Richmond Times-Dispatch from Richmond, Virginia • 35

aV' v- w-'iV vV' i 1 I f1 -'1 1 T-S' 'V- I1 THE TIMES -DISPATCHi RICHMOND VA SUNDAY MARCH 1 1008 'viifSTL a WL EMAtOGICAtCOtU raptHred Raining and dark I wa left In the mountains with a remnant of Ms about thirty man These kept well in-- hand and sue-cssded after considerable risk and difficulty In getting them bsfely through the enemy's lines and reported to Colonel Edward Johnson who was in command of a regiment that during the fight came aa far' aa Beverly (a little town at tha fopt of Rich Mountain) from there ho retreated to Cheat Mountain whero I found tho colonel In ramp with hla regiment thence to Monterey Va The Federal troops under MeClelten and Roeecrane 12000 the Confederate troops under Colonels Feck end Peg-ram 1400 THbMPSOX BROWN formerly Orderly Sergeant of Company A Twentieth Virginia Regi The Civilian Leaders By John Goode of of the Trigg married Dr Georg Bea Johm'-Vvi ton of Virginia Janwa White Clung son of James White McClung and Sarah Elisabeth Mitchell daughtei of Governor Brydio Mitchell of Georv gla married Elisabeth' Spottawoed daughter of Elliott SpotUwood descendant of Governor Aloxaadaf Spottswood of Virginia Two children James White McClung (24) and Billet! 1 Spottswood McClung --VJ Mary Lawton McClung daughter oi Colonel Charles McClung and Margaret White married Chancellor Thomai Lanier Williams whose twin brothet was great-grandfatner ot U'ui-Richmond Hobson Seven children Rebecca William Charles McClung Williams Margaret McClung Williams Mai In da WUllamA Frances EUaabetl V' William Louis William Mary Law son William who married Edmomd Sometime Member of the Confederate Congress of die Virginia Secession Convention of the Congress of die United States and President of the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1901-2 Berkeley of "Evergreen" Hay market nine children: Elisabeth Barrel) Berkeley Edmond Berkeley Francis Calendar Berkeley Eva Percy Berks ley Lewie Berkeley Mary MeClung Berkeley Lucy Fontaine Berkeley Edmonis Churchill Berkeley Annta Beverly Berkeley Margaret William Berkeley Katharine Noland Berkeley Thomas Lanier Williams BorhsMy Hugh Deuglaa Berkeley Annie MeClung daughter ot CL'-Vvr A1 -Mi Charles Henry McClung great-groat grandson of Rebecca Ituart and Jehu McClung and Jane Elisabeth McVeigh daughter ef James McVeigh ang Elisabeth Marshall married Cary Set den Hath son of Genoral Harry XL Hath and Marta geldon of Virginia Alice McClung sister of Annin Ms-Clung married George Armtatead Gibson son-of Patrick Henry Glbwm and Margaret 8 Williams of Richmond Va Col David Waddl McClung' son ot David McClung and Elisabeth Brown married November It 1163 Anna Carter Harrison ot Virginia a tint cousin ot Benjamin Harrison aad a granddaughter ot General William Henry Harrleon Colonel David Waddle MeClung attended Miami University with Benjamin Harrleou -John McClung oon of John MeClung and Rebecca Stuart married Sana McCutcbeon of Augusta county Va Ho was Revolutionary soldier and served In General Porterfield's ment General Porterfield ssed to say when John McClung would pray befr lf a battle victory was sure to perch "fM wr-rH' the American banner Caw with hla commissary sergeant issued us rations Dr MdCaw waa not a aoldler hut being a resident of tho city I auppooe the rations ware a gratuitous' contribution from tho big' hearted lJboral-mMded cltlsona over ready to dlvido their scant supplies with tho Confederates Tho Damned City I will digress hart long enough from my subject to say that thia waa tha last Instalment of rations I received until fed the next night by a Mb Pace a benevolent kind-hearted old man keeping a Jock house near Cedar Point In Goochland county Va Thirty-six hours afterwards soon after nightfall I received an order directing mo with my command to report in Richmond We marched back by way of Rock-nd oon after reaching tho city limits wa were mat by a band of women going hand in' hand singing and carousing Tha gave ua tha first information of the impending doom awaiting our its evacuation Aa wo marchad along Miln Street could aoo by tho lamp light that whiskey had bean poured into the olde drains I suppose this was dona prevent ita being improperly used by disorderly people We reached the Capitol Square and stacked our arms and awaited orders from Major Carrington at that time provost marshal of tho city' Major Carrington sent for me to report at hla office He then Informed mo that tho city waa being evacuated and Ita surrender expected the next day He told mo to keep my command subject to orders that wo would be expected to suppress all disorderly nr riotous conduct and as far aa possible to protect the property and lives of the cltlsona of tne city Ho also told mo ho would expect me to havo the warehouses with tobacco In then and soma other buildings In tha city burned during tha night and lie would notify ms again when this should be dene He did not however and these buildings wers burned from some other source Boon after returning to whero my command was there was a call for a squad to quiet a disturbance on Broad Btreet whore a mob was breaking into and looting stores This condition of