The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-06-12
Professor Campbell "SHms Up" rs
to tne Halifax Wall.
WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY,
LEXINGTON. June 4, 1879,

| WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY,
LEXINGTON, June 4, 1870.
| Editors of Dispatch: As asked in Q
former communication for . specific state
ment OF facts in relation to the '''HalisaS
WALL" and az those facts have been very
clearly and fully set forth by your seyera
intelligent correspondents, presume that
courtesy on my part, as we'll as the lively
| interest awakened in the subject. demands
another brief communication from me. But
allow me to say, "once and for all,' that il
was not my purpose in what wrote be.
fore, nor is it my purpose now, to express
any decided conviction as to the origin OF
this interesting and remarkable structure.
For. whether it is finally shown 10 be
"dike," "vein." or "wall," it is still an
>obiect OF great interest, varying, Of course,
according 10 the standpoint from which it
is viewed, whether from that OF the geolo-
gist or that of the archaologist.
| NV original design was to suggest tbeo-
nv that naiqht account for the phenomenon,
and TO draw out facts in the case that might
ultimately lead to determination OF its
true nature and origin. Ii no other good
| has vet been accomplished by the discus
sion, spirit OF earnest inquiry has been
awakened, and good many people have
been furnished with something interesting
to think, and talk, and speculate about.
Your correspondents and other writers
have - worked up the case" very well in-
deed as TO the facts, but they are far from
being unanimous in their conclusions. NY
intelligent young legal friend - e. W. A."
says OF the stones and mortar, that they
show " design and skilful arrangement,
and were undoubtedly placed by some skill
full mason." DR.. William +. Darlington,
of Charlotte, writes: 1T is, think be-
yond controversy, wall OF artificial forma-
ton and great antiquity. 1t is a
study for antiquarians, not biologists"
Another interesting statement, given by
"W. b." concludes with the writer's in
ferential question, wh4ther all the facts do
not 'afford strong presumplive crdence
that the anomalous structure must be
ascribed TO human inStrumentalty ?"
On the other hand. the Halifax Record.
after stating the observed facts, gives its
conclusions with some reserve in these
words: $50 at present the case must re-
main wrapped in mystery" Then (Rev.? p
Fl. A. Brown "a gentleman who, if mis-.
take not the writer, has given attention to
some important geological questions) writes
lin the Dispatch of May 2Sth: "My impress
sion decidedly, upon getting full view Of
tae structure, was that it is natural, not
artificial, aud closer inspection confirmed
this view" So the doctors differ"
II may help your readers to decide which
OF these two conclusions has the best
foundation if we sum up the leading facts,
pro and con-, on which they both claim to
be based. All admit ~ that the structure
has the appearance OF a buried wall OF more
or less regularity; ~ that the material is
white flint-rock in blocks and chips Of va
rious sizes, containing crystals OF iron py-
rites; ~ that the crevices are filled with a
soft clay, and a, that its age is unknown.
The facts that most directly point to hu-
man origin are Q) that 1t looks like an
artificial wall with one dressed and one
rough face; o. that the cementing clay
(mortar) and the "chiaking" indicate de-
sign and skill (3) it seems TO be limited in
length and depth, and to have some degree
OF symmetry in thickness; az ancient
walls and other structures OF stone have
been found in Ohio and other States east Of
the Mississippi river that are admitted to
have been built by human hands (by the
mound-builders p at some unknown period
in the history OF this country; ~ a piece
of pottery was found buried near the bot
tom OF tue excavation.
In favor Of Its being possibly a result Of
the operations OF geological agencies it may
be claimed O) that dikes and VEINS often
resemble walls, and in this region are often
formed of white quartz; (2) the locality
points TO no design in its erection !;
(3) If so durable rock as quartz had
been artiticially dressed its hewn faces
would still bear undoubtcd marks OF the
tools employed; az distinguished arch
biologist says that the ancient "mound-
builders" of this country never used helcn
stone in building; % The so-called "ce-
ment" is a notified plastic-clay Of fine tex
ture, not uncommon among disinteSrated
States, has no lime in it, and is not suti.
GENTLY homogeneous to indicate that klnd
OF ,ni1ing to which masons usually subject
artificial mortars; (6) no one has yet said
that he had seen the bottom OF the struc-
ture; (7) sit is embedded" DR.. Car
rington says, sin micaceous sandstone,
requiring both grub-hoe and pick to eXtri-
cate it" vet W. 3. Informs us "that the
earth which formerly enveloped the wall is
not only I, ee from rock, but almost from
gravel, and that knife- blade can be thrust
into it without injury TO It's edge; 81
the piece OF pottery found in the eXcava-
ton one writer (Mr. BROWN reports to be
.l,eautifully glazed inside and out" Did
our aborigneS have the art OF glazing their
earthenware?
With this array Of facts before his mind,
the reader must draw bis own conclusions.
My theory, as far as yet expressed, has
been only suggestive, and shall so remain
for the present. / leave it to others who
have opportunities for personal inspection
to draw more definite conclusions. DIR. Car
ringtor seems very confident that cit is a
study for antiQuarianss not for Sealogists,"
while Mr., Brown with equal confidence. de-
cides that sit is natural and inferentially
a study for biologists. Let the antiquarian
and the geologist both study it, and they will
work out the true solution OF the problem
as to the nature and origin OF the 9 wall y
by-and-by. AS far as my personal ariSheS
can accomplish such an end, hope, for the
sake Of the increased renown OF the glo-
rious old county Of Halifax, that somebody
will ultimately prove beyond a peradyen-
artificial acah OF unknown age. For, while
have Q great admiration for the wonders
| OF nature, always look upon human an.
tiquities with profound reverence.
IL. w. Armistead and DR.. Darlington
We're both so kind as to send me specimens
i = The terms = dixie and 8 ye!n.a are often EN-.
ployed indefinitely by writer's on geology, but are
INTO dtkes and proper octas. bikes are filled by
volcanic rocks, basalt, trap. some other igneous
| rock, and have regular and well-defned walls
material which is less OBVIOUSLY a liquid injection
from below, and probably is seldom Of this nature
tDdna.