Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-04-30
CHAPTER XIV.
WORKING.

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the frontiers, huddled together in
their little forts, left the country
with every appearance ola deserted
region and such would have been
the opinion OF a traveller concerning
it, if he had not seen here and there
some small fields of corn or other
grain in a growing state.
1t is easy to imagine what losses
must Lave been sustained by our
first settlers owing to this deserted
state of their farms. II was not the
full measure of their trouble that
they risked their lives, and often
lost them, in subduing the forest
and turning it into fruitful fields /;
but compelled to leave them in a
deserted state during the summer
season, a great part of the fruits of
their labOrs was lost by this unto
ward circumstance. The sheep and
hogs were devoured by the wolves,
panthers and bears. Horses and
cattle were often let into their fields,
through breaches made in their
fences by the falling Of trees, and
frequently almost the whole of a
little crop of corn was destroyed by
squirrelsand raccOOns, so that many
families, even after hazardous
and laborious spring and summer,
had but little left for the comfort
of the dreary winter.
The early settlers OH the frontiers
of this country were like Arabs of
the desert of Africa, in at least two
respects. Every man was n soldier,
and from early in the spring till late
in the fall was almost continually
in arms. Their work was often car
ried on by parties, each one of
whom had his rife and every thing
else belonging to his war Dress
These were deposited in some cen
trail place in the field. a sentinel
was stationed on the outside of the
fence, so that on the least alarm
the whole company repaired to their
arms, and were ready for combat
in a moment.
Here again the rashness of some
families proved asource of difficulty,
instead of joining the working par
ties, they went out and attended
their farms by themselves, and in
case of alarm, an express was sent
for them, and sometimes party of
men to guard them to the fort
These families, in some instances,
could boast that they had better
crops, and were every way better
provided for in the winter than
their neighbors in other instances
their temerity cost them their lives.
In military affairs, when every
one concerned is left to his own
will, matters were sure to he badly
managed. The whole frontiers OF
Pennsylvania and Virginia present
ed a succession Of military camps
or forts. We had military officers,
that is to say, captains and colo
nels but they in many respects
were only nomlnally such. They
could advise, but not command
Those who chose TO follow their ad-
vice did so, TO such an extent as
suited their fancy or interest. 9th
ers were refractory and thereby
gave much trouble. These officers
would leave a scout or campaign,
while those who thought proper to
accompany them did so, and those
who did not remained at home
Public odium was the ONLY punish
ment for their lazlness or cowardice.
There was no cOmpulsion to the
performance of military duties, and
pecuniary reward when they were
performed.
1t is but doing justice to the first
settlers Of this country to say, that
instances ofdisobedience of families
and individuals to the advice of
our officers, we're by no means nu'
merous. The greater number cheer
fully submitted to their directions
with a prompt and faithful Obedi-
ence.