Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1884-05-10
A Sketch of shepherd,to vn.-

herd stown, written from this place by
Mr.. Robert z. Porter to the Philadelphia
Press. Mr.. Porter spent several days here
recently as the guest of the Hon. \. r.
Boteler:
SIN the repose and tranquility Of this
historic valley, and at the home of one of
Virginia's most courtly soldiers and citi-
zens, it may be well to pause, as it were,
at the threshold Of the South and briefly
map out the purpose and scope of this
series of letters. True it is that the SUR
roundings are more suggestive of the
stirring days of the civil war, when the
Potomac at this point was crimson with
the blood Of those who fell ut q fierce en-
counter on its banks, not far from where
the handsome Shenandoah Valley Rail-
road bridge crosses the river. The now
sleepy old town, with its jagged pave
ments, old whitcwashed houses, yellow
and green stores, and neat stone churches,
once fairly bristled with bayonets. In
those days every house, every piazza,
every barn, and, l might say without ex-
aggcration, every garden, was an I'M
promptu hospital for the wounded and
dying of both sides. 1t was not uncom-
mon to have several thousand wounded
soldiers quartercd at Shepherdstown. But
the memories of these tragic events are
too fresh to need recalling. The history
n l,ta
first Georges, as it was settled in 1870. 1t
furnished more soldiers for the Revolu-
ton than any town of its size in the colo
MES. Three companies came from this
point. Here, OH July Il, l715, the South
ern men crossed the river, making, as one
of them expressed it, & 'bceline for Bos-
ton,' which they reached OH the 10th OF
August, having made the journey OF 6oo
miles in twenty-four days. They were
the first company from the South that
rallied to the side of Washington when
Boston was beleagured. They were greet
ed with tears of joy by the commandments
chief, who sprang from his horse and
welcomed his friends and fcllow-citizens
from the South.
"Not far from here, was told, resided
Uoratio Gates, Charles Lee and Adam
Stephen. Curously enough, all three OF
these officers were with Washington mt
Braddock's defeat, all three were wound
ed, all three Joined the cOlonists, all three
were made generals, all three were court
martiaed and deprived of their command.
Enthusiastically, Shephcrdstown claims
some distinction for here lived Rumsey,
who accomplished navigation by steam
Twenty-Five wears before Fulton made his
successful experiments on the Hudson.
Wilson, the ornithologist, lived amid the
hills and meadows of this beautiful coun-
try. and many other distinguished men.
OF late wears the old town has been sup
plvirg governors for Ohio. WorthlnStoh,
Titiin and Morrow were all born here.
"Such, in brief, is the town L write from.
The imh abitants to-day arc not more nu-
mcrous than they were century ago.
The railroad, however, which has only
DCGn COlllplCtcu tuiSS ) N"iS ''',' ~'' .
the character of the town, and evidence OIL
an industrial awakening may be found on
all sides.
".We want diversified industries, SAID
the Hon. A. X. Boteler, more than any
thing else in the South. The inhabitants
of our town are moral, industrious and
kind-hearted people, anxious to have bus
iness men among them. This is the center
of the finest agricultural region in West
Virginia. Labor is cheap, sevcnty-hve
cents day with food, and 81 to Sl.2o
without, and the cost of living remark
ably low. We were very much down
before the Shenandoah Valley Railroad
developed our country. Since then some
large manufacturing interests have been
established here, and Shepherdstown has
, FUTURE"