Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1875-11-05
SOME INTERESTING REooLLEoT1oNs

SOME INTERESTING RE0oLLEoTIoNs.
Prof. J. D. Dreher, of Roanoke College,
has contributed a most interesting sketch |.
of Gen, Andrew Lewis, in whose memory
a Memorial Hall is about being erected at
that institution of learning, to the Roam
oke ssCollegian," which will besparticu-
larly interesting in Augusta. After Civ
ing brief sketch Of his life in the Indian
wars and the great and final victory over
the savages at Point Pleasant, ne says:
General Lewis represented the county OF
Botetourt then including Roanokel Tor
for several Years ia tine House OF Burgess
SEES. He was, also, a member OF the con-
Sention Of 1875. Like his brother Thomas
he was the unfiinehing advocate OF the
rights of the colonies. r.
L At the commencement OF the hevolu.
ton (1775). he was appointed Colonel of
Ofncegiment in the Continental army and
81 afterwards Brigadief General in the
S3l - service. Ohel of his first services,
after this last appointment, was to drive
Shissold ACQUAINTANCE, Lord Dunmore, from
hisretreat on Gwynn's Island. Thus Gen.
Lewis had the singular good fortune TO
drive from the State the last Indian zoe,
and eXpel from the soil Of Virginia the last
of her royal Governors.
of Washington Campbell, the Virginia
historian, says, thatss'at the commence
ment of the Revolutionary war Washing
ton considered him (Lewis) the foremost
military man III America, ard the one
most worthy Ofsshe post OF Comlnander-lli-
chief of the american army" After
Westinghouse appointment to that posi-
ton, he recommended to Congress that
Lewis be made one of the Major Generals
Of the ar1ny-a recommendation whlcfIs
was sighted to make room for General
Stephens. Washington then addressed
the following letter to General Lewis:
MoRRlsrowN, Sd March, 1777.
TO BTigadier General Aatlreae Letc5s::s
| was disappointed at no. perceiylng
your name in the list of Major Generals,
lately made by Congress, and NEST sincere
ly wish that the neglect may not induce
you to abandon the service. Let me be-
seech YOU to reflect, that the period is now
arrived when our most vigorous exertlons
are wanted, when it is highly and lndis-
pensably necessary for gentlemen OF abill-
ties in any line, but more especially IN the
military. not to hold themselves from pup
| lie employment, or suffer any small pune
tilios to pursuade them from their country's
! Il
one desires it more sincerely than 90.
A candid reflection on the rank you held
| in the last war, added to II decent respect
! for5the resolves OF Congress, mot TO be
| confined in making or promoting general
officers to any regular line" to the proprl-
| ETY. of which all America submitted, may
J remove any uneasiness, arising IN your
mind on the score OF neglect: Upon my
honor. think it ought. A steady perse-
verance in promoting the public good, and
regular discharge Of the duties OF your Of
| ice, which, i'll my opinion, you can emin-
emily perform, must and VIII, IN the APP
| preaching campaign, secure to you the I'M
| Ieigned thanks of all good mel II, and obtain
from Congress that rank which you, per-
flaps, may now think is your undoubted
right. The present eXigency requiring all
| the Continental troops to be at or near
this place. and consequently Il number of
general officers to command them, you
/ Will please to repair hither, as soon AS you
| can possibly make it convenient. In hope
of seeing you soon, am. dear Sir, &c,
GEO. WASHINGTON.
Notwithstanding this earnest protest OF
/ Washington, Gen. Lewis offered his resig-
lllation, which was accepted by Congress,
Apr | Is, l771. At the solicitation OF
! Washington, .he was restored to his COM
4 1nand, ana stationed at Williamsburg. III
I duced by ill health, he resigned his posi-
ton and started for his home, on the
Roanoke River. The following letter
from Gen. William Preston to Tnomas
Lewis, of Rockingham county, gives the
particulars Of the death of Gen. Lewis.
or this letter, which has never appeared
| In print, was permitted to make copy,
through the Kindness of Hon. John F.
Lewis. Of Rockingham, who is in posses
sion of the original. / give the letter
i 7prhnj3m.
i MRS BREcKENRlDGE's Sept. 10Th, 1871.
q If you have not been informed before
now, this brings you the melancholy News
OF the death of your worthy Brother, Gen
eral Lewis.
He departed this life asst Tuesday Even
ing, at Capt. Talbots, in Bedford, about
20 miles from his own home, on his way
from Richmond, where, it is supposed he
felt the first symptoms OF his Disorder.
4 which 1t is supposed was IL Bilious Fever:
| and pursued his journey to Talbot's, and
reached the place on Monday. Doct. Fiem-
i ing, with Tommy and Andrew got to the
/ Place, and found him speeches., and III
| the d comics of Death, few hours before he
| Remains We're decentiy Inferred, beside his
youngest Son, Charles, Oh his own Land,
in presence of his Family, and a number
of Friends, whose Silent Grief and sorrow
/ full countenances, plainly discovered the
feelings OF their Hearts, Oh this nourntul
occasion. For my Part, | can almost cry
| out, my Soul is weary Of my life" The
loss of less than halls dozen of Friends more,
exclusive OF my Family, woald make me
do so most heartily. Still, believe it to
be our Dnty to submit, without complaint,
to the Dispensations of Providence, how
ever adverse or distressing they may APP
pear to our benighted minds. 70 say the
| Joss that his Family, his Friends, Oh his
4 Country have sustained by his Death. to
| an affectionate an sensible Brother, would
| be snpertiuous; as these and many other
! thoughts If a like nature, will readily oc-
cur to you, in the course OF your mourn
4 full CONCENTRATIONS on the subject. would
add Il short prayer, That the God of our
Fathers may prepare you and me, and our
! connections for the certain change from
| time to Eternity d that we may cheer
| fully resign the troubles of this World for
the well grounded hope of Better.
BY General Lewis's Will, dated about the
last OF Jan'y, 1850, he has appointed your
self, his SONS, Samuel, Thomas AMI An
drew, Executors, and has added my name
amongst those of his Friends. AT an adj
vanced Age, in a declining state OF health,
tied down to d numerous, helpless family
| of my own, engaged for the ill tnted ES-
ltates of two deceased Friends and their
tcorse tatef1 P. sterity; | nm afraid | cannot
| act in the Trust your good brother and
my Friend was pleased to repose in. me.
Yet, considering that a real Friendship
| ought to last beyond the Grave, l am will
ling to sacrifice my Life and Ease to those
Buties, and in this particular Instance,
shall be directed AID determined by your
Example am no stranger to the incon-
veniences s,rch an undertaking will sub
| ject you to; at the same time, am not a
stranger to the Love and affection you
have long and justly expressed for our dear
deceased Friend. | have no coubt but
these reflections will determine you to ccm-
] ply with what. we may reasonably suppose,