The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-09-21

VOL. i.
and struggled amidst periis little under
stood in these days. The fort was built, j
suppose, about the time OF Braddock's cam.
paign, when the Indians were making some
Of their most daring incursions, which
were marked by indiscriminate slaughter
OF the whites whenever they succeeded In
surprising or overcoming them. The name
Lewis was given In honor of Charles or
Andrew Lewis-probably the former, for
this region was his bailiwick in those days.
A FINE VIEW.
In the middle Of the estate the upland be-
tween the meadow-land and the high hills
is extended or iutted towards the clear
river, and forms point OF observation
which overlooks the grand stretch OF mea-
dow that lies both north and south OF the
Ridge, and presents one Of the finest
views OF level and exceedingly fertile mea-
dow land that / ever beheld. On this OBJ
seryatory spot stands the fine mansion OF
the farm. The mower was at work as /
passed, and the rich harvest that incum-
bered the earth was astonishing to the be-
holder. This fine property is owned by q
well-known gentleman OF Staunton, Mr.
Crawford.
When one crosses the Cowpasture on the
| Chesapeake and Ohio road amidst the slate
hills that eXend from NIillboro' depot to
Clifton Forge, he would not suspect that
river, whose shores are there so very poor,
could boast OF such territory as Fort Lewis,
and he would be amazed to look at the two
pictures presented by the Cowpasture-
that where the railroad crosses and that OF
| Fort Lewis. And the last named is not the
only specimen of the jewels Of the lovely
stream. Though generally marked by
abrupt hills and cliffs and land not
remarkably rich, yet her shores are
graced with some OF the fairest and
richest farms. But her mountain ele-
vations or rugged hills are not like those Of
large part Of Pocahontas, Webster, and
Randolph-rich, and readily grass-produc-
ing. When those activities are cleared the
grass does not follow with such vigor as to
supersede the bush the bush iproves the
strongest, and hence the mountains skirting
the valley are not good pasturage.
TIE LANDS AND WATERS.
= The Cowpasture has some fine farms
upon it above Fort Lewis to where it is
joincd by the Bullpasture. The river itself,
clear and pold, is graced by shores that are
varied as it flows between them, presenting
all styles of beauty from graceful meadows
to steep. high banks, green with richest
foliage, or with cliffs Of solid rock tow ering
toward the sky with their giddy elevations
and fantastical shapes reflected as by mir
ror in the bosom Of the clear stream flowing
at their feet. These rapidly succeeding
pictures must be endless sources OF plea
sure to any traveller who loves nature.
Another object OF great interest to the
traveller is the large number OF cOpious
springs that burst out along the route. Be-
tween Fort Lewis and Williamsyille-six or
seven miles-there are several very wonder
full springs-two that are called ebbing and
flowing springs They do not ebb and flow
regularly, but at irregular intervals. Their
volume is greatly increased at times, and
these impulsiye manifestations are very
much due to rains or floods from above.
One Of these springs is at the farm OF Mr..
William S. McClintoc, on the Cowpasture,
| where its flow is utilized in moving grist-
and saw-mill.
WONDERFUL SPRING.
a short distance below Williamsville
there is very wonderful spring, which
boils up in rich meadow, its boils cover
| ing nearly an acre of ground. The water
is clear, and is conducted from the spring
| to very large mill, where its motive power
is never diminished, and keeps both saw
and merchants Touring mills in full opera
ton. This fine water-power, the mills, and
the meadow are the property Of the brothers
William and Stephen Wallace-young gen.
tlemen Of enterprise, who are quite pro-
| gressive in their policy.
Just below the town OF Williamsyille the
Bullpasture empties into the Cowpasture.
I turned into Williamsville and followed
the Bullpasture to McDowell-an humble
village, hardly known at all except as the
scene OF the victory Of Jackson over Mill
roy.
The names given to the rivers hereabout
afford an illustration Of the devotedly pasto-
raj temper Of the people who lived on their
shores when they were named. There are
the Cowpasture, the Bullpasture, the Calf
and Coltspasture, the Mares run, and
| what not.
NAMES, AND WHAT IS IN THEM.
| But I much more admire theft you
chooSe-rougher age, when there was cer-
| tainly poetical genius existing that gave
names to waters suggested by the happy
and flourishing condition of the Illuminating
animals that fed on their shores and drank
their pure waters. Who that has read Ho-
mer does not viyidly remember his glowing
descriptions Of the green fields and limpid
I waters where were bred the Grecian war
horse and the intrepid teams Of the chariot
teers with their armed chariots? / turn
from these simple graziers, with little salts
faction, to consider the age that has covered
| the map with names that are evidences Of
selfshness, or conceit, or sycophancy.
The towns bear the names OF men,
and the counties ditto. How flat
they sound. How are our poets to sing
the praises of the land and its beauties
How much OF poetry Is lost to us by this ig-
| noring of all names that might be lovable and
poetical Few are the names to admire in
western Virginia q must so call it), and
| Eastern Virginia is by no means flush with
them, The name-makers have been unques-
| tionably dull set. This subject is sug-
eested by coming upon the hamlet OF VIII
Evansville. 1t is just where the Bullpasture
bursts through mountain gorge that lets II
| into the CoWpasture, and an open PLAIN OF
considerable beauty and fertility. Is it net
| shocking that O place that looks upon the
scene should be so named? Suppose poet,
inspired by the natural wildness and loyell-
ness combined OF the locality, should essay
to sing song to it
s. ssOf thee sing, eet-Williamsville."
II the poet didn't hitch here he certainly
would be no poet at all. II poet he would
likely exclaim after this manner: y, Junl-
alta: %, Pascagoula; o., Pocahontas Q,
WifliamsviIle ! o, the devil and, upsettins
ink and kicking over table, he would likely
fly from WiIliamsyille in rage. y, Mar
tinsyil]e. q New .MartinSyille; 0, Sisters