The Point Pleasant register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, W. Va.) 1909-1939, 1909-10-27
POM PLEASANT
BATTLE NOT A REVOLUTIONARY BAT

eiSlS uiSPuSlilS SnS cLaiIn IIlAC tnSu uaI-
tie of Point Pleasant was a battle Of
the Revolutionary war. Col. Henry
Hammond. of carksburg, West
Virginia historian, was quoted to the
effect that investigation into contem-
porary records showed that the bat
tie was fought by the loyal troops of
King George, and that Lord Dun
more was praised by all his contem-
poraries for the part he took in the
war with constalk. Evidently, at
the time of the battle, there was
commendation for Lord Dunmore and
not criticism. The ''old Dominion
was at that time still loyal to Brit
ain, and still deserved the title con-
ferred as a special reward for her
loyalty.
The idea of treachery on the part
of Lord Dunmore and his allegeg de-
sire to see the virginians defeated at
the Point in order to embarrass the
colonies afterwards to engage in the
struggle for independence, was an
after thought of the colonists after
the struggle broke out and Lord
Dunmore adhered to the royalist
cause. In the hatred and prejudice
that war and intense political strife
engenders, following the attempts of
Lord Dunmore to embarrass the Rev
olutiOnists, all his previous acts were
searched and, as is usual in such
cases, the worst Interpretation has
always been placed upon every act,
and probably innocent acts in them
selves were afterwards made to have
a meaning and intent not really their
own.
1t is doubtful if any of the Roy
alists had any idea that there would
be revolt of the colonies until the
storm actually broke; until, like a
clap of thunder out of a clear sky,
the first gun was fred at Lexington
that rang around the world, caused
the irreparable breach, and fred the
hearts of the coIonists. Great Brit
ain had heard the complaints of the
colonies before. many times and Oft
en-, and the very fact of her persist
ent course in oppressive measures
would argue that the dissatisfaction
of the colonists was underestimated
and that the British government had
no fears of a revolt.
Granted that the battle of Point
Pleasant was not real Revolution
ary fight, it yet loses none of its i'm
portance. While It had no bearing
on the breaking out of the struggle,
and was fought with men wearing
the British uniform, bearing the
British colors, and oficered by men
of sworn allegiance to the British
King against enemies of the British,
it had yet an important bearing on the
Revolutionary struggle soon to come
afterwards. For, the victory of Point
Pleasant-cowed the spirit and broke
the confedesacy of Indian tribes that,
had not this been the case, might
have affected that contest adversely
had they been free to attack the col
onists in the rear while opposing the
British regulars in front. In push
ing the boundaries of the pale face
from the Alleghanies to the Ohio, it
inaugurated the first of that West
ward. Hor' movement which has
since gone continually on, until the
Mississippi has been crossed, the
alkaline desert conquered, the Rock
les scaled, Hawaii annexed, and the
Philippines taken under the shadow
and protection of the wing of the
American eagle. That it saved the
people of what is now West Virginia
from massacre while its stalwart
marksmen were with Washington in
the east, or winning at Kings Noun
tain, that won that battle that prov
ed the turning point in the Revolu-
ton, and that foreshadowed the end
of British rule over the cOlonists, is