Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1910-04-12
The General Darke UnveiIing.

Thursday was big day at ShenaD-
doah Junction, it being the occasion OF
the unveiling of stones erected to the
memory of General William Darke and
his son, Capt Joseph Darke. At 2 p m
procession was formed by Chief Mar
shall James w McGarry. consisting of a
drum corps. the Shepherd College Ca
diets, Patriotic Order of Sons of America
and citizens on foot and in vehicles, and
moved to the old Ronemus Tor Engle)
graveyard, half mile below the town.
where exercises incident to the unveil
ing of stones erected to Gen Darke and
son were held under the auspices OF the
Patriotic Sons of America. Prayer was
offered by Rev ] c Siler, Mr. w IRWIN
called the mblage to order. and Mr.
James w. McGarry exhibited swords of
Gen. Darke and son, the former loaned
by Mr.. John Briscoe and the latter by
Mr.. Thomas Link. DR.. W. w Brown made
brief but eloquent address, and intro
duced Prof. H. T. Wirgman of Shepherd
College who read an exceedingly inter
esting historical paper on General Darke
and the locality where he lived and died.
Prof. Wirgman IN his address referred to
appointment of Capt. VIM. Cherry Qand-
lord of the famous old Cherry Tavern
which stood years ago on what is now
West North street, as recruiting officer,
and his presence at the successful trial of
Rumsey's steamboat on the Potomac.
County Superintendent E. d. Turner
followed Prof. Wirgman in fitting re-
marks. which, however. he curtailed. and
refrained, on account of the inclement
weather, from making more extended
address that he had prepared. The
stones to General Darke and son were
unveiled by Miss Ida Ronemus Three
volleys of musketry were then fired over
the graves by the Shepherd College Ca
diets, and Bugler Harris Heidwohl sound
ed taps. The graves were handsomely
decorated with flowers by members of
the Enge family A choir of ladies and
gentlemen interspersed the exercises with
the rendition of patriotic songs.
General Darke was born near Lancas-
ter, Pa, in 1856. but removed with his
parents to Berkeley county when but S
years of age. In 1855 he joined the regl-
ment of provincials under George Wash
lngton and took part in the Inflated
Braddock campaign against the French
and Indians, being in the disastrous bat
tie of Fort Duquense. During the Revo-
lutionary War he commanded regiment
under General Washington and was
present at the surrender of CORVALLIS at
Yorktown. General Darke commanded
the Second Virginia Regiment during
the campaign of General ST Clair against
the Indians in Ohio and Indiana, and
was in the great battle between the white
forces and those of the Indian chieftain,
Little Turtle, which resulted in the de-
feat of st. Glars forces. General Darke
died IN this county in November, 1901,
at the age of 81, years. Captain Darke
was the youngest son of the old soldier,
and commanded a companyin his fathers
regiment during the ST. Clair campaign,
and was killed in the battle between the
Indians and whites on the banks of the
St. Marys river, near Fort Wayne. Ind.
The old Engle graveyard, where Gen
eral Darke is buried and the above ex-
ercises took place. is one of the oldest
burying grounds in the country Here
lie the remains of Katrina Bierelin,
young girl who died in 1907, at the youth
full age of 20. and whose resting place
is the oldest marked grave in West Vir-
glna. A stone of recent date takes the
place of the one formerly at the head of
her grave, and which was taken to
Charleston in 1900 to be preserved by the
West Virginia Historical Society.
After the return to Shenandoah Iunc-
ton Mr.. F. W. Alexander. of Oak Grove,
Va, President of National Camp of P. o.
s. of A. delivered an abe address. por-
traying forcibly the aims and objects of
that order, what it has already accom-
plished and what 1t still futher proposes
to do.