affaire continued during the night making It hideous indeed a night of horrors never to bo effaced from my memory My command waa sent for repeatedly during the night and divided Out into oquads and sent to different sections of the city to keep order and when day dawned upen not more than a corporal's guard remained About sunrise I went down with tills remnant to tho American Hotel (now the X1" ton Ilhhik) After getting to the hotel saw a body of cavalry on the Manchester side of the river and wa told it waa either McGowan or lagan's Brigade of South Csrolluans route to Join General loo's wss at tho hotel expecting the federal advance guard to como by way Of nil lismsburg on the Rlverrosd The first I saw of this was a doxen or more troopers aa they came riding abreast along Main Street near where the market house than htood As they approached us wa became satisfied that they ware the Federal jwldler The soldiers with me began firing Jt trefi This caused some commotion ann deflection In their rank was this firing referred to in Rergeant Zimmer's account whan General Wetsel returned and threatenad him The Fed-erala soon rallied reformed their line and came at a full gallop in our direction I fnede my escape en foot to tho towing path along tho James River and Kanawha Canal making Lynch burg Va my objectlvs point where I hoped to again join General army had tor my traveling dom- anions Dr Walter I- Withers and Icholaa' Bolling Dr Withers at this time wa an invalid from a chronic trouble and Nicholas Bolling was lama from a gunshot wound In the foot Dr Withers is now a practitioner of modi-rtno at Mill Nelson county Va Rolling was a member of a Maryland company of of Bryantown Charles comity Md These companions disabled ae they wore could not make much progress on foot We reached Cedar Point on the cannal In Goochland county Monday night and -were fed by Mr Faee rested awhile and continued our sad journoy Wo reached Bretuo eighty miles from Lynchburg (he night of the Ctb of April like King David when he fled from Jerusalem footsore and weary At Bremo wo learned of General Lee's surrender It has always bean a source of great gratifications to me a Confederate soldier to havo cauee to believe that perhaps had been the last defender of our Confedorato capital While tho resistance offered by my improvised command was meagre and Inadequate to tha duty and eerviee Imposed upon ue fool aaeurod that all waa accomplished that was required of us and General Lfe with hla Army of Northern Vlr-ginia did not do more Bremo Bluff Va JI WOOD upon Captain Samuel McClung a brother 25 McClung married Robooca Augusta county Va son--CbarIcs married Barak Crawford of Augusta rounty: Major'1 Andrew marriyd Jane Dean of Bath ment afterwards commanding Park er'a Battery Alexander's Battalion Longatreet'a Corps- Aaethsr JUf rests Editor of Tha Tlmes-Dlspaich series volume It page let tho "Records ef the War of ths Rebellion" can bo found the official report of Lieutenant-Colonel John Pegram 6 A of the battle of Rich Mountain fougl nn July 11 1S61 in which Captain William Kklpwrh ths Powhatan Rlfloa was killed Tha Hampden-Sldnsy Collage Compauv was rommandsd by Captain Atkinson both companies belonged to Twentieth Regiment Virginia In fantry Captain Bklpwlth cams of a noted Englleh family that settled in Virginia early In tho seventeenth ceq tury OWEN of the Confederacy of Virginia Iy tho edict of arbitrary and iiespoiio power which atande and will stand fc raver unrelieved of its enormity by one solitary extenuating circumstance It is a sad reflection that this great oonteat waa the last evnr known In tbe Stats when great principles dividing the parties were thoroughly -ln-osssod by thoir respective champions in th broad light of day Govamor Letcher was inaugurated on tbo 1st day of January I860 and commenced his administration under the most trying circumstances that ever beset a publle man in Virginia He advised conciliation and compromise until forbearance wee no lunger a virtue He was ardently and devotedly attached to th constitutional Union of 1760 and would havo freely given hie life for tho preservation honor Ha exerted ail his great powers to pre-vent disunion but when th real crisis came he threw himself into the breech with ell the energy and determination of Me uianly pature When President Lincoln made requisition upon him for quota of 71000 troops to coerce tho socedlng State ef the South he promptly raplied that he would furnish no troopa for any such purpose and added "You sir have chosen to inaugurate civil war" Steed By the Old ng He realised fully that the Union lied already dissolved by tha withdrawal of th seceding States from tho South and that thero was nothing left for Virginia to do but to espouse the cauee of her slater btates from that eactlon Before the final action of th convention ares taken adopting th ordinance of accession an Incident occurred which Ulustratel fully what manner of man ho was When some of tbo mors hot-headed citlsens threatened to haul down tho American flag which floated over tho State Capitol sido by aide with that of Virginia Governor Letcher sternly Interposed and refused to pre vent th flag from being