Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-04-07
Extracted for the Spectator.
SeYentY-Odd Years Ago.
act from "Travels through the States Of

/
seventy-Odd Years Ago.
) Extract from Travels through the States Of
North America, &C., during the years 1895,
1896 and 1877, by Isaac Weld, jr," Printed
I'm London, l799 Writing from Winchester,
May, 1896, the author says: -frg2
Between Flncastle and the Patomac there are
several towns as Lexington, Staunton, New
market, Woodstock, Winchester, Strasburg
great road, running North and South behind
the Blue Mountains, and which is the high
road from the northern States to Kentucky
AS passed along 1t, | met with great num-
6ers OF people from Kentucky and the new
State of Tenassee going towards PHILADELPHIA
and Baltimore, and with many others going in
contrary direction, ito explore, as they call
1t, that Is, to search for lands conveniently sit
uated tor new settlements in the western coun-
try. Those people all travel on horseback, with
pistols or swords, and large blanket folded up
under their saddle, which last they use for
sleeping n1when obliged to pass the night in
the woods There is but little occasion for
arms now that peace has been made with the
| Indians j. but formerly it used to be a very Sc
| rlous undertaking to go by this route to Ken
lucky, and travellers were always obliged to go
forty or fifty in party, and we'll prepared for
defence. 1t would be still dangerous for any
person to venture singly; but if five or six
travel together they are perfectly secure
There are houses now scattered along nearly
the whole way from Fncastle to Lexington in
kentucky, so that it is not necessary to sleep
more than two or three nights In the woods in
going there. Of all the uncouth human beings
met with Iii America these people from the
western country were the most so; their Gu
rloslty was boundless. Frequently have I been
stopped abruptly by one ofthem in solitary
part OF the road and in such manner, that
had 1t been In another country, should have
imagined it was highwayman that was going
to demand my purse, and without any further
purpose, asked where | came from? if | was
acquainted with any news? where bound to ?
and finally. my name ?-"Stop, Mister! why |
guess now you be coming from the new State u
'No, Sir, WHY then l guess as how YOU
be coming from Kentuc mo, Sir. "-''Oh
why then, pray now where might you be com
ing from p From the low country. why
you must have heard all the news there; pray
now, Mister, what might the price of bacon be
IN those parts = Upon my word, my friend,
I can't inform you" AYE, aye; see, Mis-,
ter, you bent one of u.s. pray now, Mister,
what might your name be?' A stranger 60
ing the same way is sure of having the com
pany OF these worthy people, so desirous of in
formation, as tar as the next tavern, where he
is seldom suffered to remain for five minutes,
till ne is again assaed by fresh set with the
same questions
The first town you come to, going northward
from Bottetourt county, is Lexington, neat
little place, that did contain about one hundred
houses, court house, and gaol but the great
er part of it was destroyed by fire just before l
got there. Great numbers of Irish are settled
In this place, Thirty miles farther on stands
Staunton. This town carries on considerable
trade with the back country and contains near
ly two hundred dwellings, mostly built of stone,
together with church. This was the first
place on the entire road from Lynchburg, one
hundred and fifty miles distant and which [
was about ten days in travelling, where | was
able to get bit of fresh meat, excepting in
deed on passing the Blue Mountains, where
they brought me some venison that had been
just killed. | went on fifty miles further, from
Staunton, before L got any again. Sailed pork,
boiled with turnlp tops by way of green's, or
fried bacon, or fried salted fish, with warm sal
lad, dressed with vinegar and the melted fat
which remains in the frying pan after dressing
the bacon, is the only food to be got at most of
the taverns In this country in spring it is the
constant food OF the people in the country; and
indeed, throughout the whole year, | am tod
salted meat is what they most generally use.
In every part of America European is sur
prlsed at finding so many men with military
titles, and still more so at seeing such numbers |
OF them employed in capacities apparently so
inconsistent with their rank for it is nothing
uncommon to see captain In the shape of
waggoner, colonel the driver of stage coach,
or general dealing out penny ribbon behind
his counter; but no where, | believe, is there
such superfuity Of these military personages
as In the town Of Staunton; there is hardly a
decent person in it, excepting lawyers and med
lca men, but what is colonel, major, or a
| NfDrrl Ih1cI fr haM 1k1I 4@, ri
lows: In America, every human from the age
of sixteen to fifty years, whose occupation does
not absolutely forbid it, must enrol himself in
| the militia. In Virginia alone the militia
amounts to about sixty two thousand men, and
| it is divided into four divisions and seventeen
brigades, to each of which there is general
and other officers Were there no officers
therefore, excepting those actually belonging to
the militia, the number must be very great;
but independent of the militia, there are also
volunteer corps in most Of the towns, which
have likewise their respective officers. In
Staunton there are two of these corps, one OF
cavalry, the other of artillery These are formed
chiefly of men who find certain degree of
Amusement in exercising as soldiers, and who
are also induced to associate, by the variety of
appearing in regimentals The militia is not
assembled oftener than once in two or three
months, and as it rests with every individual to
| provide himself with arms and accoutrements,
and no stress being laid upon coming in uni
form, the appearance of the men is not very
military. Numbers also of the officers of these
volunteer corps and of the militia, are resign
ing every day; and if a man has been cap
tain or a colonel but one day, either in the one
body or the other, it seems to be an established
rule that he is to have nominal rank the rest of
his life. Added to all, there are several officers
of the old continental army neither in the mi
ltia nor In the volunteer corps.
Winchester stands one hundred miles to the
northward of Staunton, and is the largest town
in the United States on the western side of the
Blue Mountains. The houses are estimated at
three hundred and fifty, and the inhabitants at
two thousand There are four churches in this
town, which, as we'll as the houses, are plainly
built. The streets are regular, but very mar
row.
Thad Stevens wife is colored woman, who
was the wife of a negro barber in Harrisburg
from whom Thad stole her. Of course 1t Is
natural he should want his mulatto children
made the equals of white children, civilly, poll
ticay, socially, &C., sit side by side at schools,
and all the rest of his negro nastinesses of Radi-
d.