Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1899-02-09
AUGUSTA ANTIQUARIAN.
A Collection of Relics of Local
Interest.

A. l.. Patteson have placed it perhaps
among the most interesting of similar
collections in the county. The latest
acquisition is all old fashioned flint
lock musket which has been through
three Wars. The piece, too, is an ill.,
teresting reminder of the days when
Harper's Ferry. although practically
d frontier post, was the seat OF an ar
senal and mandatory of the primi-
tive agents of destruction which, be-
fore the day of the Mauser and Krag-
Jorgensen rifles, we're considered the
best for Uncle Sans military pur-
poses, offensive and defensive. The
gun s lock bears the date of its manu-
facture, 1881, as also the place. Itwas
first placed in the hands of a United
States regular, one of those whom
President Andrew jackson sent to
Florida against the troublous Semi
mole Indians, with whom "OId Hick
DRY" had had personal experiences
nearly wenty years before, and in the
period of his military career.
After the Seminole war the musket
saw service in the war with Mexico,
having been borne to the gates OF the
| capital of the MOnteZumas. Thought
to Virginia after the acquisition OF
Texas and the territory to the West,
the well used piece enjoyed well
| earned rest until the secession Of Vir.
ginia and the scarcity Of modern arms
| pressed it into the service of the Con.
federacy. Despite its age and usage
| the weapon is yet in excellent cOndi
| tiOn and has been tested successfully
in hunting expeditions on the noun
tains hereabOut.
| DIR. Patteson, when coming into
possession of the weapon was able only
to secure its authentic record as given.
Collateral inquiry is supplying other
links which II is believed will enhance
the relics historical value, and several
offers to purchase the gun have been
declined.
Interest awakened 10y the old gun
has attracted the attention of anti
QuariarS to many of the other relics
which DR.. Patteson has quietly been
collecting for years. These belong to
all periods from aboriginal times down
through the Revolutionary period tc
and past the civil war. Two Wash
ingt0n elics are among those most
priced. One is spur used by the
Father of his Country on his West
moreland estates. The spur was pre-
sented by George Washington to his
nephew, Lawrence Washington, and
passed in turn through the hands OF
DIR. VIM. Baldwin, of Winchester, Va.
and DR.. Alex. Waddell, Of Staunton,
at whose hands DIR. Patteson received
it, DR.. Waddell being his uncle and
medical preceptOr. The other curio is
a razor used for years to remove the
beard from the immortal Georges
face by his barber, Smith Thompson
who was years ago known in StauntOn
and for time resided there.
| Another spur is q souvenir of the
days when DR.. PatteSon, las mere boy
followed the fortunes of the COnfeder.
acy as Col, John s. Moshy's portege
| The spur in question was worn by
Mosby until Lees surrender.
A mementO to DR.. Pattesonss west
ern life after the civil war, and re.
minder of aboriginal days, is all amulet
taken from the skeleton of Winnemak,
Il noted Indian chief, legends of whom
are still told by the Masquaquin In
dians, the remnant of which tribe is
cared for by the government on the
reservation near lama City, Iowa.
The skeleton was found in an isolated
mound and the amulet was among the
evidence OF the great chiefs identity.
Until Winnemak's death the tribe had
been one of the most warlike of the
far West. His sobriquet was the In.
dian equivalent of He of the Bloody
TOmahawk," lie was slain in battle,
SO tradition goes, after surrounding
himsplf with tho ho6ioc of hiS ola in
waist high. His death broke the
members of which finally became SO
unwarlike and lacking in valor as to
receive from other tribes their present
name "Masquaquin," denOting effemi-
nate. The amulet worn by Chief Win
ne1nak was supposed by bis followers
to render him lnvincihIe in war and
to possess the power OF healing and
other magical properties,
A flint and steel once used by Daniel
Boone formed an exhibit in DIR. Patter-
sons collection, but the steel was lost
or stolen several years ago and only
the flint remains.
A brick from old Libby Prison left
that structure just that far incomplete
when it was being removed to Chicago
for the Worlds Fair.
Among the relics of local interest is
the first jail lock ever used in Bath
county.
DIR. Patteson formerly conducted
Crawford Springs as summer resort.
The property is now owned as the
summer residence of Mr.. E. G. Pendle-
ton, of New York and Florida. After
selling the springs property, DR.. Pat.
tesOn acquired his present property,
overlooking the G. Il o. depot and
surrounding country, where he leads
the life Of u country gentleman, student,
antiquarian, and also practices the
medical profession. His archaeological
tastes manifested themselves in his
Office, where as conspicuous as medi-
cine bottles, pills and pIasters, are
specimens from far and hear, not the
least prominent being evidences of
local mineral wealth. Each summer,
for years: attracted by the beauty and
OF this section, and the pro
perties of native mineral springs
many bOarders haye made Dir. Patte
sons ample residence Their abode,
finding it veritable natures Santa
rum, and these, knowing their hosts
ardOr in antiquarian research, have
made additions to his collection.
DR.. Patteson 3 father, Mr.. r. L. Pat
teson, originally lawyer and planter
of buckingham county, in later life re-
sided here, where be died. The
family also lived many years in Cul
pepe, county, where DIR. Patteson was
born. But year or two his senior,
and also mere boy, MIR. Warden Pat
teson, the doctors brother, served |
with MosDy during the War. The
mother of the boy soldiers was a Miss
of S5aunton. The doctor has |
4 beautiful badge representing Con
tolerate flag, presented to him by Mrs. |
General Hill for being the youngest |
soldier in the Confederate army.
Apropos of the specimens of local
mineral wealth in DR.. Patteson's pos
session, it is pertinent to mention the
'eyiviDg interest manifest in the un-
developed and conceded wonderful
mineral resources of this immediate
ection. The belief is growing that
now in contemplation,
will reveal coal and iron deposits which
will pale even the days of the old Eliz
beth and Estaline furnaces greatest
ctivity. DR.. Patteson has for some
ime contemplated a thorOuph OrOs |