken the oath OF ale
gance took leave, but not until she had urged
US to VISIT Mira. Pcilp Thornton, the only surviving
member of the family, who resides upon any Of the
original estate. She assured US we would Ind Mrs.
Thornton one Of the most elegant ades we had ever
met and her mansion OF the finest and most ILL.,
Seresting in the State.
Yesterday dined OF Montpelier, the residence Of
Mrs. Philip Thornton. IL lis seven miles from Sper-
ryyille on the road 10 Madison. had about formed
she opinion that Thornton Hill could not be sur
paced in the beauty Of its location, but the m0men,
rode up TO Montpelier it was abandoned instantly.
The mansion itself is by far the largest and
6uest have seen in the State, aud the beauty
Of the scenery around it undesirable. The
rnansion resembles thai at Mount Vernon, but
IL very much larger, and must have been
erected at three times the expense. mag
nificent coonnade H. feet In length covers the en-
sire front. The stoue Of which tie house is bull,
was quarried from the mountains on the Original
plantation; the timber was all taken from tie Tor.
e,ts and even the old blackwaluut furniture, still
IN use was made from two or three large trees cut
down in the gronods. 1t was the pride Of William
Thornton the original owner, that erythDg about
the house made from what be found upon the
plantation. Thornton River, which passes by
Thornton Hill MabHon, also winds by Montpelier;
the lawn Ia the extends down 10 It's banks.
But here IL is put TO the practical as well IA lctur-
ssque purpose OF driving all old UNDISCOVERED mill
wheel, which groans, and cieaks, and Troubles Ut
every revolution.
Mrs. Thornton having seen me alight from my