Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-11-28
For the SPECTATOR.
Gen. Andrew Lewis.

For the SPECTATOR.
Gen. Andrew Lewis.
Your readers will regard this commu
nicatiop as interesting in settling the
question beyond the shadow of doubt
"a to the place of burial of Gen. Andrew
Lewis's remains. Mr. McCauley is per
haps the youngest son of the late Col
John McCauley, representative in the
Senate of Virginia of the Botetourt dis /.
trict Up to the time of his fathers
service in that body, there had never
been page connected with it, and this
at the time quite youth,
SO won upon the confidence of its mem
Der, that in spite of the fathers protes
tations, they placed him in that posi-
ton. He has been the Clerk Of the
Court of Roanoke county for several
wears. Becoming interested in the cor.
respondence between Frederick John
ston, ESQ.,, and myself on this subject.
he very kindly sent this communica
ton, the public will appreciate, I am
sure, as an interesting piece of history !:
"SALEM, VA, September Is, 1882.
Hon. j. Marshall McCue:
Dear Sir,-The question as to the blu.
rial of Gen. Andrew Lewis, which was
discussed in an article of yours recently
published in the StauntOn SPECTATOR,
has for some years past enlisted my at
tention and interest. A few years ago
I published a statement in one of the
Salem papers, which was elected by an
article in the Bedford Star by w. Carey
Maupin, Esq, headed Talks with the
old folks of Bedford in which was the
following paragraph: Perhaps it is not
as generally known as 1t should be, that
Gen. Andrew Lewis, an old Indian
fighter, the hero of the battle of Point
Pleasant. which was fought on the Ka,
nawha river, lies buried on Capt. Jamee
Buford's place, in grove of thorn
bushes, near the pike leading from
Lynchburg to Salem. Any other ma
ton but the American would long
since have marked his last resting place
with suitable monument
My article was intended to correct the
erroneous statement that the remains OF
Gen. Lewis lie buried on the Buforu
farm in Bedford county, and to prove
that they were Inferred on the Burwell
farm in Roanoke county. In support
of this opinion quoted from Mr.. Fred
erick Johnston's article, extracts OF
which appear In your communication.
But I also adduced other evidence.
which, together with Mr.. Johnston's
statement. ought, I think, settle this
question beyond the shadow of doubt.
This additional evidence is in the form
of letter written by Gen. VIM. Pres
ton, an intimate friend of Gen. Lewis.
and famed in Gen. Lswis's will as one
of ais executors. to Thomas Lewis, OF
Rockingham county, brother of the
General. This letter was published
for the first time in an article writer
by Prof J. D. Dreher, now President Of
Roanoke College, which appeared in the
October. 1875, number of the Roanoke
Collegian. the college paper of said in
stituJion. The original of Gen. Pres
TOMS letter is In the possession OF Col
John F Lewis, of Rockingham. The
following is verbatim copy of the let.
ter as it appeared in the CoNegian::
MRS. BRECKENKIDGE IS
September 70, 1881.
Dear Stiff you have not been in
formed before now, this brings you the
melancholy news of the death OF your
worthy brother, Gen. Lewis. He de
parted this life last Tuesday evening al
Capt. Talbots in Bedford, about 20
miles from his home, on his way fron
Richmond. where, it is supposed, BIT
felt the first symptoms of his disorder
which, it is believed, was q bilious fe
yer and pursued his journey to Tall
bots, and reached the place on Monday
DR.. Fleming, with Tommy and An
drew, got to the place and found him
speechless, and in the agonies of death.
a few hours before he breathed his last
On Thursday last his remains were de
Gently Inferred beside his youngest son,
Charles, on his own land, in presence
of his amily and q number Of friends,
where silent grief and sorrowful coun-
tenances plainly discovered the feelings
of their hearts on this mournful occa-
sion. For my part, I can almost CRY
out, My soul Is weary of my life' The
loss Of less than half dozen of friends
more, exclusive of my family, would
make me DO SO most heartily. Still, l
believe it to be our duty to submit.
without complaint, to the dispensations
of Providence, however adverse or dis.
tressing they may appear to our be-
1ighted minds. To say the loss that
his family, his friends, or his country
have sustained by his death, to an af-
fectionate and sensible brother, WonId
be supefiluOus; as these, and many
other thoughts of the like ns.ure. will
readily occur to you in the course of
your mournful confer. ,plation on the
subject. 1 would a. Il q Short PRAYER.
that the God of orr Fathers NAV pre-
pare you ana re and our connexions
lot the cef!a change from time to eter-
~ Ivy, an" nat.we may cheerfully realize
the Irou oles Of this world for the well
siGu' -ded hope of better.
" Gen. Lewis's will, dated about the
last of January, 1880. he has appointed
yourself, his sons Samuel, Thomas, and
Andrew, executors, and has added my
name amongst those of his friends. Al
nv advanced age, in declining state
of health, tied down to numerous.
helpless family of my own, engaged for
the iU Jated estates of two deceased
friends, and their aUorse fated posterity,
I am afraid I cannot act in the trust
your good brother and my friend was
pleased to repose in me. Yet, consider
ing that real friendship ought to last
beyond the grave. I am willing to sac.
rifice my life and ease to those duties,
and in this particular instance shall be
wholly directed and determined by
your example. am no stranger to the
Inconvenience such an undertaking
must subject you to; at the same time,
am not stranger 10 Cne love anu al
lection you have long and justly ex-
pressed for our deceased friend. have
no doubt but those reflections will de
termine you to comply with what, we
may reasonably suppose, was his dying
request. At any rate, hope you will
endeavor to make it convenient for you
to take q ride to Roanoke before the
cold season sets in, and on being ad
visad thereof, will ride down and meet
you ct Richfeld, and conduct You to
my lofty farm, and from there back to
Roanoke.
X
I am. with sincere esteem. dear sir,
your affectionate humble servant,
VIM PRESTON
Here we have cotemporaneOus testi-
mony to the effect that Gen. Lewis
found bis last resting place amid the
quiet shades of this lovely Valley, for
Gen Preston writes few days after his
burial that his remains aDere decently
inferred beside his youngest son. Charles
on his oa0n land, in presence of his fam
lily
We might interest ourselves in con-
occurring the grounds which gave Use
IN tho Tradition a1rropt IN RoJ food