Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1913-11-20
Who Named The Shenandoah vaIIey7

Considerable difference of opinion has
recently arisen as result OF someone
requesting the information bureau OF the
Richmond Times-Dispatch to Estate for
me the limits OF the Valley of Virginia
and those of the Shenandoah Valley"
The Times Dispatch states that "the
Valley of Virginia extends through the
State from Clarke and Frederick county
on the northeast through Washington on
the southwest. The eastern boundary is
the Blue Ridge and the western brok-
en- ridge TO which, collectively, the name
Kattatinny or North Mountains is given.
OF this valley, the part called the Valley
of the Shenandoah contains the seven
counties, Frederick, Clarke, Shenandoah,
Warren, Page, Rockingham and Angus
ta."
The Rockbridge County News, of
Lexington, asks information as to the
authority OF which the Times-Dispatch
so defines the Valley of Virginia, and de-
clares that the Richmond papers defini-
ton is quite apart from the accepted def
inition as to the constituent parts OF the
Valley OF Virginia, known in this quarter
as the Valley itself. The Lexington pa
per is of the opinion that the Valley OF
Virginia extends no further southwest
fha, D,,IacL,i cOuptu
Papers containing the editorials dis
cussing the question of "What Is the
Valley of Virginia ?" were sent by Rev.
DR.. Alfred T.. Graham, OF Lexington, to
his father, Rev. DR.. James R. Graham,
pastor emeritus ofthe Presbyterian Church
in Winchester. In letter to his son,
DR.. Graham, of that city, brings to light
the interesting fact that the name Shen-
andoah Valley was first applied during
the civil war. He also differs with the
authority, quoted by the Rockbridge
County News, as to the limits OF the VAL
ley OF Virginia. He writes:
"The editorial marked in the News in
terested me very much. ! do not think
its criticism OF the Times Dispatch about
the Valley of Virginia is justified. When
came to Virginia more than Sixty-three
years ago, the ordinary conception OF
the Valley was that it extended from
the Potomac on the northeast to the
Tennessee line on the southwest. And
any division OF it was known as the
northern end Cor section)-the middle
Valley-or the southern end Tor section).
at is little remarkable, but am quite
sure that never heard OF The Shenan-
doah Valley till after the civil war began,
and then the name first appeared in the
war correspondence of the northern pa
pers. 1t struck me as singular at first,
but before the war ended the name be-
came familiar to all writers north and
south, as designating that part OF the
Valley north or northeast of Augusta
county, including Augusta, i. E., the coun-
ties reached by the Shenandoah river,
and its tributaries. may, of course, be
entirely mistaken in my recollection
about this matter, but distinctly remem-
Der how strange the name appeared to
me at first. know how appropriate it
afterwards seemed, and still does.
wish you would quietly inquire OF any
one likely to know whether the name
Shenandoah Valley is in ante bellum
designation.
"Did ever tell you that this Valley
can be distinctly traced from its begin
ming in northern Alabama, through the
States of Tennessee, Virginia, Maryland,
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York
and Massachusetts,, till it runs out or is
lost among the Green mountains OF Ver-
mont? The Nallkill valley, in which |
was born, in New York, is part of this
great geographical feature"