The evening times., 1901-10-11
TRIBUTES TO BRAVE MEN.
Dedication of "A Memorial Grave nt
Point Pleasant, W Va

POINT PLEASANT. W. Va oct. H.
Yesterday was memorable occasion in
the life Of this historic community. Amid
an assemblage Of l2.po persons may Of
whom came halfway across the country
to be present the beautiful grove at the
junction of the Eanawha and Ohio Rivers
WAS forever dedicated 70 The momery Of
the gallant EirEiuiaUs who. IZ5 years ago,
gave TO the world the first manifestation
of that yaIor which On after years broke
the power OF Great Britain and made this
continent the abiding place Of civil Iib-
erJy. No spot iu the Crio Valley is SO full
Of historical significance as the old town
Of Point Pleasant, and no spot VIII be
more beautiful when the towering granite
shaft. 20 be erected at an estimated cost
Of $4,000, shall g~eet the eye Of the
stranger as ne approaches this true cradle
OF liberty
The orators Of the day were worthy
OF the occasion the principal addresses
being delivered by Col Bennett r. Young,
Of Kentucky; Gen. Charles B. Gr0syen0r.
Of Ohio. and Hon William r. Thompson.
Of Huntington. W. Va.
In addition 90 the monument the old log
structure built shortly after the battle
and yet intact will be converted into a
museum of continental and Indian relics
and already hundreds Of articles have
been secured for this purpose.
The battle which the towering shaft
viii commemorate was one of the blood
lest in the history Of the Indian warfare.
but the victory was priceless. Among the
persons present yesterday were hundreds
Of great-great-g grandchildren Of those
who fought in the struggle.
This battle. which was fought on Mon
day, October 10. lUf by l.srJ Nirginiaus.
/ Leu by Cen Andrew Lewis. and some
2.2U1 Indians. the flower Of the Shawnee,
Delaware. Miugo. WyandoJte. and Camu-
sst tribes marshaIed by the great Shaw
nee sachen, Corustal6. King Of the
Northern COnfederacy. Is regarded by the
historian Withers as the initial battle Of
{ the Revolutionary War. IL was one Of the
DioocIest and most decisive battles fought
between the red men and the whites on
this continent
The battle began early in the morning
and lasted until late in the evening. The
savages attacked with great spirit and
1 consummate skill and the assault was
met by the regiments OF Col Charles
Lewis and Col William FIemmilg with
steady ana resOlute courage Col Charles
Lewis was fatally shot early In the action
Z while eucOura ginE the troops By his dar-
ing and bravery His fan caused some
confusion in the ranks of the white men.
and the red men. quick 20 perceive IT,.
] rushed Forward. gaining partial van
/ taSe. but Col. John Field came up with
his regiment and restored the battle
All day long the coutending forces crap
pied in "A death struggle for the mastery
Never before had the Indians been 50
ably Jed or fought so desperately OF per
slstently- Ever and anon while the con
: rict ragged the voice OF CornstaIk could
be heard above the din Of the hattlef call
ing 10 his braves. "Be strong. Be strong
But they were unable 20 overcome the
cool determined val0r Of the mountain
men led by Lewis, and when the day clos
ed the superior Intelligence and daring
Of the NiTgiu.ans had triumphed and the
sayages were in fun retreat across the
Ohio
The victory was dearly bought, the
I flower Of the Virginia army had gone
1 down before the rifles OF CoTnstaIk's war
riOrs- About One-dfth OF Lewis army had
. been killed OF wounded. Chief among the
. slain was the fearless Col Charles Lewis.
brother Of the commanding general. a
man greatly beloved by an the troops
The result Of this battle and the victory
gained by General Lewis and his men was
I far-reaching and of vast Importance. The
power Of the Indians was completely
broken, and the great Northwest Terri
tory. from which Ohio Illinois Indiana.
Wisconsin anC other States have been
carved, was won fer Virginia