disturbed until the State had dissolved the bonds that hound her to th Union When th ordinance of secession was adopted he acted with characteristic energy 1 decision He had burned the bridges behind him' and had no such word as "fall" in hia vocabulary Ho devoted all th energise of hla mind and heart to th successful prosecution of th war and was everywhere recognised as tower of strength to tho Southern cause- Ho was fruitful in resource and over prompt to act according to th emergency of tho occasion During the prosecution of the war when the celebrated "Bread Riot" occurred In tho city of Richmond end tho fate of the city seemed to bo Involved Virginia's war Governor cami to tho front with watch in hand and gave to the rioters three minutes in which to disperse Knowing very well the stern stuff ef which he wee made and that he would permit no disobedience of hts orders th rioters quietly dispersed and the danger wae happily passed Arrested By the Federal Aftpr the termination of tho war Governor Letcher was arrested by order of th United States authorities at Waahiugton hia home at Lexlngton having been previously burned by order of General Hunter when th Virginia Military Institute suffered a like fete in 1864 Upon tho Governor release from prison ho returned to Lx ltgtcn and applied himself moat aesld uously to tho practice of hie profession end to th rebuilding of his private fortunes continued to dsVoto himself as I have saijJ most energetically to tho practice of hlc profession until 1876 when ho waa again elected to tlx House of Delegatee of Virginia and while attending a session of th Assembly he waa suddenly stricken down by on-attack of paralysis from which he died in the midst of hla family on tha 2C'h of January 1864 Th whole Southern country was filled with sorrow and tho General Assembly of Virginia adopted a Joint resolution of unfeigned respect to his memory from which th following Is an extract "Through a lifetime covering th most eventful period in the history of Virginia tho greet powers of hia mind and th warm affections of his heart were devoted with constant faithfulness and energy to tho service of hi State and country Aa a ropra-s illative of Virginia In tha Congreaa of tho United States as her Governor In tho most trying epoch of her history ha won the love end admiration of her people and a place in that history where his name will live as long as unswerving honesty in ta administration of publle trust and groat ability wisdom and patriotism in tho discharge of official duty ahall bo hon ored among man" Hla Lament lev Jackson county Captain John married Aanto Bourtand ot Augusta Joseph married Elisabeth Ellla and Sarah married William Dean Bath county Nancy McClung a slater of John and Captain bamuel married Captain Wll-" -iff Ham Moore of "Cannicello" Lexing ton with whom John McClung resided during the latter yean of bin life having survived hla wife Rebecca Htuart several years Janet McClung slater of Nancy married David Moore VfV'i brother of Captain William Moore CSv flrat 8 Senator west of Blue Rid1 Stuert MeClung son of Major Andrew McClung and Jan Dean married Rebecca Ann Crawford of Augueta and Harriet a stater of Stuart MeClung married John Crawford Cynthia Me-Cluog daughter of Joseph McClung and Elisabeth Ellis married Major James Crawford of August Joseph MM Mm much earlier and married Nancy Williams November 0 1787 QUERIES AND LETTERS (No 1810) NcClaag Family Although moat of tho McClung family In this country ware early settler In West Virginia from which they moved to Kentucky where there are many of their descendants etlU to be found yet we give the following interesting sketch of tho family as complied from most authantlo records and allow tho excoptional space for It as It contains much early historical as well aa genealogical matter suitable to our column Tho earliest record of the McClung family locates thorn In Galloway Scotland and th history of th taco begin In th time of Agricola The name MacClung appears in a list of namos collected by Lord Stair and published In "Patronymic BrJtanlca" under th title of Hundred SpeelmenU of Coltle Aristocracy" or "Almeck Extraordinary" Tbe Celtlo prolix Mac abbreviated to Me and a doubling of tbo resulting in th present form John McClung IL eon ef John Mo-Clung of Galloway Scotland emigrated tb Ulster Ireland about 1600 with hla two hrothora James and Robert on account of raligloua porseeullon In Scotland They war Presbyterians of th "true blue" type Thence John McClung emigrated to Pennsylvania thence to Rockbridge county Va He married Rebecca Stuart who waa rotated to Hon Alexander Hngh Holmes Stuart Secretary of State In Franklin Pierce's Cabinet Judge William McClung second child of John McClung and Elisabeth Alexander daughter of Archibald Alexander and Margaret Parks and aunt of Dr Archibald Alexander first president of Princeton University married Susan Tarlton Marshall of "Gakhlll" Fauquier county Va May 26 1703 She Waa a daughter of Colonel Thomas Marshall and a stator of Chief Justice John Marshall by whom ho had seven children: Thomas Marshall McClung Mary McClung Elisabeth McClung William McClung Charlotte McClung Rev John