Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-05-28
HISTORY OF THE VALLEY.
APPENDIX 1.
FACE OF THE COUNTRY.

That portion of the Valley lying
between the Blue Ridge and Little
North Mountain, is generally about
an average of twenty-five miles
wide, commencing at the Cohongo-
ruton Potomac,) and running from
thence sOutherly course to the
commencement of the northern
Termination Of Powelps Fort noun
tains, a distance Of about forty'hve
miles.
This region, it has already been
stated in a preceding chapter, when
the country was first known to the
white people, was one entire and
beautiful prairie, with the excep-
ton of narrow fringes of timber
Immediately bordering on the water
courses. The Opequon, pronounced
Opeckon) heads at the eastern base
of the Little North Mountain, and
thence passing through a fine tract
of limestone country seven or eight
miles, enters into a region of slate.
This tract of slate country commen-
ces at the northern termination
of Powell's Fort mountains, and is
six or eight miles in width east and
west. and continues to the Potomac
a distance of about iorty.fve miles.
The Opequon continues its serpen'
tine course through the slate
region, and empties into the Poto-
mac about fifteen or sixteen miles
above Harper's Ferry. tits thought
by some individuals that this water
course is susceptible Of navigation
for small craft, twenty-four or
twenty-five miles from its mouth.
This slate region OF country is
comparatively poor, unproductive
land; yet in the hands OF indus
trious and skilful farmers, many
very valuable and beautiful farms
are TO be seen in it. About twenty
years ago a scientific Frenchman
suggested to the author the opinion
'tbat this region of slate country
was, at some remote period of the
world, covered with a mountain,
an abrasion of which had taken
place by some great convulsion OF
nature. This he inferred from an
examination of the base OF the
Fort Mountain-the stratum OF the
slate at the foot of which being
precisely similar to that OF the
slate at the edges of the region of
this slate country" The author
will not venture all opinion of his
own on this subject, but has given
that of all individual who it was
said at the time was a man Of con-
siderable philosophical and scien-
tifc requirements.
East of this slate country COM
) mences another region OF fine
limestone land, averaging ten OF
twelve miles in width, and for Its
extent certainly unsurpassed IN
point Of natural beauty, fertility
and value, by any section OF coun-
try in Virginia.
Powell's Fort presents to the eye
. much grandeur and sublimity. Ira
dition informs us that an English
man by the name of Powell, at the
I early settlement of our country
discovered silver ore in the Wes,
Fort Mountain, and commenced
the business ofmoney coming; ant
when any attempts were made t
arrest him, he would escape int
the mountain and conceal himself
From this circumstance it acquired
the name Of Powelps Fort. Th
late Isaac Bowman, about thirt,
years ago, pointed out to the autho
the site OF PowelPs shop, where
was said he wrought his metal, tb
ruins of which we're then to b
seen. Capt. Bowman also iniorme
n the author that several cruclble
and other instruments, which b
had frequently seen, had bee
found about the ruins of this shol
so that there is no doubt OF til
truth of the tradition that th
IA man Powell was in the practice
melting down some sort of meta
if he did not actually counterfe
money.
The grandeur and sublimily
this extraordinary work OF natu
consist in its tremendous heigl
70 and singular formation. On ente
- ing the mouth of the Fort, we a
r. struck with the awful height of Il
mountains on each side, probab
not less than a thousand fec
Through very narrow passage
bold and beautiful stream OF wat
rushes, called Passage cree
which short distance below wor
I, several fine merchant mills. Ait
" travelling two or three miles, 4
valley gradually widens, al
for upwards Of twenty miles fl
nishes arabic land, and afor
settlements for eighty or nine
families, several of whom own We
valuable farms. The two mou
tains run parallel about twent
four or twenty-five miles. and a
called the East and West FC
mountains, and then are merg
into ope, ,anciently called Masinet'
now Hasinutton mountain. IT
Masinutton mountain continues j
course about thirty.hve or thirt