Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-11-28

known here az Col Andrew referred to
by Hon w. NJ Burwetl in his letter to
you, was the same rs the Andrew men
toned in Gen. Preston's letter He
owned available farm on the top of Bent
mountain in this county Several of bis
descendants still reside in this county.
One of them has in his possession q
very finely executed small portrait of
Andrew Lewis the younger. 1 have
seen it frequently. It is said that An
drew bore strong resemblance to hls
father, and have been informed that
the portrait above mentioned served al
q guide and model for the artist Craw
ford in moulding the bronze statue of
Gen. Lewis, which is q conspicuous fig
ure in the group at the base of the
Washington monument at Richmond
Permit me to express my qualification
at the movement you are making to-
wards due recognition of the eminent
and valuable services rendered our
country by this hero and patriot Too
long has this natural duty been post
poned. By erecting a memorial near
his sleeping dust, we honor the memory
of one of our foremost leaders in the
war of Independence, one whom hfsto
rians say Washington considered the
foremost military man in America. and
the man most worthy of the post OF
Communicating Chief of the American
army, and manifest our gratitude for
his important public services trust
that you may be eminently successful
in your efforts to secure an sppropria
ton from Congress for this laudable
object. concur in the opinion of Mr..
Johnston, that the most suitable site
for the monument would he the public
cemetery near Salem. which overlookt
his present burial place, and also one of
the most beautiful landscapes in Vlr
ginia, the cemetery being located on a
part of the tract owned by him at bis
death. A few years ago. when the
question Of removing his remains was
agitated by the citizens of our town,
the cemetery company gave lot for
the purpose, and I happened to be q
member of the committee to select the
lot. The selection was made, but MOTH
ing farther was done, and the ashes OF
the old hero still rest in their modest
enclosure, very few of our most intelli.
gent citizens even knowing aught OF
the exact location of his burial place.
End nearly all ignorant of the fact thai
one of our most distinguished Revolu.
tionary leaders lies buried within few
minutes walk of our town.
AS germane to the subject, I will state
that have in my possession valuabl.
relic connected with Gen. Lewis's mill
tary services, in the fOrm of q manu-.
script copy of Capt. John Stuart's mar
rative of the battle of Point Pleasant
of which Gen. Andrew Lewis was tn.
hero. This copy bears the da'e of 1920
and contains the narrative from which
historians draw their account of tn
battle. believe that this narrative WI 8
never printed in its entirety, until !
mad it published in the Magazine Of
american History, in the Novemoei
and Decem Der numbers for tue year
1877, published in the city of New
York.
Gen Andrew Lewis left two interest
ing relics with his son. Col Andrew
Lewis, the one military suit, eIab0
fateIy ornamented with fine gold lace.
and prese nted to him by French officers
at the time he was their prisoner, as al
evidence of their appreciation of biz
gallantry. Col. Lewis presented the
vest to b is grandson, Gen. Charles L
King, of Decatur, Ala, which was de
stroyed by the Federal troops during
the war. He also presented bis daugh.
ter. Mrs. Kitty King, of Roanoke coun
~, Va :, various pieces of gold lace taken
from the coat. which are now in the
posse ssson of her family, and which !
saw not long since The other relic il
a M assive gold ring, which by his will
Gen. Lewis directed to be made Tor his
son, Col Andrew Lewis. The ring
covers the finger from joint to join,
and presents the appearance of square
box tombstone, surmounted by an urn,
with man leaning on a monume Mt,
and weeping willow in the distance,
and bears the inscription, Andrew
Lewis died September. 1871
These relics were presented by Col
Charles Lewis during his lifetime to
his said grandson, Gen. Charles Lewis
King, whose property was destroyed b.
the Federal troops during the war, the
vest sharing the same fate.
Gen. king presented the ring to biz
youngest child, Mrs. Andrew Media,
who now holds it in sacred possession.
I ana respectfully, yours,
VIM MCCAULEY."
Permit me, Mr. Editor, to express re-
greet at the error in the article last week,
that makes the unwilling of the Wash
ington monument precede the laying Of
it's cornerstone. Nice.