Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1910-04-14
Save the Old Records.

Editor Register-This is moving time,
and many people, IN their zeal for neal
ness. burn al the old trash, as they
cal, II. that has accumulated n Their gar
refs for generations. In this way some
invaluable treasures are lost 10 lis every
wear. The Library OF Congress gives
large prices for interesting manuscripts,
such as letters from camp written during
the Revolution, muster rolls, journals Of
campaigns, etc
OF a neat housekeeper cost her family
many hundreds OF dollars. Her husband
having died, she proceeded 10 make boil
fires OF the old letters and papers thai mao
accumulated during century IN the tanll-
ly attic. One OF her SONS, who was away
from home, saw an advertisement IN a
western paper where some one offered
ST 900 for one years file OF The Ladies
Garland, the first paper Tor women ever
published in the United States. This In
feresting old periodical was published al
Harper's Ferry in the twenties OF the last
century. The young man knew that there
were complete files OF this paper IN the
old garret. He Immediately FASTENED
home 10 secure them. When he arrived
and asked his mother for them, she point
ed 10 the bonfire IN the yard. There, to1
q week. she had been daily feeding the
flames with old family treasures; old mus-
Ter rolls OF the Revolution that cannot be
replaced; family letters OF great value 10
the descendants; letters from celebrities
such as Rumsey, Generals Darke, Gates,
Morgan and manymore.
Many wears ago Mr.. Nathaniel Willis
came 10 Shepherdsiown and printed here
the first newspaper the town ever had.
In 1871 and 1892 this paper was NIL OF de-
tails OF 81. Glars terrible defeat. Over
two hundred men from Berkeley, Fred
erick and what is now Jefferson county
were in that engagement. The Virginia
Battalion was commanded by MAJOR
George Michael BedingeT, though he was
not in the battle, as he had been sent back
10 Fort Jefferson with detachment 10
guard some invalids.
Colonel Darke, who commanded the
left wing, performed prodigies OF valor
that day. The Virginia Battalion charged
the Indians again and again. Al flrst
Darke gathered three hundred men around
him. They charged until all but thirty
were killed. Then he cried out again ::
charge them, my brave Virginians y
and the thirty Nho remained made last
charge. They would have been annihi"
lated had not the right wing come 10 Their
assistance. As II was, very Jew ever saw
their homes again. Darke and his levies
saved the remnants OF St. Clair's army,
vet that General dismissed them al Fort
+na without CfTffI-
Gent clothing, without a cent OF pay, and
with only three days provisions 10 under
take the homeward journey OF 700 miles.
All these things, and much more, the
old Potomack Guardian told IFS readers.
II was published from 1871 10 about 1879.
Now these old papers are worth their
weight in gold. Rich collectors would
give any price for them. Only single
CODY is known 10 be in existence, and
that is in a Richmond library. Another
paper was published in ShepherdStown
al the same time, but the very name OF II
is unknown.
As for the many letters written during
the French and Indian wars, and during
The Revolution, all have been destroyed.
No muster rolls Of the Virginia Battalion,
that did such service al the time OF ST.
Glars defeat in 1871, have been pre-
served. As far as ] know, after the most
diligent search in the auditors Office and
other places in Washington, these muster
rolls no longer exist. AS Tor General
Darke, OF whom we have Soch cause 10
be proud, no one now living can tell me
where he died. The very house is IN
known. Al least, ] have inquired dill
gently OF all the descendants ofhlS neigh
bors without result. Why do We LEI these
things die? Why do we show no pa
triotic pride in the heroic deeds OF Our
ancestors that should make Shepherds
town so famous ? II you goto Boston, or
indeed travel anywhere m New England
YOU see monument after monument re-
cording the events OF the Revolution,
marking historic spots, keeping green the
memory OF the heroes of-the days OF pa
triotism. The good old New England
housekeepers, though they were the
neateSt people 10 the world, never threw
anything away. Thus every family has
its records. Not a patriotic service was
ever forgotten. Would We not do well
10 cultivate something Of that spirit?
John Quincy Adams used 10 say that
letters and newspapers were the true
sources OF history. We should gather up
the fragments, if any remain, and have z
place OF public deposit for them. We
should have an historical society in every
county, and Try 10 collect, in one place let
tiers, seals, military accoutrements, COM
missions, Indian relics, everything OF inter
est TO link this careless generation with
the DAYS Of 'auld lang syne."