Alexander McClunr Alexander Keith MeClung of whom tho following story la given In both 'tho Marshall and MeClung genealogy Born In Virginia 1811 died in Jack- son Miss March 31 1SSS At ths ago of fourteen ho attended a classical school conducted in Woodford county kbooi conuuciaa in wooarorg county Ky by hla undo Dr Louis Marshall To escape punishment leaped from i a second story window and fled to hie hom in Mason county Was commissioned aa midshipman in the United State Navy April 1 1138 Ho resigned hla position in the navy August 30 1820 Returned to Kentucky andbe-gen a course In medical study but abandoned It and pursued the study of taw Emigrated In 1831 to Jackson Mis where be practiced lie waa an orator statesman and aoldler but was noted chiefly as a dualist Ilia flrat duel waa fought while cruising in tbe Mediterranean: Hia antagonist was also a midshipman his senior by several years and a "dead ohot McClung was th challenger hla antagonist tho aggreoaor McClung knew ble only chance of Ilf was to ajlow hlo arm to receive the ball Intended for hla heart Ho accordingly fired from hla hip and allowed hia arm to be broken Hie second duel woo fougbt at' the ge of eighteen near Frankfort Ky Ho married Isabella McClung daugli-ter of James MeClung and Maria Corkllng married William Marshall Ellen Christy McClung daughter of Matthew McClung and Elisa Jana Morgan married John Marshall June 5 1867- Two Elisa McClung Marshall and Jonnla Marshall Susan McClung daughter of William or "Widow" McClung (sea "Sketches of married son of Robert Alexander tbe first rector of Washington and Lee University Margaret Ann Mallnd McClung ninth child cf Colonel Charles MeClung and Margaret White daughter of General James White of Tonneeae and Mary Lawson married Judge Ebeneser Alexander eon of Adam Rankin Alexander Nine children Margaret White Alexander Charles McClunjr Alexander Eltaa Jane Alexander Mary Hill Alexander Matthew McClung Alexander Fanny Percy Alexander' Lucy Dickinson Alexander Ebon Alexander and Isabella Dawson Alexander Captain James MeClung son of Genoral John MeClung and Margaretta Burton married Mary Campbell stator of Dr Bamuel IL Campbell of Ioxlng- ton and Rev John Campbell of Petersburg and also a aloes if Dr Archibald Alexander James Me- Clung son of John McClung and Mary 8tuart of Falrflald Va married Sarah Hold Alexander Elisabeth McClung daughter of Joseph MeClung and Ellsa- eth Witaon married John Alexander Mary Campbell McClung daughter at Rufus Morgan McClung and Rachel deserving? With such a galaxy of offi-oors of oxportanc and ability and with an army composed of material aqual to any that ever wont into tbo field why should wo not successful 7 Wo havo Indeed lost a Jackson and other nobla and gallant spirits whose deaths have caused sorrow and grtof throughout th land While wa mourn over the dead let us not forget that they fell in a righteous cause and their deaths should only stimulate ua to greater exertions nod nerve us to increased effort "Look at th picture on all aides and It presents hopeful and encouraging feature If we are only true to ourselves to tho cause sad to the country wo cannot be overthrown Ii there a man who doubts the result of th struggle? If there he auch an one he Is a traitor at heart who deserves to be anathematised and east out from among "No State has boon more loyal mors faithful more devoted None ha contributed more liberally la means and men non has band her breast more boldly or daflantly to tho storm end none has sent her reapers to th harvest of death with more aalf-aocrifle-Ing devotion than tho Commonwealth of Virginia Sha enlisted for th war after full consideration and with a just appreciation of all the consequences that war to follow the separation and be will bo true to th and She will never sue for peace because she did not bring on this war She will never propose compromise because she struggles only for her right her liberty and her Independene She will aa booomea th Mother of State stand up boldly and hur and deflaaco ja tho fae of her foe until they come to her term 8h will novor consent to a treaty of peace which dismembers her own territory neb will she consent tn'- treaty which does not" recognise fully tb Confederacy She haowo Albert McClung married Alice Craw- ford William Harvay McClung son of a-becea Bratton and John McClung mar'---: y5 Diaiwu vim wwiuuBi ried tiusan grandfather army at Fol David Gwln McClung commanded company at Guilford Courteous and MM was wounded In that battle hut reoov- -rod and was still in eommand of hla company at Yorktown whan Cornwall! surrendered "A RELATIVE'' (To be Continued in Our Next) tusan Crawford His maternal- (father waa with 'Washington's st Fort Duquesne' Hla brother HIEHTEOIIS CLAIM The Last Defender of Richmond When She Fell Into Hands -of Enemy Editor of th Tlmce-Dlepatch In tho 'Confederate Column of Th Tlnua-IXapatch of recent date I read with intenae Interact the account Siren by Sergeant ChrUllan Zimmer of th evacuation and surrender of the r-Uy of Richmond The account waa Of more than usual Inlereat to me be-cauae I too bad been a participant In that trying ordeal the rioting daya of our dying and beleaguered