Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1874-06-30

ofinteresting revolutionary incidents and GU
rious gossipin regard to notable residents of
Jefferson county. 1t is rich in such lore
No less than four revolutionary commanders,
Generalstffates, Dart, Stevens and Lee were
residents of thfs county. When the forces
marched from this section to the aid of Bos>
ton, a meeting ofthe officers was held at a
place near Charlestewn. and a resolution was
passed that the survivors should reassemble
there after the lapse of half-a>century. When
the time came only. four out of forty were left,
but they all put in their appearance and passed
a day together. General lee resided here
long alter the revolution and many stories
are still current in relation to his ecceutric>
tiles. One time, when Washington was in
Jefferson on a visit he desired to become re-
conciled to Lee, and sent him word that he
would visit him on a certain day. When the day
came Lee mounted his horse, c~a1led"together
his large pack of hounds and road out to
hunt, after building a high fence across the
avenue leading to his residence and posting
up a placard bearing the inhospitable inscrip-
tion, 'tNo dinner cooked here to day. Quite
a number offamily portraits, among Others,
likenesses OF Samuel Washington a brother
Of the General, and also one of his wife, are
to be seen, at Hardwood Mansion, which is
still inhabited by members of the Washing
ton family. 'Charlestown is q cave hav-
ing two farge'chambers, in one o @hich Gen.
eral Washington is reported to have presided
over a meeting of NIasons.
Charlestown, the county seat of Jefferson
county, is beautifully located, with commands
ing views of the beautiful landscapes by which
it is enVironed. 1t has a fiuo new Court
House, an admirably constructed new Jail
and a handsome Town HalIand Market House
just completed. In the old Jail John Brown
was confined and he was executed on a beau
tiful elevation nearly in front of the hand>
some residence of Mr.. John w. McCurdy.-
| could not secure you a chip of the gallows,
but | send instead one of the bricks out of
the cell in which Brown was confined. You
need not think it is like the relics Mark
Twin saw when lie Travelled with the eInno>
ceuts Abroad" a native of Shippensbure
Pa, who served in the Confederate army
throughout the war, and who paid $4,000
for q gold watch, when the last hope seemed
to be gone, gathered up q few bricks when
Browns cell was being demolished and laid
them away for future reference. [ send you
one of them. You can have it made into pa
per-weights for your editorial table. John
Brown gave the Bible which he used in his
cellt John Blessing, who didhim some favors,
anu VT. DRESSING mas IL YET. IT mas MARKS
in different parts, and marginal notes made
by Brown while in prison. a man named
J. q. Holmes has Coppicks watch, which was
given by Coppick to Mr.. Holmes father-iu~
law. Bet must quit gossiping and close this
letter, which has grown too long.
Jefferson county has fine macadamized
roads a railroad running through it from
north to south aud all necessary facilities for
getting produce to market. Good and we'll.
improved limestone lands range from $40 to
$50 an acre. There is much land in market
aud much which is offered is of the best quail
ity. The society is frst>class, there are good
free and private schools, aud taxes are not
heavier than in Pennsylvania. There are
two well-conducted newspapers published in
Charlestown, one called the Free Press, the
other the Spirit of Jefferson. I will have
something to say of the minerals in this and
adjoining counties. I go from here to Clarke
county and will drift slowly up the valley
and down through Tennessee, dropping you
an occasional letter from the different points.
TT q S,JIru