The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-05-24
sas A CURIOUS SETTLEMENT.
Descendants of Hessinn Prisoners of
the Revolution.


From the New York Evening Post.
Charlottesville, Va.-About eight miles
from this city, surrounded on all sides by
a circle Of low but steep and rugged noun
tains. may be seen faint traces OF what
was once prisoners barrack OF the rev.
olutionary war. When Gen. Burgoyne sur
rendered at Saratoga, the commanders OF
the continental army were greatly at a
loss TO know what to do with the large
number Of Hessian prisoners thrown upon
their hands. These men were finally sent
to what was then the remote town Of
| Charlottesville, on the border of civiliza-
| ton, where II was thought the situation
and the unsettled condition OF the country
would prevent any attempted escape and
thus render unnecessary a strong guard
The prisoners remained quietly at their
quarters during the remainder of the war
ana came 10 be looked upon more as set
tiers than as prisoners. The Hessians evil
IDENTIFY preferred their life In Virginia 70
fighting, for they not only made no attempt
at escape, but. after the close of the war,
were 50 pleased with the situation that
they determined TO settle there permanent
ly. and thus was formed the settlement
which Is the subject of this sketch.
In the hundred years which have elapsed
since the founding OF this curious colony.
the descendants of the founders have mix
ed but little with the surrounding popula-
ton. and to-day they are easily recognized
by the popularity of their manner and dia-
lect Charlottesville lies at the foot OF the
Blue Ridge mountains, surrounded by o
circle Of low hills, which extend in all d.
rections and divide the country into nat
ural divisions, thus aiding in maintaining
the unity of the colony.
The secusion In which the colony has
kept itself has not been beneficial to the
character OF the people, and they are ig-
noranf and uneducafed far bevond the
average Virginia farmer. They possess,
however, a native shrewdness which, IN
part, supplies the place of education, and
keeps them In a fairly prosperous con-
dition. They are Of a peaceable DISPOSE
ton, save for an occasional feud between
Themselves survival, perhaps, of their
German love Of lighting.
One noticeable feature Is the peculiar
constituencies of their disposition, which
Is I'm marked contrast with their rough
manner of life. In this respect they are
almost childiike, and they will assume an
injured air on the slightest pretext.
The Young Mems Christian Association
of the University of Virginia supports sew
eral mission Sunday schools taught by
students Of the university. whose schol-
aFs consist almost entirely Of these Ger
mans. There is great need for such work.
for their ideas of religion are most primi-
tive, and church-going is rarely prac-
ticed. Old men and boys sit together In
one class and listen with eagerness to the
talks of the students-such as might be
given TO a class of young boys In one OF
our city Sunday schools.
The people are less exclusive than for
merly. and are thus rapidly losing their
marked peculiarities. But the colony still
retains many curious features, and re-
mains one of the interesting reminders OF
revolutionary times.