The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-09-27
VIRGINIA WASHINGTON moNuo1EsT
Statues or Lewis and Nelson.
BRIEF BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

This beautiful, imposing, and enduring struc-
ture, designed to commemorate the virtues and
.perpetuate the memory of seven of Virginia's
most distinguished sons, on yesterday re
ceived the two last of the six pedestrian
statues which now surround the equestrian
groupe-riz., Lewis and Nelson. The list Is
now complete, and comprises the following:
PATRICK HENRY; CIV ag
THOMAS J.EFFEasoI,
GEORGE MASON,
JOHN MARSHALL,
ANDREW LEWIS,
THOMAS NELSON. .r.- --r-
The TWO last are no less distlng nguished than
their eminent compeers, but their public SER
vices and heroic achievements during the early
history Of the State have doubtless faded in
the memory of many, Of our more youthful
readers, and we propose herein TO givs'a brief
biographical sketch of their useful and event
ful lives. We begin with
GENERAL ANDREW LEWIS.
ANDREW LEWIS was the second of six sons
born unto John Lewis and Margaret Lynn,
who emigrated from Ireland early in 100, and
were foremost in settling Augusta county. In
Braddock's war Andrew was in company III
which were all his brothers, the eldest, sam
uel Lewis, being the captain This corps dis
tinguished themselves at Braddock's defeat.
Andrew was the commander and general OF
the Virginia troops at the celebrated battle OF
Point Pleasant, Mason county, fought on the
",
dians were driven west of the Ohio. Wash
ipgton, In whose regiment Lewis had once
been n major. had formed So high an opinion
of his bravery and military skill that At the
commencement of the revolutionary war ne
was induced to recommend him to Congress
as one of the major generals OF the American
army. 1t is also said that when Washington
was commissioned a commander In CHIEF he
expressed wish that the appointment nad
been given to General Lewis. Congress hav-
ing sighted Washington's recommendation to
make room for General Stephens, 1T the soli-
citation of Washington, Lewis accepted the
commission of brigadier- general, and was soon
after ordered to the command OF detacn-
ment of the army stationed near Williams
burg. He commanded the Virginia troops
when Lord Uunmore was driven from
Gwynn's Island in l776, and announced ms
orders for attacking the enemy by putting
himself. General Lewis resisnei his conf
mand in 1880, to return home, being seized III
with fever. He died on his way, in Bedford
county, about forty miles from his own mouse,
on the Roanoke, lamented by all acquainted
with his meritorious services and superior
qualities. ,,..
torical Memoir, twas upwards OF SIX leet
high, of uncommon strength and agility, ana
his form of the most exact symmetry. he mao
q stern and invncible countenance, and was OF
Il reserved and distant department, which rem
dered his presence more awful than engaging.
He was commissioner, with Dr. Ihomas
Walker, TO hold IL treaty on oehali OF Tue
colony Of Virginia with the six nations OF In
dians, together with the commissioners from
Pennsylvania, New York, and other eastern
provinces, held 1T Fort StaneviX, in the pro-
vince of New York in the year l763. II was
then remarked by the Governor of New York
that the earth seemed to tremble under him as
he walked along. His independent spirit
despised sycophantic means of gaining popu-
larily, which never rendered more than his
merits eXtorted."
GOVERNOR THOMAS NELSON.
THOMAS NELSON, Jr., was born al York
town. York county, December %, l73S. lie
was a sgner of the Declaration OF lndepend-
ence His first appearance in public life was
In l774, as 4 member;o of the House OF Burges-
ses. He WAS member Of the Conventions OF
liza and 1878; and evipced such ooldness ana
promptitude in opposing British aggression as
10 alarm some OF his personal friends. In the
military organization of Virginia he was ap-
pointed to the command of regiment. In
September, 1775 he first took his seat In the
general Congress, to which lie was re-appoint
ed the following year. In the summer OF III
i'll health compelled him to resign his seat ana
return 10 Virginia. The State was at mat
time threatened with invasion, and Mr.. Mel
son was appointed briSadier- general and com
mander. in chief of all its military forces. His
popularity was unbounded, and his appoint
m ent gave universal satisfaction. About this
time motion Wasmade TO Sequester the deDts
due in this State to English merchants. HIS
inflexible and Jealous opposition to the propo-
sition in the Legislature redounded to his
honor, and evinced the lofty integrity OF his
character at this period the American cause
was threa tened with annihilation, and Con-
gress made IN appeal to the patrlotlsln OF the
Young men Of property and standing. When
the appeal was published General Nelson en-
barked in the cause with his charact teristic
ardor. He published IN animatng address,
and succeeded in enlisting about seventy
young Eirginians in volunteer corps, ana fur.
nisheu a number of them with the means OF
defraying their expenses from his own purse.
AT the head OF this Spar tan band he marched
to the North but change OF clrculns tanCeS
occurring, their services Were not required In
this enterprise General Nelson expended large
sums OF money, which were never repaid.
Early in l77y he was again short time IN
Congress, but i'll health again competed MN
to return to Virginia! In 1850, when1he State
undertook TO borrow two millions OF dollars
for the aid OF Congress, General Nelson
opeued n subscription. Calling Oh several
friends, they declared they would not lend
him shilling on the security OF the Common
wealth. burt they would lend him all tney
could possibly raise upon which he added MS
own personal security TO that OF the state,
and succeeded in raising large proportion OF
the sum required. BY this and similar patTi-
otic exertons he suffered severe pecuniary
losses but never relaxed his eNertlons. He
had at the beginning anticipated suHerings
and sacrifices in ehecting the independence OF
his country, and prepared his mmd 10 meet
and sustain them. III ISL, when the storm Of
war burst upon Virginia, General Nelson was
actively employed in ehectng plans 10 oppose
Ihe enemy and succeeding Mr.. Jefferson Us
Governor, he was compelled TO unite In MN
self the TWO offices OF Governor and COM
mander of the military forces. BY great e4-
ertions Governor Nelson kept his forces
together until the capture of CORVALLIS. 10
do this he exerted his personal influence, MS
official authority, and his private fortune, 10
the utmost extent. After the SURRENDER,
Washington, in his account of ii, made 4 very
honorable acknowledgment of the valuable
services Of Governor Nelson and the mlhela
under his command during the siege In Sc
curing its important issue ,
In. one month atter,1lll healln colhpeileu
Governor Nelson TO retire again 10 private
life, where malice and envy preferred Dase
accusations against him for NAL tra-
tion Of his office. But he was most honoraoly
exculpated by the Legislature. he never
again entered public life. His time was passed
in retirement at his plantation In Hanover
and at Yorktown. His health gradually qe-
clining, he died in Hanover, anuary Atm, l.ss'
| aged fifty years. 49,.
that the Nelson mansion was the most proIni-
nent building in Yorktown. During tne
siege of that place the house was bomoarded
by the American army, and now oears MARKS
of cannon shot, Governor. zNelson,2 then IN
| Washington's s army, had command OF the
first battery which opened upon the town;
Rightly supposing it was occupied by some ol
| the British officers, he pointed the nrst gun
| against his own dwelling, and offered re-
| ward TO the soldiers of tye guineas tor every
.bombshell that should be fired into It:
1 40 THE MoSrAESr.r-az CT sIa ~
The granite portion of the monument cost
about elOO, 900, and the statuary $4,000 addi'
tional which, with other expenses OF inaugu-
ration of sstatues, erection Of the same upon
their peies1als, land freight and charges, have
| increased the cos to about $50, 900 more, ma
| king the ca tire actual cost about S2SGeO1.