Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1880-06-29

"
made great display of political knowl-
edge and oratory that was not equalled
even by Gouverneur Morris, who was
in the Senate at that time Mr.. Breck-
enridge was made Attorney General OF
the United States by Mr.. Jefferson, in
which office he died, leaving four sons
of distinguished talents. His Oldest
daughter, Letitia, married General P. B.
Porter, Secretary of War under John @.
Adams's administration.
s.Afler Mr.. Breckenridge left Smith
field his brother, General James Breck-
enridge, took his place as teacher and
assistant
previous to this period, there was a
company formed called "The Loyal
Company" for the purpose of entering
lands in the western counties of Vir-
ginia. DR.. Thomas Walker, of Albe-
marie, Judge Edmund Pendleton, and
one or two others. formed the company.
Much surveying was required. Colonel
Preston was employed, which still, in
creased his estate. Colonel Preston
planned many of the military move
-ments of that period. He was q man of
consummate judgment and unremitting
industry. He planned the campaign
which made the demOnstratiap in North
Carolina that led to the battles of Gull
ford and Kings Mountain. His health
had greatly, declined from frequent apo
plectic premonitions, yet he undertook
as commandant of his county, to march
at the head of his regiment into North
Carolina to join General Greene at Gull
ford. You will meet with an account
of this matter in "Lee's Memoirs of the
Revolution" A skirmish had taken
place between the British and Ameri-
caps at Whitsell's Mills, short distance
from the main battle. Colonel Preston
was riding large, fiery, young horse
that took fright at the report of the guns,
dashed through the mill-pond, and
threw Colonel Preston off, who was
likely to be cut down by the British
Lighthouse. At this critical moment
Colonel Joseph Cloyd dsmounted. put
Colonel Preston on his horse, and there
by saved his friends and officers life
This signal service was always held In
memory by Colonel Preston, and sim
cere friendship eQntipIed during Pres
toms life. Cloyd was the young man
who escaped when his mother and
brother were killed near Greenfield
Cloyd married an excellent, worthy
lady, without any fortune. which SO
displeased his father that he was ban
ished from the paternal roof. Preston
furnished money to Cloyd, which ena-
bled him to purchase the estate on which
his son David now lives.
CATER Colonel Preston returned from
North Carolina his health continued to
decline. In the month of June, l793, he
had spent an evening with his intimate
friend, General Evan Shelby, the father
Of Governor Isaac Shelby. On the
morning of the 28th he prepared to at
tend a regiE9ental muster at Michael
Prices, three miles from Smithfield.-
His oldest son, General John Preston,
then youth, accompanied hiM, Gs did
General Shelby. The day was exceed
ingly hot. After, being on the field a
few hours he beckoned to bis son to come
to hiM, complained of pain in the head
and desired to lie down on Prices bed.
In short time Afterwards he requested
his son to help him on bis horse as he
wanted to go home, When the horse
was brought to the door he made an at
tempt to put his foot in the stirrup, sank
down, was caught by his son. and laid
on the bed again. By this time he lost
his speech, but took his sons hand,
rolled up his shirt sleeve, and made a
sign for his son to bleed him.
'This Colonel Preston could not do.
Mrs Preston was sent for, who imme-
diateIy came Colonel Preston's reason
had not been staggered by the conflict ;
he caught his wife's hand, kissed It,
shed tears, and made a motion to be
bied This could not be effected through
constegaation and ignorance. Soon af-
ter the stertorous breathing of apoplexy
came on, and about midnight he
breathed out his lie. Colonel 'Floydf
had been killed by the indiSrs on April
12, 1888, and when the news RsSphed
Colonel Preston such was the feeling
produced by It that Preston was never
seen to smile afterwards"
r. 4. BROCK.
*"The Lossl Company" probably under the
purchase of Colonel Richard Henderson from
the Cherokees in f774.
tFloyd county, KY, established in 1893, was
named in honor of Colonel john FLOYD; Colo,
belonged to the party that was recalled by GOV.
ernor Dunrnofe in consequence of the danger
attending the performance of his orders. Re
in the Stirring scenes Of the times. Alternate
ly a surveyor, legislator, sssd soldier, his
distinguished success rendered nis;a at once ar
ment. No Individual among the pioneers vas
more intellectual or better informed; none dis
played on all occasions that called for 1t q bold
er and more undaunted courage. His person
was sngulariy attractive. With complexior
unusually dark, his eyes and hair were deer
black, and his tall spare figure was dignified
by the accomplishments of well-bred Virgin
ia gentleman. Connecting himself with th'
fortunes of the Pennsylvania Company, he be
came their principal surveyor, and was ctoser
a delegate from the town Of st. Asaph to thu
Assembly that met at BOOnsbOrOugh on May
24th, 1772, to make laws for the infant colony
He accompanied Boone in the pursuit and res
cue of his daughter and her companions whom
the savages had decoyed and captured in July
l776 and his cantemporaneous account Of tina
thrilling occurrence does equal credit to hi
scholarship and pen. In all the stations, civi
and military, to which he was called he ac
quilted himself with honor.-Collins's Ken
lucky ed l848, %. 303. We are in the possession
Of the Diary of Colonel Floyd, which we design
to lay before our readers.
The novelist Ouida is thus described
Il L