and beloved city of Richmond the rapltol of our ahnrtllved hut grand and glorloua Confederacy After an Interval of more than forty yea re of tlmo and my memory taking me back to thoeo warlike daya and aa 1 now look dowu the long dim vlata of time Itaeema aalf thero muat be aome mental hallucination Perhaps I Iiv been winter the Influence of arfme hideous nlghtmere that there la not anything real about our experience aa soldier Yet It la nevertheless true and that I am aa proud to-day aa a prince of that experience I rejoice with exceeding great Joy to know that waa a soHJler In the Armv of Northern Virginia and that lived in tho same daya an-1 generation and breathed the aanto diberty-lovlng patriotic atmosphere of Generals Lee and Jackson and that Incomparable lioet of palrlola wlioae valor and heroic chlevomenta for their cauae baa chal- leoged tho admiration of the clvlllard world I waa too young to compels with the oldest cetera! of tho jeweled cross of honor taken from the Mer-fimae: I waa too old to compete with tho ynungeat for tho aame honor and I have always felt aatiafled that I have honor enough left mo in having been a soldier of any age or of any rapacity In the (southern Army Yet I have always frit that there might be another greater honor if possible attached to my soldier life and that waa I might have been the cammander of tha last body of organised Confederate eoldlera to do duty in defending tho rtty of Richmond 1 before fta evacuation and surrender I will here present my claim and if Tho Ttmea-Divratch would give me a souvenir from the Merrimae on being the last defender of the city at Its sur render I might win on that claim The Call to Duty I was a member of Company ISth Regiment Virginia Infantry known as the Glaca Eagle Company of Cumberland county Va llun ton's Brigade ltrkett'e Division Tho ltth Regiment was commanded by that peeriest' gentleman Christian soldier and statesman Colonel Robert 1 Wither of Wjrthevllle Va Our color sergeant Polon A Boston was killed at Wll-Jlamsburg Va and Colonel Withers appointed me color sergeant for hia regiment which position I filled until the battle of Mill wbeu I waa painfully and severely wounded I was a patient at Chlmboraso Hospital under treatment from Dr Baylor of Norfolk when General Ewell directed me to form an organisation at tha hospital tompoaod of clerks hospital stewards and soldiers ranvalescing from gunshot wound and diseases or in other words the maimed the blind and the halt scarcely an ablo bodied aoldler amongst them: a cosmopolitan make-up indeed and in truth I suppose every 6tste In the Southern Confederacy waa repre seated -iThe unsuited physical eond 1 Hop of theao soldiers for this service (in their tattered uniforms with bright muskata bearing the revolt upon their bayonets should ho sufficient yea a criminal of their loyalty and dtvotion for the rauao they were eapoualng Arms am munition and equipments for war had been depoaited at tha hospital to he used by this organisation In defending tho city against raids and sudden dashes of the enemy On Saturday night April 1S5 I had retired and was awakened during the ptght by some one calling for me I went out and found a aoldler on horseback It waa Major Chestnut who handed me an order from General Ewell commanding me to havo my organisation formed as speedily aa possible and report to him on tho Capitol Square While conversing with Major Chestnut he called my attention to the con-tlnued lightning-like flashes "painting hell on tho eky" in tho direction of Pe tersburg It was the glare from the flashes or the artillery and musket firing go-Ing on between the two contending armies around Petersburg I marched my eommand over to the Capitol Square I found General Ewall naar where the marble statue of Mr clay row stands surrounded by his ataff officers and tha officials of tho city and with whoa he waa bually engaged in conversation had to touch him to engage his attention Ho turned to mo and said: Tf you hare anything to aay say it quickly I handed him the order Major Chestnut had me He read It and told mo ho wan tad mo with my eommand numbering 1200 or 1(00 to take tho piece then occupied I think by General Field's Division on tho Wllllamahurg or River Road and he would send a guide or courier to direct me Ws marched down Main Street and through Rocketts and after going a few miles we came to a fortified position Aa wo left tha city wa were felned by tha radete of the Virginia Military Institute and they took thalr position near ua on this lino of defense We relieved this division and I suppose it went to join General Lee's retreating army To hll tho apace oc rupied by these soldiers I had to Stretch my skeleton of a command all It could bear by placing a soldier hero and thero in sight of and In calling liatanca of each other I made the moat fotmldable and warllka display possible of three soldiers along the Intrenchmente frowning furiously tho direction of -the enemy Nothing Unusual occurred during the dey- to laturb the quietude of an ordinary gsbhath day About noon Dr Me (No I) JOHN LETCHER John Lotcher was Governor of Virginia from January I 1266 to January 1 161 He waa universally