Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1890-09-26
PRITAqES ONLY IN RANK.
Gen. MOrgan's Famous "Dutch
Mess" and It's Services.
THE HESSIANS OF THE VIRGINIA
VALLEY.

u
VALLEY.
THE BoDYGUARD OF THE NOTED REvo-
LUTIONARY SOLDIER AND REALLY
OFFICERS WITHOUT RANK.
Seven Years of Fighting, Quaint old
Winchester, Morgan's Skeleton.
The other day an old naval
officer, who was born aud who has
resided in the quaint, historical
town of Winchester, Va, for more
than halt century, related some
of the curious traditions of that
venerable place, iald out by Thos.
Lord Fairfax, about 1745. One
was the story of Gen. Daniel Nor
gau-he of revolutionary fame
and his "Dutchmess." Organized
long before the struggle between
the colonies and the mother cOun'
try, the "mess" was composed of
six residents OF Winchester. They
were the primitive white settlers
OF that portion Of Virginia. Bosom
friends OF Morgan, they had ac'
companied him on all his expPdI-
tons against the Indians long be-
fore the Revolution, and prided
themselves on being called "buck-
SKINS" in coDtradlstinctiOn to the
latter settlers, who wore "linsey-
wOolsey." They were with Nor
gan in Braddock'S cOmpaign, and
they afterward followed him in
AInold's expedition to Canada,
where they we're captured with
their leader. During the campaign
they carried any one of their mum.
Der who might be sick or wounded,
and by this mutual and unselfsh
interest were able to Withstand
the rigor and fearful hardships OF
Arnold's memorable Northern cam.
paign.
STAFF OFFICERS WITHOUT RANK.
These six remarkable men as.
sisted Morgan to recruit, organize
and drill bis famous rifle corps, OF
which he was commissioned Colonel
by Gen. Washington. The corps
was composed entirely of sharp
shooters. They had no bay Onets
on their guns, and their dress was
hunting coat, Indian leggins,
mocasins and fur caps; according
to tradition, they made their own
clothes. The six acted as personal
aids Of Morgan, and performed
staff duty of every description
They we're Quartermasters, Com
mIssaries and Adiutants, indifferent
ly as the case might be, but they
we're meyer commissioned officers {;
prIvates they were an1 prIvates
they remained, from the beginning
OF their remarkable service until
the end of the war. The "mesS,"
together with Morgan-as did
every man of the corps, carried
"turkey bones," by means of which
they could call each other when
they were separated and required
assistance. Their peculiar whistle
was a source of curiosity to the
English officers, who heard 1t at
night from tue tops of trees and 10
all imaginable places. These six
always led the skirmish lines, act.
ing as captains, and were wonder.
fully efficient as scouts, which
duty they always performed when
ever they were temporarily detach.
ed from Morgan. This may seem
strange to those who have been
soldiers, but it must be remember.
ed that Morgan al ways fought in
dependeGtly Of all corps, com.
mands and other organizations.
The corps first came into motto.
riety at the battle of Saratoga,
where Gen. Gates captured Gen.
Burgoyne and bis 1000 Hesslans.
The prisoners were turned over
to MOrgan's men to be conducted
to the Valley of Virginia, where
they remained till the war closed.
Then n"arly halt of them refused
to return to their native Hesse and
Darmstadt, but became citizens of
the United States, their numerous
descendants are to be found in the |
Valley to-day.
THE HEssIANS OF TIE VIRGINIA
VALLEY.
These Hessians were all skilled |
artisans in leather, stone aud iron;
the stone fences and elegant, mas.
siye stone houses in:that part of
Virginia were built by them. They
taught the inhabitants a new or.
der of things, which in a measure
is followed to-day. The great stone
mansions are called Hesslan houses.
Those soldiers who followed Sher.
idan into the Valley will remember
than