The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1874-10-22

var Of the Revolution, ADD in ny day
was familiar subject of conversation am-
opg those with whom ! associated. How
oiten have beard the incidents Of that
battle repeated By my father and Cap.
Harrison. l could not state With reaseoa-
bic precision. but so frequently, as to i'm
press the facts so trml; on my memory
that they have NOT been efaced or in any
way faded at this day; aud ut the end Of
this Month will be II gears old.
have made this Introductory statement
to eSlibit to those whom | address, the
opportunities | have had Cor accurate in
formation, aad to enable them to judge
truly of the credit due to ny traditional
rccollec;ious.
| Do no. propose to enter upon The his
tory of the colony Of Tirgiria before the
commencement Of this war. it is sufficient
to say that the causes which fually led to
I the Resolution, we're then predicting dis
satisfaction aud arrangement between the
mother country and her colonies. and that
the cu;ssar;es aud agents Of England were
then stimulating the Northwestern Ind.
ians to invade the most exposed portions
Of tic colonies, by hostile incursiOus on
their frontiers, md pluudc'ipg and mur-
deriug tb. settlers on the borders. This
was especially the case il Virginia, as she
had the most extended and defercc!css
frontier Of any Of tue colonies. Then
! frontier iucursions became SO serious, tina,
The Legislature Of the co!onY was com
PEELED TO take measures to chastiSe these
Indians. so as to prcreDt future agrees
ions upon her frontier settlers. The legis-
la,urc. ,hcreupon. passed law directing
the Governor to raise force TO penetrate
/ the wilderness west Of the valley Of Fir.
giuia, By the kaHawha river to its mcu;t.
| Sherc Point Pleasant is low located; and
rao,hcr force to strike the Ohio river at
Wheeling. The kanawba forces werc
placed under TIE command Of Gen. And
rev Lewis, a native Of Augusta County.
The Wheeling forces were under the i'm.
mediate command Of Gov Duumore, whose
fidelity to the colonies vas seriously Gus
pected. These two forces we're 10 cooper,
ate 60 as most eEcc:ualiy TO pro3ctc the
public good. TIE soldiers composing the
army ralcF the command Of Gen. Lewis,
we're raised chiefly in The valley Of Virgin
ia aud frontier Of the COLONY, and from
their youth up were accustomed to the use
Of the gun, and we're not deficient in the
knowledge Of Euliar warfare. They were
divided into two regiments. The eldest CT
which was commanded by Col Cbas
Lewis, the brother Of the General. Chas
Lewis. vas, therefore. second 10 command.
The Colonel of the other regiment was
much less distinguished by his services or
condcct in the estimation Of the army, and
therefore. was less spoken Of and made
but slight impression on my memory. |
believe that his name was Flcmmiug. rnd
tia: bis residence was in the county Of Al
bcn1rle.
This army. numbering about 1900 men.
#ere concentrated at the Big Spriog, af.
trrsardknown as Lewis Spring" around
which tho pscscut toansof ,LeNisbprg. tao |.
.canty seat d Grecn6Tcr county. has been
since built. From this Spring TO the Ia.
1awLa river, the country WIS mountain
BUS aud unsettled; primc7al forest.
Tho troops opened their own road.
which, to this day, is known as Lewis
trail, aad was for many years the only
rail from the settlements of Virginia to
The Kanagha River The army first ap-
preached the Ksnawha River at the mouth
Of a creek, now known as Morris's Creek.
about IS miles abo7e the Junction Of the
Ohio and Karawha Rivers From Nor
riS's Creek the army marched down to the
Chio River, on the north bsnk of the
Nanawha River. TO PIT Pleasant. situated
on the upper side Of kanawha River and
on the East hank Of the Ohio.
DO no. know whether it was or not.
general military usage, but l learned it
was tic established rule in this march that
the front conplny Of to-day, became the
rear company Of the ucxt dag, thus chang
ing the position Of each company in the
line Of march crry day. BY this rule
every company in the line, except the
ffout one, uc.c daily advancing to the
rta1t.
The aruy rcaehcl Pt Pleasant with
out the occurrence Of any notable incidcn,
so far as ever heard. At this place they
fo.uel q camp, With intent to remain
there until they received Intelligence from
tue Wheeling expedition, uadcr Gov.
Du1more, to caable The two forces to co.
operate in the manner most practicable aud
advantageos. as contemplated in the orig.
iual plan oftbc campaign. They remain
ed here some four days without knowing
Of. or seeing any evidences Of, any consid
cradle hostile force in the vicinity of the
camp. During this time the army was
daily sending out scouting and hunting
parties, who were also daily returning.
Duriag this time. on one or more occasions.