The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1882-04-01
A LIVELY LAND WAR.

The people OF the upper part OF Bath
county Va, are IA st>-te OF wild excite
ment over a series of pitched battles
which have been going on in that county,
between armed bodies of countrymen
and surveying party, headed by Cap
tains Campbell, Strong and Barrett.
About year ago General Benjamin f.
Butler, of Massachusetts, gained posses
sion of an immense tract of land known
as the Wilson survey. The land includes
several thousand acres stretched across
Bath county, Va, to Lilies mill, beyond
the border of West Virginia. Much of
it embraces mountain Businesses which
have been the stronghold of illicit dis
tillers, and bands Of these daring men,
who, after the war, boasted that they
would never surrender, retired to the
almost impregnable abodes, where they
led wild life, enjoying the occasional
exciting skirmishes which were forced
upon them by the revenue forces. The
Wilson survey, which General Butler has
gotten hold of, is larger than German
princlpality, and embraces some splendid
land. During the latter part of the last
month he began to pay some attention
to the property, and sent a full corps of
surveyors to divide it. The party, about
twenty strong, began their task early
last week, and proceeded for several days
without molestation, until they reached
the vicinity of Dillin's mill, when their
presence began to attract the attention Of
some of the deer-hunters in that section
When the object Of the survey was
known, and when it leaked out that Cen
eral Butler was endeavoring to perfect
arrangements and get
POSSESSION OF THE LAND,
The excitement became intense, and the
intelligence spread from cabin to cabin.
The hardy mountaineers began to gather
together very rapidly, all armed and
ready to resist what they contended was
an invasion of their rightful domain by a
General against whom many of them had
once fought, and for whom few of them
had any love. Law or no law, they de-
termined to resist the surveying party.
Messengers were sent to Captain Camp
bell with the information that he and his
party must clear out, or the place would
be made too hot for them. The survey
ors, who We're we'll armed, took no notice
of what they regarded as idle threats,
and continued their survey, bnt at the
same time notified the hostile parties
that it would be well for them to attend
to their own business. The mountaineers
and others then began to get ready for a
fight. Wednesday, company of about
fifteen of them, well armed with double.
barrelled shotguns, attacked the survey
ing party. Campbell and his companions,
however, were well prepared for them,
and as soon as they came in sight warned
them to come no nearer. As the survey.
ing camp at this time occupied com
manding position on the mountain side
and their force was larger than the at
tacking party, the latter withdrew fol
reinforcements. Their force was recruit
ed rapidly, and yesterday they agair
moved on the surveying party with ;
force of seventy-five men, their cry being
Down with Ben Buffers land sharks"
THE SURVEYORS WERE WARNED
Of their approach, but did not retreat a
that time, as they believed that tn
strength of the attacking party had beel
exaggerated. They however, took tn
precaution to entrench themselves wei
in their position. Yesterday at II o'clocl
the two parties met, and sharp engage
ment ensued, over 100 shots being fire.
IN few minutes. 1t was kind of In
dian warfare, the besiegers' force bein
scattered and keeping behind the trees
The surveyors held their camp behind
natural fort of boulders, and for time
prevented their assailants from gainin
on them. Three of the mountaineel
were wounded in the engagement. TIE
of the assailants were then sent out, an
managed to creep through the unde
growth until they obtained positio
higher up the mountain side, behind I'll
surveyors, and then they had an vi