of more particular pursuit. Accordingly, in his precipitate retreat, he was closely fol lowed by an active savage, with upraised tomahawk. The parson, in dodging under the undergrowth, left the aforesaid wig suspended upon a bramble, seeing which, the Indian, taking it for the parson's head, made a bound or two and grasped it, but, on finding the head was not there, with a violent gesture, and all the lineaments of disappointment drawn upon his face, he threw it upon the ground, exclaiming, "dd lie!" and doggedly gave up the chase. The parson, in the mean time, was concealed in the bushes, within a few feet of the spot. The man who was killed was buried at a place since comprising the village burial-place, and the spot where his ashes repose, is marked with a rude, unhewn stone, with the inscription, "William Creswell, July 4, 1776."

As an evidence of the superstition even now occasionally existing among the lower class of the country, there resided, in 1838, in the hills, a few miles from Abingdon, a man by the name of Marsh, who was deemed by his neighbors not only honest and industrious, but possessed of as much intelligence as most people in the lower walks of life. This man was severely afflicted with scrofula, and imagined his disease to be the effects of a spell, or pow-wow, practised upon him by a conjurer, or wizard, in the neighborhood, by the name of Yates. This impression taking firm hold of Marsh's mind, he was thoroughly convinced that Yates could, if he chose, remove the malady. The latter, being termed an Indian doctor, was sent for, and administered his nostrums. The patient, growing worse, determined to try another remedy, which was to take the life of Yates. To accomplish this, he sketched a rude likeness of Yates upon a tree, and shot at it repeatedly with bullets containing a portion of silver. Yates, contrary to his expectations, still survived. Marsh then determined to draw a head upon the original, and, accordingly, charged an old musket with two balls, an admixture of silver and lead, watched an opportunity, and shot his victim as he was quietly passing along the road, both balls entering the back of the neck. Yates, however, survived, and Marsh was sent to the penitentiary.

The annexed historical sketch of Washington county is abridged from the мs. memoirs of Southwestern Virginia by Col. John Campbell, Esq. Treasurer of the United States in the administration of President Jackson:

About one hundred years ago-viz., in 1738-the counties of Frederick and Augusta were formed out of Orange. These two western counties then embraced within their jurisdiction the whole colony of Virginia west of the Blue Ridge. With the exception of the few first settlers of Augusta and Frederick, it was all a howling and savage wilderness. .. As late as the year 1756, eighteen years after Frederick and Augusta were formed into counties, the Blue Ridge was regarded, as Judge Marshall says, as the northwestern frontier of Virginia, and she found an immense difficulty in completing a single regiment to protect the inhabitants from the horrors of the scalping-knife, and the still greater horrors of being led into captivity by those who added terrors to death by the manner of inflicting it. Carlisle in Pennsylvania, Frederick in Maryland, and Winchester in Virginia, were then frontier posts.

This division of the territory west of the Blue Ridge into counties, continued for 31 years, up to the year 1769, when the county of Botetourt was formed out of Augusta. Botetourt then embraced all southwestern Virginia, south and west of Augusta. Three years afterwards-viz., in 1772-the county of Fincastle was formed out of Botetourt. The county of Fincastle then embraced all sw. Va. south and west of the Botetourt line, which was near New River. In 1776, four years afterwards, the county of Fincastle was divided into three counties, and called Kentucky, Washington, and Montgomery counties, and the name of Fincastle became extinct.

Washington county, during the whole of the revolution and up to 1786, embraced within its limits all southwestern Va., sw. of the Montgomery line. It included parts of Grayson, Wythe, and Tazewell, all of Smyth, Scott, Russell, and Lee, with its present limits.

The act establishing the county of Washington passed in October, 1776, but it was not to go into operation until January, 1777. It received its military and civil organization on the 28th of January, 1777. It is the oldest county of Washington in the U. S., being the first that was called after the father of his country. The act establishing

the county passed in the first year of the commonwealth, and the county was organized the first month of the new year.

The following are the first records made, in which the county received its civil and military organization:

“January 28th, in the first year of the commonwealth of Virginia, and in the year of our Lord Christ 1777, being the day appointed by act of the General Assembly of the commonwealth of Virginia, for holding the first court of the county of Washington at Black's Fort.' A commission of the Peace and Dedimus for this county, directed to Arthur Campbell, William Campbell, Evan Shelby, Daniel Smith, William Edminston, John Campbell, Joseph Martin, Alexander Buchanan, James Dysart, John Kincaid, John Anderson, James Montgomery, John Coaller, John Snody, George Blackburn, and Moses Masten, gentlemen, bearing date the 21st day of December, 1776, were produced and read. Thereupon, pursuant to the Dedimus, William Campbell and Joseph Martin, two of the aforesaid justices, administered the oath of a justice of the peace, and of a justice of the county court of chancery, to Arthur Campbell, the first justice named in said commission, and he afterwards administered the aforesaid oaths to William Campbell, Willi un Edminston, and others named as aforesaid in the said commission." The records

also state that James Dysart produced a commission as county sheriff from Gov. Patrick Henry, and securities being given, he took the oath.

The sheriff having opened the court in the name of the commonwealth of Virginia, David Campbell, afterwards Judge Campbell of Tennessee, was inducted into the office of county clerk.

The same records exhibit the following as the military organization of the county in this the first year of the commonwealth, and morning of the American revolution :Arthur Campbell, county lieutenant or colonel-commandant; Evan Shelby, colonel; William Campbell, lieutenant-colonel; William Edminston and Daniel Smith, majors; Captains, John Campbell, Joseph Martin, John Shelby, Sen., James Montgomery, Robert Buchanan, Aaron Lewis, John Duncan, Gilbert Christian, James Shelby, James Dysart, Thomas Masten, John Kinkead, John Anderson, William Bowen, George Adams, Robert Craig, Andrew Colvill, and James Robertson. Some time after this organization, Col. Evan Shelby resigned his commission, and William Campbell was appointed in his place.

Among the records illustrating the times, is this:

"John Findlay making it appear to the satisfaction of the court of Washington county, that he, upon the 20th day of July, 1776, received a wound in the thigh in the battle fought with the Cherokees, near the Great Island,* and it now appears to the said court that he, in consequence of the said wound, is unable to gain a living by his labor as formerly; therefore his case is recommended to the consideration of the General Assembly of the commonwealth of Virginia."

The Cherokee Indians were defeated in this action, and massacre prevented upon the frontier settlements. The savages were led on, it is said, by a bold chieftain called "Dragon Canoe." He led his men, in some places, within thirty or forty paces of the opposing party; and although he fought with the courage and skill of a Tecumseh or Oceola, he was completely beaten in his own mode of warfare. Both parties fought behind trees, with rifles, and both were girded with tomahawks, as weapons of self-defence with the white, when in close personal conflict with his savage foe, and of massacre on the part of the Indian, when his wounded enemy had fallen into his power. There was no American officer in this well-fought action, of a higher rank than captain. Three of that grade commanded volunteer companies from Washington county, Va., viz. : John Campbell, James Shelby, and James Thompson. William Cocke commanded a company from Tennessee, then the territory of North Carolina. There were other captains out of Va., whose names are unknown to the writer.

The condition of the country is further disclosed by these annexed extracts:

Jan. 29th, 1777. "Ordered, that William Campbell, Wm. Edminston, John Anderson, and George Blackburn, be appointed commissioners to hire wagons to bring up the county salt, allotted by the governor and council, and to receive and distribute the same agreeably to said order of council." "Ordered, that Capt. Robert Craig and Capt. John Shelby be added to the commissioners appointed to receive and distribute the flour contributed in Augusta, or elsewhere, for the distressed inhabitants of the county."

Without flour, and without salt, these brave pioneers of a new county, cheerful and gay, social and kind to each other, and linked together like a band of brothers, thought of nothing but the sublime objects of the American revolution-the great cause of American liberty. Avarice had not won its way to their patriotic souls. They fought for freedom, and with their own weapons and war-steeds they volunteered and marched in every direction, at their own expense, in which the cries of suffering humanity reached them. These gallant Highlanders volunteered on the expedition against the Shawnees at Pt. Pleasant, against the Cherokees at Long Island, and against the British at King's Mountain and Guilford; against the Cherokees, under Col. Christian, and afterwards under Col. Arthur Campbell in 1781. Col. Campbell, on this expedition, commanded 700 mounted riflemen. History gives him the credit of having first made the experiment

* This Island lies in Holston River, East Tennessee, near Kingsport, a few miles south of the Virginia line.

of attacking Indians with mounted riflemen, a mode of fighting on this occasion proving completely successful.* He destroyed in this expedition 14 Indian towns, and burnt 50,000 bushels of corn. The cruel necessity also devolved upon him of destroying several scattered settlements, and a large quantity of provisions, after supplying his own army for their return.

