The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1870-06-03

ing unusual had occurred. The infant he
carried was afterwards the wife of Gen.
Francis Preston and the mother of the per-
sons above named, and it was from her
lips first heard the incident of the killing
OF Cresswell and Parson Cummings wig.
Abingdon, altho' more than 100 miles west
ofthe Alleghanies, is among the oldest towns
OF the State, and is entitled to some notorie-
ty as the birthplace, besides those named,
OF the Honorable Francis p. Blair, Gf that
be an honor) and of Gen. Armstrong, Sec
rotary of War under President Madison
The gallant Gen. Joseph E. Johnston was
also raised here. So you see that Wash
ington county as well as Abingdon will
have some claims upon future historians, if
the "rebellious" nature Of the present gen
alton has not obliterated the glorious deeds
of the men ofthe past, as some the claim
ants of high moral ideas" sometimes
sneeringly intimate.
Since my residence here the town and
vicinity have furnished the Old Dominion
with three Governors Robertson,
Campbell and Floyd-all of whom &C
quilted themselves with fidelity and honor,
and retired from the station with the con-
tidence and the esteem of the people. The
first of the honored trio still lives among
us-the others have been gathered to their
fathers-and ifgreat and good men should
again be called to the councils of the ma
ton, Wyndham Robe rtson is still in the
vigor Of intellect, and has the head and
the heart to ''render the State some service"
Out right here, in parenthesis, I must
be permitted to say that since "an owl has
usurped the eagles nest" have but little
hope that our rapidly declining Republi.
can institutions will ever again be presi-
ded over by man of expansive mind
and capacious hearty
had intended to give you an account of
the Salt Works in this county, their dis
covery, management, revenues, &C., in this
letter, together with the adjacent banks of
Gypsum, but they would run it to too
great length, and besides are worthy of u
chapter to themselves. | expect, there
fore, after while to attend to these matters,
but next week will give you a letter devo-
ted exclusively to Abingdon, which may
possibly have something in it q little more
readable than this.
Yours, respectfully,
G. B. c.
AJinglon, Va, May 2G, 1870.
p. 81 received letter from a gentle
man at Dublin, in your county, inquiring
if improved lands can be purchased at
from SO to $25 peracre in this county. For
his information as well as others, will de-
scribe small farm within or Z miles of
this place, lying Immediately upon the
Middle Fork of Holston, stream as large,
probably larger than Deer Creek. Itcontains
25G acres. 1t is excellent for wheat and corn
100 acres in grass water in every field
a double log dwelling, kitchen, smoke
house, corn-crib, large barn, and good
spring and spring-house convenient to the
dwelling 1t has good orchard upon it,
and is convenient to churches, mills and
school houses, and in an excellent neigh
borhood. 1t is miles from Emory & Henry
College, from the Salt Works and Plas ter
Banks, and has 30 acres of river bottom, in
a high state ofcultivation. 1t is about half
in timber. This farm can be bought at 80
per acre cash-not half its value, and title
indisput able. For further information, |
take the liberty of referring to Messrs. Page
& Jones, Abingdon, Va.
G. B. G.