The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-04-22
tspecial Il The Times. Dispatoh.)

\CpcCldl " no 4iiIISso-A/Aop"1SA't
WEST POINT, VA, April 2l.--West
Point, named for Sir Thomas West, Lord
Delaware, the first Governor Of Virginia.
dates far enough back 10 please tho most
fastidious. Even before colonial days
the shouts and wnr-whoops Of tho red
men went up from this beautiful pla-
ttenu, sufficiently elevated TO secure
proper drainage. Standing On tho point
Iflvo counties bordering on York river
may. be seen, while this same river pre-
SCENTS It's splendid sheet OF water, free
from rocks and shoals, and without a
bend as far as the eye can each. This
fully kiss tho shores and then divide to
form the Mattaponi and Pamunkey
rivers Is n
Nature has provided along the shores
OF these rivers, all tho elements for
happy homes-a soil producing great va
rietIes OF fruits and vegetables The
rivers also furnish cheap food and re-
muncrative employment for hundreds Of
fishermen and oystcrnen. 81 " AZ Il \
In winter season tho rocktish Is caught
in large numbers. and tho famous York
kcts. III III If IT. tjas
In spring and summer, crabs, both
hard and soft shell, come In abundance
and along with them shad, spots, trout
and other fish, to say nothing OF clums.,
AS hunting locality this is eaunl to
any, and is the hunting ground for the,
North. Plump cartridges abounu the
rivers swarm with ducks and geese, and
In September and October tho marshes
are alive with that mysterious bird, the
sora- ia ~
After the death Of Nathaniel Bacon,
in 1916. in Gloucester county, his fol-
lowers became scattered and demornlizcd.l
and were pursued and ruth1cssly executed!
by Sir William Berkleys adherents
wherever found. Some were executed In
Accomac. some at Williamsburg. and tVo
were hung In chains at West Point. and
some (three, perhaps) secreted them
selves in tho Dragon Swamp. in Middle-si
sex county, and were hung to the limbs
Of famous old tree in the upper part,
OF Nliddlesex county. known to-day. as
several years ago in severe Storm q
4 Joseph Ingram, successor to Bacon q (
his confederates, then took possession Ut
West Point, fortified It. and made It!
their place OF arms. In colonial days
West Point was the scat for the collec-{
tion Of revenue for the Crown Of Great
Britain, when taxes were paid in tobacco
Remnants OF tho old tobacco warehouses
!; stood near the Point" for great many
years. s,f.Sl
For long time there was a ruined;
house Of stone mari, which Washington
used as his headquarters
Governor Spotswood, with the knights
lof the Golden Horseshoe. travelled all
through here In their efforts to gain q
passage to the Blue Ridge. From VIII
liamsburg they would cross at the Brick
House and wend their way to Chelsea,
on the banks OF the Mattaponi. the home
or Governor spotswoods Oldest daugh-
ter en- route to Mlddlcsex. and on.
Confederate troops were stationed at
West Point in 1861. under the charge OF
Major H. B. Tomlin. OF King William
county. known later az Col. Harry Tom
lin. His corps consisted OF the following
companies: The Taylor Grays, Captain
Aylett, known nov, as Col. william r.
Aylett: Barhamsville Grays, Captain,
Richardson (now dead; Ayletts Com,
pany, Captain Pollard (dead): Cumber-
land Company, Captain Timberlake
There was no active service rendered by
these troops while stationed here. but
they were mustered and drilled for
service.
y Mcclellan landed large force at West
Point in the Peninsula campaign" and
established a base OF supplies at tho
White House. the old seat OF the Lees,
Just across the Pamunkey river, In New
Kent county, which subsequently fell into
the hands Of the Confederates. The
White House was built on the site OF the
old Parke Gusts House. the home Of
Martha, the wife of Washington.
In 1863 gunboats landed Federal troops
In West Point. These troops threw, up
Notifications. which are still to be seen.
Some Of them are near the Point and
others about mile above West Point.
on the road to King William Courthouse,
These bitches extend nearly from ono
river to the other, and are very steep
and high. Tho boys in blue" were for
saving themselves when they threw up
these brea stworks. .
,;her%y1 st I5 +: