Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1910-07-21

us past thrilling history, repoSlng al the
junction OF the Potomac and Shenandoah
rivers, at the point where the latter
| forces its way through the Blue Ridge
mountains. Here the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad crosses the Potomac over the
magnificent bridge, the picturesque canal
passing closely by" Many glowing de-
scriptions have been written about this
beautiful spot, but President Jefferson, in
his "Notes ofVirginia, surpaSseS all who
have done so. He wrote this while
seated upon the wonderful freak OF na-
ture which has since been known as
"JefferSon'S Rock" On one side of Har-
per'S Ferry is the famous Maryland
Heights, on the other the equally re-
nowned, Loudoun Heights. They frown
majestically to the giant SentinelS grimly
guarding this pass into the beautiful Val
ley OF Virginia, which from there stretches
many miles southwark, between the two
great ranges OF mountains" ." Jefferson
said of it that, at alone is worth jour
ney across the Atlantic to see. The pass
age of the Potomac through the Blue
Ridge is perhaps one Of the most STU
pendouS scenes in nature. You stand on
very high point OF land. On the right
comes up the Shenandoah, having ranged
along the foot OF a mountain hundred
miles to seek vent. On your left ap
proacheS the Potomac, in quest OF pass
age also. On the moment OF their juno
ton they rush together again at the noun
tain, rend it aSunder and pass off to the
sea. The first glance OF this scene hur-
rieS our senses into the opinion that the
earth has been created in time, that the
mountains have been formed first, that
the rivers began TO flow afterward, that
in this place particularly they have been
damned up by the Blue Ridge mountains,
and have formed an ocean which filled
the whole Valley, that continuing to rise
they have at length broken over at this
spot, and have torn the mountain down
from its summit to base. The mountains,
being cloven aSunder, nature presents to
your eye, through the cleftS, a smooth
blue horizon, at an infinite distance in
the plain country, in;iting you, as II were,
from the riot and tumult warning around,
to pass through the breach and participate
in the calm below"
Ten miles from Charles Town, over the
pike, is Shepherdstown, formerly Neck
lenburg, named in honor OF Col. Thomas
Shepherd, on whose land it was built.
Here may be seen the monument to Col.
Moses Shepherd, the Sun Dial, the col
onIaI stone mansion built on the site OF
Fort Shepherd, and near town "Wild
Goose Farm" the former home Of Henry
Shepherd and his wife, Frances BriScoe,
OF Piedmont" now the home OF their
descendant, X. D. Mclean, the actor, and
his wife, "Odette Tyler" This farm de-
rived its name from one of the Indian
names for the Potomac, "Wild Goose
River"
Not far from ShepherdStownw was "Mont-
gomery Hail." the home of the notorious
Tory, John Baker, who after it was con-
fiscated by the government resided in the
town. He and his wife, Judith Howard
Wood-the granddaughter OF Sir Henry
and Lady Judith Howard, Of Howard
Hall, England, are buried in the Episco-
pal Church-yard there, where tFeir tomb
stones are still TO be found in a good state
Of preservation.
Morgan Morgan, relative Of Gen. Dan
iel Morgan, settled near here in 1892.
The patent for his one thousand acres is
in possession OF his descendants. He
was one OF the three men mentioned as
building the first Episcopal Church in the
Valley. Near this homestead is TORY
town." where Morgan's brother James
was murdered by Tories. while on aviSit
to his family. They discovered his pres
enCe and captured him, compelling his
wife and children to follow and witness
the proceedings They tied him against
log house, fastened lighted candle to
his clothing, over his breast, and using it
as a guide, shot seventeen balls into him.
From that day the place has been called
"Torytown." Along the road from his
homestead, near Bunker Hill, is the ridge
upon which Braddock's Army encamped
when he retreated after the disastrous
encounter with the French and Indians in
l775. II was repor Led that chest OF Brit
ish gold was buried there, and parties
have dug for it time and again, but so far
the secret OF the hiding place remaius
unrevealed. Daniel Morgan, whose home
until quite recently remained in posses
sion OF the family, at Shepherdstown,
received a commission as Colonel and
raised regiment Of Germans, which did
duty in the South in l776; it was known
as the Eighth German Regiment. After
the capture and defeat OF Burgoyne he
was made brgadler-Uenera Tor ms great
bravery and superior military talents dis
played.
In the year ITS a company Of soldiers
marched from Morgan's Spring, near
Shepherdstowns TO Boston. This was
one Of the first companies organized, and
Daniel Morgan was with it. After the
war the survivors Of this company met
every year at Morgan's Spring, TO cele-
brate the anniversary of their departure
TO Boston, and continued the custom un-
til only two OF the members were left.
There is a superstition in the family that
whenever the head Of it is going 10 die,
the spirit OF this old General appears be-
fore members Of the family, riding up the
old driveway on his fiery steed. They
even changed the approach TO the house,
but If did not in any way interfere with