The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-04-23


over from the supply thus fraudulehly
obtained during the voyage.
The Colonel John Nicholas here re-
ferred to, was one OF "a numerous anu
influential family in Virginia some OF
them occupied prominent POSITIONS IN 'lc
counscls OF the nation and in the LlhllaIy
service i'm the state Early in the KeNoiu-
tionary war this John Nicholas began MS
career In the year 117G he was a cap
tain. and became the intimate friend oil
LAFAYETTE. They had experienced the
dangers OF several campaigns toStluci'
and were about the same age Nhcn my
first bcame acquainted and had both SUI
fercd severe wounds. ON one occasion
Colonel Nicholas had rendered important
service to Lafayette ana 10 the cou",,y
at large by preventing the capture OF me
former with his entire command. ms
occurred at Barren Hill, In PENNSYLVANIA
where he was near being surrounded ny
tho british forces under Sir Henry Cln-
ton Nicholas having been sent out 10
reconnoitre. discovered the enemy move
ments in time TO hurry back ana EiNc
warning TO the young French general
The latter had just time 10 cross the
Schuylkin river before the enemy could
emf him off 1t was on this occasion that
LAFAYETTE displayed the true characters
ties OF soldier. The river was so hlsh
that his men nesitatcd to venture across;
whereupon he sprang from his horse ana
plunging waist-deep into the stream SET
them such an example or deVotlon tldt
they at once followed their gallant leader
and safely reached the opposite bank or
the river For this variable service
raTtain Nicholas was promoted TO
command I'm Washington's body guard.
Many years after the preceding events,
and when Lafayette was making his last
visit TO America, the two friends met lor
the first and only time since the KeVolu-
tionary struggle had ended. This was AZ
Richmond in E2l The crowd pressing 10
greet the illustrious guest was so great
that it was some time before Nicnoias
could make himself known. lie did not
choose to force his way 10 the Marquis
at the expense of his comfort and good
manners. At last Lafayette suddenly
caught sight Of his face. end. although
nearly forty years had passed since the
two friends had met he rushed towards
/ his former comrade and tenderly en-
braced him. This is said TO have been
/ the most touching of all the greetings
| Of the Marquis and his personal friends.
! 1t il recorded by those who witnessed the
| interview that they kissed each other
and wept until there was scarcely
| dry eye in the room. At the siege Of
! Yorktown Colonel Nicholas had served
| on Lafayette's personal staff, and having
| parted at the close Of that memorable
| scene, had not met until the date Of the
| event just referred TO.
/ Colonel Nicholas resided in Richmond
| for many years after the war ended.
| His familiar form was well-known at the
old Washington Tavern, now st. Claire
| Hotel, on whose ample porticos the gem
tlemen of the time were in the habit Of
meeting and exchanging views upon the
| fnff 1nrr Il, LIZ
left Virginia TO make his home I'm Central
New York, where many Of his descendants
now live. One Of these appeared in Rich
mond on February D. 1876. He had come
| by special invitation to persOnate at the
colonial ball, held at that time I'm the
Theatre, one of his ancestors, who more
than a century before had paid court to
| Lord Botetourt at Williamsburg. He ap-
peared in full costume Of velvet and lace,
| and met on that occasion many other
| representatives of the Virglnans of the
olden time. whose progenitors had also
attended upon this most amiable and
| popular Of the colonial Governors. =
The revolutionary relic referred 10 at
the beginning Of this article is an un-
pretending piece Of sand stone on which
are TO be seen the following words: ar
nold's picket driven in by Colonel ].
| Nicholas. January T. ISL"
| AZ luti udtt tHs TWO cUlfI highways
leading west from Richmond were the
continuation Of what is now Broad street,
afterwards known as Deep Run turnpike,
and the Westham, or river road. Be
tween these two was an ordinary county
road penetrating for a short distance
the neighboring forests. About n half
mile from the present limits of the city
the middle road ended in two forks. One
bore to the right and led to the Broad
laFt
| and after travers,ng the country several
miles fell into the river road. which, AT
that time, was the highway along James
river towards Charlottesville and the
Blue Ridge mountains. The place where
this bifurcation occurred was evidently
considered a strategic point. 1t was
there that Arnold had established his
picket while his troops were ravagine
the city. Holding these two roads ena-
bled the enemy TO send out maraudine
parties into the surrounding country
without being seriously interfered with
Colonel Nicholas having succeeded in
dislodging the enemy's Videttes, thus
rid the neighborhood OF the annoyance
| In commemoration of this event the stone
was originally placed In the angle formed
by the divergence Of the two roads. as
near as could be 10 the very spot where
the action took place.
members this solitary memorial, wher
as a small boy he with others invaded The
haunts Of birds and hares in that region
1t was always an object OF interest Il
them, because of the unexplained mystery
which hung around 1t. They took es
pecial pleasure In standing and sitting or
il. and could never pass II by without
having first practiced Juvenile antics
I'm honor OF their silent but venerate6
acquaintance.
Although II may not be considered
very important matter. yet 1t is proper
10 draw attention here TO the evident
inaccuracy of the date recorded upon this
stove. All the historians agree that
Arnold landed at Westover on the 4th OF
January. BY the notes and written dis.
patches sent TO Richmond by Colone
Nicholas from the several points on thu