known as "Honest or tho "Watch Dog of tha Treasury" was descended from that remarkable race of Scotch -Irish who so impressed themselves upon Georgs Washington that In tho darksst hour of the Revolution whan tha American army was almost destroyed by privation and hunger he exclaimed: "leave mo but a banner to place nn the mountain of West Augusta and- will rally around mo men who will lift our blooding country from tho dust and set her free!" John Letcher's early education wee obtained In the schools of tho neighborhood in Rockbridge county where ho was born Ho subsequently matriculated in Randolph-Uaeon College and afterwards entered Washington and Le as a student He 'entered Into journalism and edited for a tlmo the Valley Star He was subsequently admitted to tho bar in 16X6 Ho served in Congreaa from 13 to 16(6 during which time he waa a prominent member of the Committee of 'Ways and Mesna Ills political- career wss marked by a strict construction of the Constitution frugality in publle expenditure honesty in the public service Wss Clin Man 11s wee born in Lexington Va March 26 1811 practiced law in Lexington after Ms admission to tho bar was presidential elector in 1141 was a member of tbo State Constitutional Convention In 1660 was Democratic representative ln Congreaa from 1853-1666 and was Governor of Virginia from 1610 to 1X64 Ho waa opposed to secession but ho exerted himself In providing supplies for tho army after the State bed taken her position When the war termlnatad he resumed th practice of his profession until 1(76 and 1877 when bo was again elected to the House of Delegates of Virginia During hla service in tho House of Delegatee he was stricken with paralysis from which ho died at Lexington Va on tho 26th of January 1114 universally mourned and lamented bv all who had known him In life It may bo truly said that bo was the architect of his own fortune Ho wss ossentlally a self-mad man Ut achieved success by his own strong arm Unaided and alon ho "climbed the steep whence fame's proud tempi shlnos afar" What an Inspiration and how worthy of Imitation by tho aspiring youth of th land? Hie success In Ilfs furnishes abundant evidence ef whet may bo accomplished by high purpose unfailing constancy and indomitable will With an Insatiable deelre for Hern-leg be accumulated by Me own unaided efforts sufficient means to enable him to attend Washington and Leo University and Randolph-Macoa College Having studied lew for three years In tha lew office of Hon Taylor he woe admitted to the ler In 1830 In early life he was honored with the friendship of that gifted statesman Governor James McDowell whose sympathy and encouragement he prised above all earthly price as long as he lived After being admitted to th bar he enjoyed to an unlimited extent the friendship and esteem' of such eminent leaders as Briscoe G- Baldwin Thomas Mlchle John Brockenborough A Stuart and others whose name will not be forgotten as long as eminent talent end lofty integrity are cherished among men As I have already stated he established at Lax-Irgton the Star and edited It with Such ability as to attract tha attention and receive the commendation or all of hla contemporaries His Power as a Debater He very soon became prominent In the political aiena as a public debater of consummate power In the celebrated contest of 1641 he was In the senlth of bis fame He traversed the entire Valley of Virginia and attracted great attention by hie strong and argumentative speeches He was eminently plain and practical In hie public addresses and never felled to carry conviction to the minds of all unprejudiced hearer Xn 1844 aa editor of the Valley Star be was conspicuous for his soal and ability in the' discussion of all th great questlonawhlch star championed by hie party at the South particularly th annexation of Texas In 1248 he served as Democratic elector and when the convention was called In 1160 to adopt aa amended Constitution for tho State he waa elected to tuat body by a large majority although his district was decidedly Whig In 1861 he wae elected a member ef Congress from tho Valley District without opposition and continued to represent it in that capacity for four successive terms Few men of hla day achieved higher reputation in tho national councils or waa more universally respected for hla high courage and lefty ability 4 Elected Governor In I860 he was nominated by the Democratic party of th State for tho high office of Yovarner hU collagua on th Democratic ticket being Robert Montagus of MlJdlosex who waa nominated for Lieutenant-Governor and John Randolph Tucker who wae nominated for Attorney-General Hla eompatltoro In the-taea ware WiliUm Ooggln of Bedford for Governor Waltman Willey for Lieutenant-Governor- and Walter Preston of Washington county for Attorney-General Th contest that ensued wa on of tho moot notablo over known in tho history of the State Th conditions for publle favor disinclined men to L-idulg in more clap-trap hut on th aontrary they addressed themselves to the reason ond tho understanding of the audlonce Hla famous campaign took place before the State was severed (No 151L) Loo Editor Genealogloal Column: Sir months since