Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-01-16
GEN. ANDREW LEWIS.
THE HERO or POINT PLEASANT AND
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER.
"ss"rnvc' Near Salem, Marked by Boul-
der, Neglected and Unhonored--
Thrilling Incidents.

SALEM. VA, January i3.--(Special.)-
No ono who has ever seen the Washing
ton Monument in the Capitol Square IN
Richmond and serutnizcd there the six
figures which surround the Father OF
His Country. can fail 10 have been i'm
pressed with the magnetic statue OF the
pioneer warrior-Ciencral Andrew Lewis.
The hero OF Point Pleasant. II IL a matter
OF history that when Washington was
made Commandcr-in-Chief OF the Cont
mental army. he expressed the desire that
the honor be conferred on General Chen
Colonel Lewis. who had made such an
enviable record as a frontier soldier. In
this connection might be- published an In
cident that occurred when General Lewis
and his brothers were leaving home to
join their fortunes with those Of the Con-
unental army with the nrmness Of a
Spartan matron Mrs. Lewis called her
children around her and babe them fly
to the rescue OF their native land.
Go. my children" she said. II spare
not my youngest. my fair-haired boy, the
comfort OF my declining years. 1 devote
you all TO my country. Keep back the
foot OF the invader from West Augusta,
or see my face no more"
When this incident was related 10 General
Washington. he exclaimed. Give me but
n banner 10 plant on the mountains OF
West Augusta. and l VIII rally around me
the mon who viii lift our bleeding soun-
try from the dust and set her free'
DATE or Ills DEATH.
General Lewis had the singular good
fortune 20 drive from Virginia the last
hostile Indian and 10 eXpel from her
soil the last Of her Royal enemies. The
exact day Of his death IS not known, but
~ can be stated Automatically TO nave
taken place IA September 1871. OF such was
the character Of General Andrew Lewis,
who lived on his farm "Drapmore'
situated in the Roanoke Valley, where
the little town Of Salem now stands.
one thousand acres of this land contain
Ing the Old homestead and the lonely
grave was sold by Captain William LOWS
In 1859 70 Mr.. Nathaniel Burwcll for $lW'-
30. which was then probably the biggest
real estate transaction that had ever Oc-
CURED in Virginia
THE WARRIOR'S GRAVE.
Your correspondent had the good fortune
Il few days ago to be driven from Salem
by a friend 10 the last resting place or
the great warrior The grave is situated
on an ominoncc about one mile from
the centre OF Salem, on the lands or the
Salem Improvement Company, overlook
ing the beautiful Valley OF the Roanoke
for miles down and below the spot afford
ing one OF the most lovely views in ma
ture. with the picturesque hills IN the
distance and the mcandcring Roanoke
glistrning in the sunlight like silver
ribbon unrolled just beneath. Tho only
thing 10 mar the beauty and tranquility
of tho scene is the melancholy reflection
that no monument has ever heen Iearei
upon the grave Of q man so distinguished
a. "a warrior and statesman as Gchctal
Lewis.
WHERE lie DIED.
General Lewis died at the home OF Cap |
tain Talbotts. in Bedford county. az a |
place now called Bufords and was bu-
ricd on the SPOT which was ABOUT
100 wards from his residence. 1t Is sup !
posed that at the time a stone renee tA- |
is;cd around the gray yard, ana thal |
the remains OF other members or the !
5smilv were inferred in the same en-
closure. g.,
For a number Of years the exact loca-
ten Of the grave Wa, unknown TO an.
cxceut one man. Fr larick Johnson. OF
salem. for years Clerk If Roanoke Coun-
~ Court now deceased. II was disc"F'I'i
bv him about a quarter Of century ago
and an $50 De showed the spot % VIII
liam McCaul,y. Of Salem. Mr.. Johnson
had marked the location with a huEe
houIder taken from the ruins Of the stone
fence. .,,-,.,,
AN TNCOUTH STONE.
There II stands to-day. on one side In
scrihcd with black paint In rude letters
~. Lewis" an uncouth stone. overgroWh
with briars and bramOles, covered with |
messcs and lichens. and beaten with the
rains and SHOWS OF many seasons IL ~
exempt no more from the IavaGes ol
time than the ruins OF the falen-down |
fence, which have grown gray in the !
lavse Of decades, yet II covers the bosom |
az ono of the greatest men who ever !
fought for the rights Of Virginia people. |
Even this place has been claimed by |
some not TO have been the authentic spot |
az his burial and Paschal Buford. OF !
BEDFORD dead many years ago. always |
believed the bones Of General Lewis 10 |
be reposing on a hillside overgrown with |
hawthorn near the station of Bufords.
a WITNESS.
But In answer 10 this. II has been found
that Colonel Elijah McClannahan, who
has also been in his grave three tourths
of century. was present at the inter
ment. and knew the exact spot and
pointed II out 10 Mr.. Frederick Johnson,
who erected the present stone.
a NATIONAL MONUMENT
II has often been suggested that as
General Lewis did so much in shaping
the destinies and I'm forming the early
history Of the land he loved his remains
should be the country's dead. and the
least thing Congress could do would be
20 appropriate n few thousand dollars
90 erect suitable monument over his
grave.