Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1920-06-17

tainly seems strange that such a man
as Lee should have lived, and so lived
in this then retired place; that one
whose attachments were so great, whose
career had chen so eventful, whose
ambition was so unsatisfied; should
have selected for his abode what was
then comparatively a lodge in some
vas wilderness, with boundless
contguity Of shade"
In letter written BY General Horatio
Gates it is seen that Gates induced Lee
TO settle where he did. Lee was often
visited by the generals, Adam stephen
and Horatio Gates, who, like Lee, rai
been forced to retire from military
life on account Of disgrace. II seems
queer that Lee, Gates and Stephens, all
born in, Great Britain, all captains
during the French war on this CONT
nent, and all active in the cause of the
colonists, should, after reaching the
rank of major general, have been
court-martialcd and deprived OF their
commands, and found living in the
same locality The three men spent
much time drinking and "cussing out"
Washington, whom they blamed for
their disappointments. In his will
made at his home (Which is now on file
ht Martinsburg, Berkeley county, Lee
asked not to be buried within a m
OF a Presbyterian or an Anabaptst
meeting house, for having kept so
much bad company during his lifetime,
he said, he did not wish to do so when
dead.
A house very much In appearance
like the Lee house is Travellers Rest
the old home of Horatio Gates, built
in 1878. This house, however, is very
much better finished than Lees. 1t is
substantially built of cut limestone, is
story and a-half high, and hos huge
chimncys and lofty roof There ar,
many windows, and they are very mar
row, those in the cellar looking III.
portfolios. They are all slightly differ
ent is size, cut for the use of some
handsome damaSk curtains, not all one
size, which were sent to General Gates
by an English friend. One room has
only one window which opens into the
upstairs hall, which once had no win
dows II was called "Thc Dark
Room" Close under the caves are
long, dark paSsagewayS, entered only
by small doorway, which can easily
be hidden by piece of furniture. Or
one side of the Fireplace in the livinc
room is a closet, and on the other side
is doorframe. 1t seems that there
certainly must have been a door there
at one time. II is said that Gates had
his money inside at one time, or had
skeletons hidden there, but no one has
ever tried TO pass thru the doorway 7,
find out. The most important room in
GateS'S time was a room covering half
of the first floor. Across one end of
the room was a fireplace large enough
to hold a cord of wood This room is
now divided so that one half Of the fire
place is in one room and half of it in
another. 1t appears that Mrs. Gates
was very talkative, and as fond of argu-
ment as she was of wine. One dav
General Lee came to have dinner with
General Gates. After dinner, on &C
count of the effects of wine, she had
drunk, Mrs. Gates began "lordinp il
over her lord" AT length she appeal
ed to Lee for his opinion as TO the posi-
ton she had taken. Lee, taking his
hat, and edging toward the door, said
My candid opinion is that you are p
tragedy in private life, and farce to
all the world"
Probably the most noted and most
frequently visited house in Jeffcrso
county is Hardwood, a fine old place of
pleasant memories and patriotic as
SocIationS, situated about three -,
directly west of Charles Town. This
was built by Samuel, a brother of Gen
eral George Washington. who hclrct
plan the house. 1t is time halOvcd
stone mansion, moss grown and crs,.
lie garden and ward have been allow
cd to grow up in weeds. the rorchc.
nave fallen with age, and the general
appearance of the exterior is dlap-
ldatcd. The interior. however is yer,
beautiful. In the drawing room is
handsome mantclpicce Of black marble.
which was the gift of la Fayct,c. The
wood paneiling is as handsome as anv
in America. An old stairway. imrorted
from England, is in good condition
still. On the walls of HARDWOOD may
Ne found a quaint cnll.r.lnn 20 r,...:,.