The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-01-15
Especial Correspondence of the Dispatch.

"es'n SooNiA, Az oauutuJ 10, 1910.
Augusta county was formed from Orange
in 1913, all of Virginia lying west of the
Blue Ridge being up to that date included
in that county. SIn this year the territory
west of the Ridge was divided between
Frederick county and Augusta-the latter
embracing what now constitutes four entire
States and forty counties of West Virginia.
The boundaries Of Augusta were gradually
contracted until in 1890 it reached its pre-
sent proportions thirty-fve miles
long and thirty broad.
This whole region abounds in traditions
Of the Lewis family, who were among the
earliest settlers, and whose heroic conduct
in the Indian wars and in the Revolution
have made them SO famous. Their narrow
escapes from the scalping-knife of the say
ages, their heroic delences of block-houscs
against overwhelming numbers of Indians,
their skill and daring in carrying the war to
the extreme western frontier and " conquer
ing peace" from their relentless foes, and
the unconqucrable patriotism, military
genius, and bravery which they displayed in
the war of the Revoiution-all linger in the
traditions Of the people, and would form
appropriate subjects for the romance-writer.
In oil the story Of the deeds of the Lewis
family there is perhaps nothing more stri-
king than the following, as related by a
prominent citizen of Augusta: when the
British force under Tarleton drove the LIE
gislature from Charlottesville to Staunton
the stiffness of the Sabbath eve was broken
in the latter town by the beat of the drum,
and volunteers were called for to prevent the
passage of the British through the noun
tains at Rockfish gap. The elder sons of
William Lewis, who then resided at the old
fort, were absent with the northern army.
Three soDs, however, were at home, whose
ages were seventeen, fifteen, and thir-
teen years. William Lewis was con-
fined to his room by sickness, but his
wife, with the irmness of Roman matron,
defence of their native land. eco, my chill.
dren," said she; i" / spare not my youngest,
my fair-haired boy, the comfort Of my de-
clining years. I devote you all to my coun-
try. Keep back the foot of the invader from
the soil of Augusta OF see my face no more"
When this incident was related to Washing
ton, shortly after its occurrence, he enthu-
siastically exclaimed: "LeaYe me but q
banner to plant upon the mountains Of Au-
gtlsta and will rally around me the men
who will lift our bleeding country from the
dust and set her Free s.
The women Of Augusta displayed equal
heroic patriotism during the late war, and
the men whom Augusta sent to the old
Stonewall brigade and other commands were
worthy Of the county of the Lewises. Alas !!
that the day should ever have come when one
bearing that historic name should have fallen
so low as to be able to make oath that in the
second war for independence he bad "giycn
neither aid nor comfort" to the struggling
patriots of his native Virginia.
Augusta has been the birthplace or resi-
deuce of other men of mark, such as Hon.
Daniel Shelley, General Robert Porterfeld IA
gallant officer of the Reyolution) Judge
Archibald Stuart, and others among the IL
lustrious dead, and a number of those who
still live to adorn the annals of the State.
Few counties in the State have advanced
so rapidly in all Of the clements Of pros
perity.
Last year the value of real and personal
property in Augusta was S12, 773, $3.50,
while there were 4,947 tithables. The coun-
ty levy has been reduced from six cents per
500 in 1871, and five cents i'll 1872, to only
three cents for this current year. The poor
house has been so admirably managed that
it has become self-sustaining, and promises
to be 4 source of revenue to the county.
Last year there was shipped from Staunton
15.167 barrels of flour. Add 10 this the large
number of barrels shipped at other depots,
the considerable home consumption, and the
large number of bushels Of wheat sent of,
and it will be seen that the fertile lands OF
Augusta are prolific in the "staff of life"
1t is to be regretted that the county is
equally prolific in making "fre-water," hav-
ing produced last year SO,496 gallons OF
whiskey and II ,219 gallons of brandy. But
of course the good people Of Augusta do not
consume this immense quantity of "Wet
groceries," for there are few counties where
the temperance people are more active.
There are in the county ten Councils OF
Friends of Temperance, one Division OF
Sons of Temperance, two Lodges OF Good
Tcmplars, and n number of societies among
the colored people.
Your correspondent has just made visit
to the pretty little town of Waynesboro',
which has long been Temperance headquar-
tiers. They kept up temperance organlza-
ton for years before and all during the war,
for years they had no bar in the town, and
now they have none save one kept by a
negro, which the court licensed against the
protest of nearly all of the best citizens, and
which the keeper avows his purpose of clos
ing because it "does not pay"
There is now in Waynesboro' Council of
Friends of Temperance which numbers over
200 members Mr.. George A. Bruce, the
leading spirit of this organization, has sue
cessfuly refuted popular fallacy by keeping
here for years temperance hotel, which Is
one of the very best houses in the State.
The Council here is having series OF pub
lie Temperance meetings and addresses.
But enough for this time. VIAToR.