you said that you would look up and glva more fully the genealogy of Hancock Loo aad hie descendants lncludlni ncludlng Rev (No 281) Glfcbca Family A "Regular Subscriber" gsk for Information regarding tha Glbbe or Glbbes family of Virginia Though no direct arms'1 are to tho Virginia CHbbeaeo yet they came early to tho colony and from similarity of arms of tho South Carolina and Massachusetts families of Gibber with the Glbheeea of England tber is reason hellov that they ar all of th same English stock Burke gives tha family as first settled In Somersetshire 1800 From them descended 2hlllp Glbbes created baronet 1774 through whom the family in America ar found Th Glbbeees of Massachusetts emigrated from Warwick England I860 Hobart Gibbs being the first hi son Robert being Governor of the State of South Carolina 1700 and from him tbo Hon 1L Glbbes of Columbia Both tho Maasachuaotts and Bouth Carolina Glbbeses '(and Gibbaes) boar tha same English coat of arms described as followa: "A shield sable bearing three battle axes argent Crest embowed arm Jn armor holding a battle ax argent Motto Tcnax propositi" th only difference betweon the two being th Massachusetts family hearing thro broken tilting spears or whll th South Carolina family retain tha three battle axes as of England Th motto "Tenax propositi" 1 (firm of purpose) ha always been held by both branches Xt Is a family tradition in Virginia that three brothers who war carpenters cam over and settled la Virginia between tha sixteenth and seventeenth centuries and we find among tho first adventurers to Virginia 1830 tho name of "Thomaa Gibbs Eeq" Henlng mentions William Glbba quite early and also find In Th Cradle of th Republic" mention mad of Lieutenant John Glbba who with Captain John Ward represented "Ward's Creek" in tha first General Aasembly of tho Colony about that tlmo (1620) and thua these may be the three first emigrants spoken or Next the family are found in Chesterfield county and eventually many moved to Spotsylvania and the upper countie Their name are also enrolled among th early militia Francis Gibbs being In Captain Hogg's com pany of Rangers in th French antVln dlan Wars receiving bounty and being discharged 1T6I Joseph Gibbs was in Captain Stohe's company with Washington at Great Meadows 1764 and reeelvad bounty money-' Thomas Gibbs had died 1763 aa Peter Marye of Spotsylvania was hla administrator that year In 1733 there were living In Spotsylvania St Mark's Parish Zacharlah Glbba and James Glbba who was still living 1703 There la no doubt but the Glbba or Glbbes family were among tho flrat to settle In tha 6tte end their connection with Creek" next to the Harrison estate which waa named for Captain John Ward who patented 1300 acres along Jam River and the Unde east of the creek being represented by Lieutenant John Glbbe In the first As- A England who enlisted so earnestly in the cause of the colony "Werd'l Creek" afterwards was included la the Hoor estate Wo find the name also of John Gibbs In Westmoreland county douhtlosa a doeeendent of th above who married a Mies Finston Asklns on October 1817 Charles Glbba was living thero to the firesides ot thousands of their own misguided people 1 For decision or character for stern add unbending resolution for pure and elevated patriotism for sound and inflexible integrity and tor prompt and onorgetlo action he wss surpassed by no man of bis times The record of bte achievements will constitute some of tho brightest pages in the history of tho war whan that history shall have been written His reputation ae military leader of tho highest ability and merit has been fairly and firmly established lu the judgment of th army and th country and hie namo will bo honored and hie fame 'will he cherished "While the earth bears plant or th sea rolls a wav" HI Valedictory In hia last annual message to th Genoral Assembly of Virginia attar filling tha high office of Governor ae aa to receive th plaudit of "wall dona good and faithful servant" Governor Lctehor conclude as follows: fall to tho lot of Individuals as well ae to nation Uniform success never attends either There are days of adversity as wall as of prosperity There ar hour of gloom as wall as of joy and hop Whan wo ourvsy th field slnco this war began wa find much to stimulate aad an-courage us and much to inspire bright hopes for the future We have recently bed disasters but they should rather arouse and excite than depress They only show that we should xblblt more energy vigilance courage and determination than have heretofore manifested in our glorious cauae We have the will tho spirit tha endurance and tho purpose to achieve success and wa can triumph If ar united and hold energetlo and determined Hav wa not a Lee 0 Beauregard and a Johnston a Long-street a Hardee and a Ewell with a host of othars not leas meritorious and it J'' ri is Mi Henderson Lee of Lunenburg county Va Ton will confer a favor on an old subscriber by giving this information at early a date aa possible in your Yvi-v3j column Yours truly 1 Chase City J3L Yes we have been trying to hunt V-vM up the descendants ef Haneook Lee who married Lena Ann Euetiee of Fauquier county Va August 38 1788 