Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1902-01-10
Rev. Robert p. Kennedy.

Robert Patterson Kennedy is one
prominent. He Came from Pen
svlyania about the year 1859 and
located iii Upper Pocahontas, and
assumed the pastoral care Of Liberty
and Baxter churches. He shares
with the people of that section Of
our county eur the siiringand atllic
tive vicissitudes of the wartimes
that INTERVIEWED soon after his set
Element in his ministerial charge
1t was his purpose when he came
to be identified with the people for
better or for worse rs ProvidentiaI
leading might determine. HIS
personal example was such that all
who ever observed il had an object
lesson illustrating the nature.
reality and power of the Christian
religion. lie visited the sick and
wounded in their afliction; he
would help in the garden, the
fields and the meadows rather than
make himself ornamentic by doing
nothing but lounge around, look
ing for people to entertain him
and feed him on daintieS.
One Of his preaching points was
ut Pisgah in highland county. One
foggy morning in 1868 lie rode
unawares into the midst OF scout
ing party of Union troops, while
on his way to meet his appoint
ments. He was put under ar.
rest and relieved of all his yalua-
bles. carried TO Monterey and put
under guard. A colored mar
named Renben at Monterey be-
longing to the late Hon. VIM. W
l'lemmirg interceded very earnest
" for the preachers release, and
told the Federal officer in charge
of the raiding party that the little
man, could not possibly do them OF
anybody else any harm for all the
sense he had anyhow was just SENSE
enough to preach Il little bit.
In personality the preacher was
understood and emaciated and OF
a delicate physique. but to make
treason odious in the minds of the
preacher and his people, the ofiicia
felt his duty to disregard the plead
ings of the sympathetic negro and
thereupon he bad the little man
to march afoot to Mcdowell. nine
miles. thence to Crabbottom. SIX
teen to eighteen miles, wading the
numerous waters that were to be
crossed. The old Crabbottom Pres.
byterian church was put in use
for barracks and during their stay
of three or four days a Sabbath in
tervened. On that day active oper-
ations in looking for cattle and
horses were partially suspended
and the thoughts of the officer il
charge seemed turned to religious
exercises and he selected the iris
oner to lead in the deyotions and
give them a sermon.
With becoming meekneSS. yet ii
ii very positive manner, the preach.
err declined upon the plea that such
was his frame of spirit that lie fell
totally unprepared to say or pray
for anything that might be edify-
ing or even acceptable to his audi
tors.
After badgering him sufficiently
to impress the odiOuSness of treason
upon his prisoner, the officer re-
leased him.
Mr. Kennedy thereuD0n set out
| for Monterey eleven miles distant
at which point he arrived foOtsore
and weary without horse saddle
bags sermon or change Of raiment.
Mrs E H Brown, of Richmond
heard of lis plight and promptly re-
mitted a liberal donation from
Richmond frindS which along with
contributions of!1ighlamd people
| furnished him nice horse and out
fit. He KEPT the horse until his
decease in 1873 while pustor Ct
White Clay church hear Winning
ton in Delaware,
Mr. Kennedy upon his removal
from Virginia rode the little brown
horse all the way t. Delaware.
One night was spent at llarper's
Ferry on the journy and the livery
stable WAS close to the railroad
track. The noise Of the trains
made the horse 50 frantic that he
came near butting his braineS on!
against tie sides Of the stall and
did Stiifrn himself so much that he
bad to be led few miles aday for
two or three days before he limb
cred up enough to carry his owner
| the rest Of the journy. Mr. Ken
nedy would have been glad to have
had him transported on the cars the
rest Of the way but was certain the
animal would die Of frightand SO
did not attempt it.
Notice to Settle if You Please