Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-07-23
THE DISMAL SWAMP.
A Description Of 1t by Colonel Will
liam Byrd.
HIS PLAN TO DRAIN 1T.
Readable Document OF Date 1879,
Printed Here from the
Origininai as.

,,f As the enlightened conception Of
master mind.
I, the astounding results Of the strides
q, science of nearly two centuries scarcely
moro than theincipient steps OF the scheme
,-oposcd have been realized.
Tho original which, with other manu-
,.,,rts. came 20 the present writer rs be-
800, from n deceased friend. the late
1,o-oas II. Wynne. in 1875. is IN the grace
Island minute chirography Of the author,
g,i.r,l william Byrd, Of Westover. the
,..,od Of the name and residence, and
..,,festly the most able and variously-
,-compAshcd Virginian OF his era The
4.-ruent IL undated, but copies OF letters
1tc.l5uel Byrd written in June. 1929, 20
comment officials IN England, soliciting
,hr.- influence IN obtaining the grant de-
.-sl. fix the period OF preparation.
l., these letters Colonel Byrd makes the
,fin, suggestion that one half of the
,-.ao.cd subscription of 1000 be secured
10 Tnclqnd. 1t may be apprehended that
proposition failed in support at home
.rI In England, and that Colonel Byrd
ga. unable 10 impress others with tho
feasibility Of his convictions so plausibly
ls,.ea:ed.
lis was a manifoldly useful career. i'm
t.r....re itself on the letters and material
.re,s of Virginia. There was not
:. .vcment during his active life for her
GOOD o. which was not accorded his hearty
.oo,.rutiou. Iron ana other important
u.uaiactuTes and successive adventures
,t migration received HE support. 10
KIM belongs the signal distinction Of
founding IN 1885 Richmond, the metro
+ l- q Virginia.
in.l. sopher. poet. statesman. and
Ip.-.ri~t his qualities nTe further most
,.uuly comprohen0ed IN the ep,taph on
l.~ monument at MestOver, rs follows;
lNortn sidol
Here licih
TrE HONORABLE WILLIAM BYRD, ESQ,
Bong born 10 one Of the Amplest fortunes Of
this country,
lIa was sent carly 10 England for his education,
Whore. under tho direction 81 ar Robert South
well,
A8i ever favoursd win bis particular insiruc-
tons,
ue made q happy proficiency in polite and va
ri0us learning.
Er the means Of the same noble frleDd,
iI. vs. Introduced to the acquaintance OF many
- the FIRST persons OF that age
Joy taov ledge, Wit, virtue, birth or tieh stallion,
and particularly contracted most intimate ana
bosom friendship
wen no learned and illustnous Charles Boyle,
Bag OF Orery.
Ils was called TO the Bar TO toe Middle Temple
studied Tot some time ia the Low Countries,
Visited tho court m FrSuce,
And was chosen Fellow Of the Royal Society,
South sde.l
THUS ao,inentlv nttoi for the service and Orna-
mont ~ HE country,
lie was made receiver general OF be majesty
revenues here;
Vas thrice appointed public agent 10 the court
and ministry ~ England,
AMI being thirty-scyon years member
htA-t became President OF the council oil TINS
Colony.
Ir all these were adic great elegancy OF taste
and life.
ia. wali-bred gentleman aud polite coInpani0n'
DO. -tlsndid economist and prudent father oil
family,
With tho constant enemy Of all exhorbinant
power,
Arl,rusty friend TO the liberties Of his country
Not Mar -, ASA. Mort. Aug. 20, l144, An
Atat 80.
The "Westover Manuscripts" the his
tore value and humOr of which Will meet
permanent literary appreciation, were hIst
urnicd IN the Farmers RcT9T bv Ed
inund and Julian c. Ruilin, Petersburg,
Va. 1911. and reprinted 10y them III an
octave volume IN the same year.
They were privately printed with addi-
tionai matter IN choice style by Joel Mum
sell. Albany, y. l., III 1866, for the late
Thomas II. Wynne IN an edition of 2O1
COPIES. small QuartO, and 30 copies. large
ltp"r.
Inc document was not included IN
,tier Of these publications.. and Is now
for .lc first time printed. IL is true. how
.y.r that some Of the details of the de-
.rr,pti n Of the swamp are comprehended
90 The History OF the Dividing Line,
moulded IN the " WcstOyer Manuscripts"
ir the pioneer experience OF Colonel
Bird the great bogg" may not have
ro,u iuapproprlately designated lie
DISMAL" but II would appear that he was
I'll error a. TO the insalubrity Of the region.
Nyl.laIn Writ, writing about the beginning
.. the present century, states the area or
th. swamp as more than forty miles IN
..ueth and twenty in breadth; it5 sOll a
lack. deep mrs, covered with stupendl-
,u- forest Of juniper and cypress-trees,
whose luxurious branches, interviewer
throughout. intercept the beams OF the
sun and teach the day 10 counterfeit the
night This forest. he continues. mas
become the secure retreat OF ten thousand
beasts Il prey" Bears are reported TO still
iui.st the swamp and 10 commit dopreda-
ful- ON the hogs of the ueighbOrng
farms. A peculiar and very terocluus
species Il wild horned cattle, water-b birds,
a,l snakes" arc stated also TO be album
Iaut " Ii may be said TO begin al point
about eight miles south OF Nortolk, "a
and extends IN general sOutherly dlTec-
uou fora distance of nearly forty miles.
10 therefore embraces about 1000 square
miles or C4O. 900 acres OF territory
Tho soil Is Of dark color and OF peaty
Iature-sO much 20 that when the swamp
got. unusually dry the nres that are
started there burn for weeks IN the SOIL,
burning large holes several feet IN depth.
IL As brought down IN the traditions oil tue
Indians that Lake Drummond, covering
about twenty-five square miles OF surface
M the middle of the swamp, was burned
ou,. making the large depression INTO
winch the waters flowed when the rams
came again. forming the present lake.
ILiz lakeislnyestcd with much romantic
Tradition and has been celebrated IN song
hy thomas Moore. the IRISH poet.
It's level IS said to DO % feet higher than
the mean tide IN Norfolk harbor aud con-
,3cnbly higher than the lahd Iylh. 10
the east Of the swamp.
strange rs II NAV appear. there are no
unAralthiul influences emanatng from the
swamp lts waters are not only sweet ana
lurf ~ oil seasons OF the year. but have
lus medicinal qualities. Tho swamp Is
covered with jumper, therefore the water
4, strongly impTegneted with II, winch
gives II a color Ike that of cold tea or
vinegar. and makes It an efficient remedy
~ affections OF the kidneys.
IL Is largely used for drinking purposes
by those who can procure II, and govern
ueut vessels leaving Norfolk harbor for
long ocean voyages al their tanks with 1t
because of It's punty. medicinal, and keep
H. qualities.
ISe growth Of the swamp continues.
I,appears 10 be identical with that de-
scrbrd by Colonel Byrd, larger areas be-
lue stlll covered with reeds when ahord
fine pasturage.
The newspaper account cited from states
TIA. after excavations have extended
several feet through the peat asoll which
resent les blue clay is roaC ecd." Another
account specplates that tho swamp rs an
old sea bottom and the western boundary
Is o sea-chff and beach" The right to
lands bordering on tho swamp has been
the occasion OF frequent litigation since
1855: OWING, IL may be presumed, 10 the
indefinitely apprehended confines OF the
swamp itself
a Description OF the Dismal by Colonel
william Byrd.
The Dismal is very large Swamp OF
Bogg extending from North TO South over
fltvty fpstsl 81, faryfh aud hTgautl