1 but hare not oueceedod Our Impros- re Ion was teat th Rev Henderson was 'viXl from him Can any on decide and glva hie family 7 KNEW CAPT BKIPWITIL Interesting Acenant of Him By a Rich mnng Veteran Editor' of Tha Timea-Dispatch: Jn reference to an srtlc's dipped from tho Confederate Column of February 16th wish to say that knew Captain bklpwlth well and wo were together in tho battle of Rich Mountain 1161 Ho was not' as ths article states captain of tho Hampdan-Bldnoy boys which company waa in our regime hut captain of a company Horn Powhatan county at that tlma was a member of Company A officered by Captain Samuel Bayley Thomas A Brander William Burrell and -Alex adder Holladay which was assigned to tho Twentieth Regiment tho tamo regiment Captain Bkipwlth'a company was-assigned to This regiment waa commanded by Colonel John Pegram who afterwards became general and was killed In battle before Petersburg At the time of tho battle of Rich Mountain was orderly sergeant and my company together with Captain Sklpwith'a company waa ordered up tha mountain to retaka tho two guna which McClellan and Rosecrans (who were at that time brigadier-generals) had taken from ua during tha fight that morning In ascending tha mountain tha two Captain and our were marching aid by sido in columns of twos Wa were net deployed thinking thero was sufficient time so to do when wo arrived near the top of tho mountain but tho enemy had advanced further towards our camp than wo expected and had formed a llna of battle across tho road between the top of tho moun' tain and our camps Wo wore marched in the above formation Into this llna of battle was told it was com posed of Ohio troop They fired into our two companies killing Captain SklpwUh wounding a cousin of mine and kilUng and wounding several other Further information of Captain Skip with can bo had by writing to tho clerk of Powhatan County Court Ho was a Jolly good-natured oldorly gentleman a true typo of tho Old Virginia gentleman and bravo to a fault Colonel John Pegram with pearly hU entire regiment save a few I had command of started on retreat and were ChlewelL Editor Genealogical Column: If possible ploas publish soma account of th Chtswoll family of Virgin! of which Charles ChtsweU wa at one time clerk of th Genoral Court ot th Colony and Ms eon Colonel John Chtswoll so pro- nmij In tb history prior to 1786 B-Yes look out for what wa can glv in next issue what ia duo to her own dignity and he knows what la du to tho Confederacy and her duty will he par-formed with scrupulous fidelity Xneel-ing around th altar of th country her eons will swear allegiance to her and fidelity to th Confederate government and their prayers will second to leaven for blessing on Virginia and tho Southern Confederacy "Thanks to tha Ruler of tho universe for Hie blessings conferred upon ua with auch for th successes which havo attended our for th unity and harmony of our and for the oplrit and couraga with which He has nerved them for this contest "Respectfully "JOHN LETCHER" Proprietary Medicines In Responding to an Inquiry from aa American firm concerning th Introduo-tlon of proprietary medicines Into Germany conaul-Geaerel A Tbackara of Berlin says: All medical preparation imported Into Germany no matter from what country have to pay duty as oeerat remedies fOoholmmltte!) amounting to 8110 par 3104 pound unlaw th exact composition of th Ingredients lo given not only to th custom authortUo but ia also-printed openly on tee package The police authorities reserve tec right also to havo analyses made of -such preparations by competent expert and they may even raise aa ebjoetloa 1 if aa exorbitant price la charged when the value of th separate Ingredients Is considered Those authorities map at thoir discretion even publish tho soiling prlc of patent nwdielno to nether with th coat at each tngvo -Aleut The regulations governing tho Importation and sale of peoprtotefF medicines In Germany ere exooodlaglr strict hut cannot say that thaw In ary unusual dlscrimlqatloa against those made In th United Btateo Governor Letcher si sincerely and devotedly attached his former townsman and neighbor General Stonewall Jackson and when the latter went down to death with the light of victory upon hie brow th Governor sent a meesago to th General Aasom My of Virginia from which make tha following brief extract: "Since the commencement of this war Virginia has been called upon to mourn over tho loss of many of her gallant sons but of all her Jewels tbo moot brilliant wae th Illustrious Uu trnant-Ooueral Thome Jackson graduate of West Point highly die-tlrgulshed In ths Mexican War and at th oponlng of th present war a qulst and unprotsndlng profeasor -in our Stats military Institute Ho was called from th professor's chair to th field and hie sagacity hie energy gBd tho unparalleled euccees which crowned hlo efforts woo for him a reputation that mad him the pride of hlo own" State endeared Mm to the- people of th Confederacy attracted to him th attention of th nations of th earth sod compelled the respect and admiration even of those heartless enemies who hare drenched our land In blood and brought walling and lamentation i 'i' 1 I.