Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-11-16
"REMINISCENCES OF CULPEPER, VA.

SLC VI CULT In, a.
CuIpeper was formed 10 l74S from Orange,
and named after Lord CuIpeper, Governor of
Virginia from 1850 to 1858. Fairfax, the
original name of the county seat, (now Gull
peper,) was named after Lord Fairfax, the
original proprietor Of the county.
In the county clerk 5 Office is the following
entry: 10th July, 1749, D. s. George
Washington, gent, produced a commission
from the president aud master of William and
Mary College appointing him to be surveyor of
this county, which was read, and thereupon be
took and subscribed the abjured oath and test,
and then took the oath of surveyor, according
to law From this record he was but seven
teen years Of age when appointed surveyor, as
he was born in 1882.
Culpeper was distinguished early in the war
of the revolution Tor the services Of her gallant
minute men, who, as Mr.. Randolph said 10 the
United States Senate, Were raised 10 a min
ute, armed In minute, marched 10 minute,
fought in minute, and vaDaushed 10 min.
ute." Immediately 90 the breaking out of the
war in ITS, Patrick Henry, commander of the
Virginia troops, sent to this section for assist
ance. Upon his summons>l50 from Culpeper,
100 from Fauquler, and 100 from Orange,
repdezvoused near toWo, on the land of the
Hon. John S. Barbour.
The tree which marked the spot stood until
within few years. They formed regiment.
Lawrence Taliafaro, of Orange, Colonel; Ed
muud Sterens, of Culpepcr, Lieutenant Colonel;
Thomas Marshall, father of Chief ustice Mar
shall, Major. On the flag of the CuIpeper
neu was depicted rattle snake in the centre,
the head Of which was intended for Virginia,
and the twelve rattes for the twelve other
States. They marched to Williamsburg, thence
to Norfolk. Their first engagement was at the
Great Bridge. Among them was Chief Justice
Marshall as Lieutenant and Gen. Edward
Stevens, who acquired great distinction at the
battles of the Great Bridge, Brandywlne, Ger.
waptown, Guilford Court House, and the siege
OF York: He was noted Tor his bravery; he
animated his men by his words, but still more
hy his example. He lived 10 the house now
occupied by Mrs. Lightfoot, and died 10 j July,
1920, 10 the 10th year of his age. A full life
OF Gen. Stevens would be most interesting
history. The monument over his remains
stands about mile east Of the town on the road
TO Warrenton.
lu old times, in the good old days of Jeffer.
son, Madison aud Monroe, when they served
as Chief Magistrates OF the nation and all lived
10 Albemarle, some sixty miles west, it took
them three days to reach Culpeper from Wash
lngton over bad, very bad roads. How the
times have changed from three days of fatigue
to three hours OF pleasant railroad travel. On
the third nlght when they reached Culpeper
they we're Hospitality received. There was no
lack of welcome. One of the ancient dwellings
where they were occasionally entertained is still
standing, large frame house, the weather.
boarding nailed with wrought iron nails i'm
ported from England, costing one and six pence
Virginia currency, equal to twenty five cents
pcr hundred. Nails then were sold by the
hundred. The parlor of this old house is still
70 good preservation, and though antique, is
about the handsomest parlor in the town.
The town of Culpeper has abou, 1900 inhab-
ltants; lies Immediately on the Orange and
Alexandria Railroad, sixty-fve miles from
Washington, in delightful, healthy country,
especially for persons with pulmonary com
plalut; 10 sig BIT of the Blue Ridge, which bounds
the horizon for great distance. The county
Is fertile and adapted to grazing, wheat and
corn, and the lands cheaper than elsewhere;
aud to industrious migrants no section offers
greater Inducements. Asa summer resort it
Is deig ghtlul. Excellent and cheap board; be-
sides Is frst-class botel kept by Mr.. Samuel
l. Ashby, who does everything to make his
house pleasant home. w. G. N.
HE SISTERS San Francisco correspon-
dent Of the Louisville Courier-J ournal writes
The rosiest, brightest, most bewitching little
French woman travelled with US from Omaha
to San francisco. She could speak no word Of
hogIish aud could speak 10 French, so con.
,versation was impossible by ordinary methods,
but we soon lmprovlsed language, the vowes
OF which were smiles and the consonauts mods
aud motions. She never left the car at the sta
oD, but drank wine and ate biscuit alone in
her dull corner, and after we had journeyed
day.or TWO [ ventured TO offer her some of the
good things from my lunch basket, and one
damp, chilly morning | brought her some hot
coffee from an eating house. TO one who uo-
d1,er>tood uothing of the musical clatter of her
french tongue, the thanks expressed by the
eloquent hands, the upward lifting and sudden
dropping of the eyelids, and the warm blush
mat rose to her cheeks and was lost in the
ampes, were enough. When we reached
oakland she darted out of the car, and
| saw her weeping and laughing 10 the
arms OF an elder sister. Such kissing and
tugelng, such wild, ravenous demonstrations
oI Joy never witnessed. The deepest joys of cur
Anglo Saxon race are often the quietest, and
1ilS hcry. lmpassioned welcome was new to me.
me sisters would separate few steps and
0H al cacn Otner several seconds, and then
Iu>h nto each others arms and kiss and laugh
ana cry, and when you would suppose the We
S1enence y OF the welcome was over they would
uarl at each other again. They few apart and
,Uscther again at least dozen times, and it
%;h %ls so comleal sight that thought should
ule laughing at them; | did not know was
tSeeplng, TOO, until the chill wind struck my
,Sc lace, When the happy little women we're on
h, f'a' Terry and we were steaming across the bay
NY W. Wright, | offered my congratulations, and
aiy @y ieow-traveller caught my hands and press
~ 'nem aud kissed them as though she were
saupnng s'lg each particular finger, while the elder
trH ,Ssr sad IN broken English: "Tere sa is now
sh" "u I france; she comes to me; she is so happy
rf,b If, WIN travel no more; she kisses the hands
y,ra ,ns sweet American, who is so kind, and did
sn,st srs Tue s"eet-meats and the coffee. Can she
Card ard rb:L Tue name OF the lady?" gave her my