The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-03-09
A Spec of War.

correspondent of the Nutional Republican,
writing from Coyington, Virginia, under date
of March 5, gives the following sensational ac-
count of the result of big land controversy
in Virginia and West Virginia
| The residents of the upper part of Bath
| county, in this State are excited over pitched
battle which has been fought in that county
| between armed bodies of countrymen and a
surveying party headed by Captains Camp
bell, Strong, and Barrett. About year ago
General Benjamin F. Butler, of Massachusetts,
| gained possession of an immense tract of land
known as the Wilson Survey. The land in
cludes several hundred thousand acres, stretch
ing across Bath county, in Virginia, to Lilies
Mill, beyond the border of West Virginia
| Much OF 1t embraces mountain Businesses
which have been the strong hold of illicit dis
| filters and bands of those daring men who
after the war, boasted that they would never
surrender, and retired to these mountains
where they led wild and independent life
and enjoyed the occasional exciting skirmishes
| which were forced upon them by the revenue
officers. In the latter part of hast month Gen
Butler began to pay some attention TO the
property, and sent corps of about twenty
men to survey it. They began their task early
| last week, and were not molested until they
reached the neighborhood of Lilies Mill
| When their presence began to attract the at
| lentiOn OF some of the deer hunters in that
| section.
| When the object of the survey became
know, and when it leaked out that General
Butler was perfec;ing arrangements to get pos
session of the land, the excitement became in
tense. The news spread from cabin to cabin.
and the hardy mountaineers and farmers be-
gan to gather together very rapidly, all armed
and ready to resist what they considered an in
| novation of their rIghlful domain by II general
against whom many Of them once fought and
for whom few OF them had any love. Law or
| no law, they determined to resist the survey
! ing party. Messages were sent TO Captain
| Campbell, to the effect that he and his party
must clear out, or the place would be made
loo hot tor them. The surveyors, who were
wei! armed, took no notice of what they re-
garded as idle Threats, and continued their
work. but at the same time sent word to The
hostile parties that it would he best for them
to attend to their own business. The noun
| taIneers and Others then began to get ready
| tor fight On Wednesday company of
about fifteen of them, well armed with double
| barieed shot guns, attacked the surveying
party. Campbell and his companions, how
ever, were prepared for them, and as soon as
they came in sight, warned them to come no
nearer AS the surveying party occupied q
commanding position on The mountain side,
and numbered more men than the ATTACKING
party, The latter Withdrew for endorsements
| Their force was recruited rapidly, and yester.
day they again moved OH the surveyors with
u force OF seveniy-five men, their cry being,
"D0wn with Ben Buffers land sharks !" The
| surveyors Were warned of their approach, but
did not retreat at that time, as they believed
that the strength of the attacking party had
been exaggerated. They, however, took the
| precautlpn 10 entrench themselves. Friday nj
| noon the two parties met and sharp engage
ment ensued, over hundred shots being fired
IN a few minutes. 1t Was Il kind of Indian
warfare, the besiegers being scattered and
keeping behind the trees The SURVEYORS were
behind a natural fort OF bouders, and tor a
time prevented their assailants from gaining
on them. Three of the mountalneers were
wounded in the engagement. A party Of Zen
managed to creep through the und,ergrowth
until they obtained position higher nm the
mountain side behind the surveyors and then
they had an unrestricted range at them, The
surveyors were surrounded, and when the
skirmishers behind them began to pour shot
down on them, they had to throw themselves
on their faces, thus giving their assaiants
ample time TO charge up to their fortress
This was done, amid triumphant yelling
"Charge 'em, boys" Campbell had time to
raise his white handkerchief on the end of his
ramrod as signal of surrender, and SO saved
the lives of many of his party. The camp
was at once taken possession of, and, although
the party, OF Virginians and West ViIgini.os
which composed the victorious force - ~,
cited, they offered no no VIOLENCE =
ers. They simply We .,as eA
country an" % their prison
We" ,.tned them to leave til
not to come back unless the
a,led tar and feathers and birthstone; New
j. was received here last night TO the effect IN
IS seven OF the combatants were wounueu III "a
4 skirmish, but it is believed that none we
ID MORALLY hurt The surveyors beat nasty
ID treat, and are now on their way to this pial
,e having given up all idea, it is now understoo
le of attempting to continue the survey, !
i. people in that section are much exc1.ea' "a. a
Mt insist that they will not submit to WHIT III
st term general Buffers long grab" Gene
il Butler, it is said, has clear title to the Vi
tract, but he will have trouble in getting p