The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1895-04-24
SPIRITS OF OLD.

Enquirer staff, who recently paid
visit to our town:
SPIRITS OF OLD.
"And as l stood on the old battle
field vision of the past seemed to
rise before me. | could see the
morning sunlight of clear October
day break over the eastern hills as
the signal for the sleeping army TO-
awaken from its slumbers. But be-
fore the drummer could sound the
reveille the camp was startled by
the war whoop of the savage hordes
who had cr ssed the Ohio in the
night, under command of Cornstalk,
and had surprised the colonial
forces Lewis had been with Brad
dock and knew something of Indian
strategy, out with all his vigilance
he had not discovered the advance
of the Indians until they were upon
him. When the first gun was fired
by a picket on the river bank he
thought that it was Dunmore com.
ing to his relief. Before the mis-
take was discovered Cornstalk and
his thousands of warriors that had
been gathered from west of the
Ohio were in the camp, and from
sunrise to sunset the battle ragged
with unabating fury.
Just over there is the spot where
Colonel Charles Lewis fell mortally
wounded while trying to form his
regiment iuto line to resist the at.
tack of the savages, and braver
spirit never ascended in battles
fiery car. A little farther over to
ward the river is where the intrepid
Colonel Fleming received two shots
in the right arm-one ball shatter
ing the bone below the elbow and
the other one above it-and yet he
refused to abandon the field or to
submit to surgical treatment. With
his shattered right arm hanging
helpless by Lis side he seized his
sword with his left hand and, dash
ing into the breach, led the first
charge against the savages. And
he remained at the head of his regi
ment until his right lung was
pierced by bullet and he fell eX
hausted from the loss of blood. Al
no time after the first assault did
the line of Virginia militiamon wa
yer. Time and again did Cornstalls
dash his savage hordes against the
faithful band of pioneers, only to be
driven back. And all day long the
voice of Cornstalk could be heard
above the din of battle encouraging
his warriors to be strong.
They had faith in their great
chieftain, and, rely ing upon their
overpowering numbers, fought with
the fierce determination to eXtcrmi-
nate Lewis's army. But as the sun
begun to descend the western hills
the brave Yirginians still presented
an unbroken line, and then it began
to dawn upon the Indian mind that
the white men must be expecting
re endorsements from some direc
ton. Fortunately it occurred to
Lewis to resort to piece of STRAIT
egy, and, just as the sun was going
down, be deployed two companies,
under cover of the river bank, to
move around in the rear of Corn
stalk and make an attack from be
hind The ruse was successful.
The Indians supposed that the cx-
pected re endorsements had arrived
and began a retreat. During the
right they re crossed the Ohio and
Lewis was left to enjoy the fruits of
a dearly bought victory.
PICTURESQUE BATTLE.
The fight at Point Pleasant was
the most picturesque battle in
history. 1t was fought in the isola
tion of wilderness, and 200 miles
away from even the sound of civil
zation Defeat to Lewis and his
men meant their utter annihiIation.
1t would have been more disastrous
than the Custer affair. The battle
of the Big Horn was an incident,
while the battle of Point Pleasant
marked au epoch.
There is nothing here to day to
indicate that this is historic ground
There are no signs of the strife, for