Mr. Jefferson, then governor of Virginia, in a letter dated the 17th of Feb., 1781, to the Continental Congress, enclosing the account of this expedition, remarks:

"Our proposition to the Cherokee chiefs to visit Congress, for the purpose of preventing or delaying a rupture with that nation, was too late. The storm had gathered to a head when Major Martin (the agent) had got back. It was determined, therefore, to carry the war into their country, rather than wait it in ours; and I have it in my power to inform you that, thus disagreeably circumstanced, the issue has been successful. I enclose the particulars as reported to me." Col. Arthur Campbell's report to Mr. Jeffer. son is dated Washington county, Jan. 15, 1781. "The militia (he says) of this and the two western North Carolina counties (now Tennessee) have been fortunate enough to frustrate the designs of the Cherokees. On my reaching the frontiers, I found the Indians meant to annoy us by small parties. To resist them effectually, the apparently best measure was to transfer the war without delay into their own borders.

"To raise a force sufficient, and provide them with provisions and other necessaries, was a work of time, that would be accompanied with uncommon difficulties, especially in the winter season. Our situation was critical, and nothing but an extraordinary effort could save us, and disappoint the views of the enemy. All the calamities of 1776 came fresh in remembrance, and to avoid a like scene, men flew to their arms and marched to the field."

The following message was sent to the Indian chiefs and warriors after this expedition was completed:

"Chiefs and Warriors-We came into your country to fight your young men. We have killed many of them, and destroyed your towns. You know you began the war, by listening to the bad counsels of the King of England, and the falsehoods told you by his agents. We are now satisfied with what is done, as it may convince your nation that we can distress you much at any time when you are so foolish as to engage in war against us. If you desire peace, as we understand you do, we, out of pity to your women and children, are disposed to treat with you on that subject.

"We therefore send this by one of your young men, who is our prisoner, to tell you if you are disposed to make peace, six of your head men must come to our agent, Major Martin, at the Great Island, within two moons, so as to give him time to meet them with a flag guard on Holston river, at the boundary line. To the wives and children of those men of your nation who protested against the war, if they are willing to take refuge at the Great Island until peace is restored, we will give a supply of provisions to keep them alive.

"Warriors, listen attentively:

"If we receive no answer to this message until the time already mentioned expires, we shall then conclude that you intend to continue to be our enemies. We will then be compelled to send another strong force into your country, that will come prepared to remain in it, to take possession of it as a conquered country, without making you any compensation for it. Signed at Kai-a-tee, the 4th of Jan., 1781, by

"ARTHUR CAMPBELL, Col.,
"JOHN SEVIER, Col.,

"JOSEPH MARTIN, Agent and Major of Militia." A few days after the return of the army across the Dan, Gen, Greene received a communication from Col. Arthur Campbell, announcing the fortunate result of the expedition, and stating that the Indians were desirous of submitting, and negotiating a treaty with the proper authorities. It being at that early day doubtful in whom such a power rested, Gen. Greene deemed the necessity of the case sanctioned him in nominating commissioners for that purpose. On the 20th of February, 1781, he issued a commission to Wm. Christian, Wm. Preston, Arthur Campbell, and Joseph Martin, of Virginia, and to Robert Sevier, Evan Shelby, Joseph Williams, and John Sevier, of North Carolina, to enter into a treaty for restoring peace, and establish the limits between the two states and the Indian tribes; but with the wary precaution of limiting their powers by the laws of those states, and the duration of the commission by the will of Congress or the

* On this point see Morse's Hist. Sketch of Tenn., prepared for the Am. Atlas, pub. in 1827, by Carey & Lee:

commander-in-chief. Under this commission was concluded that treaty which took place the ensuing year.

During the summer of 1780, the militia of southwestern Virginia were kept constantly on the alert, in consequence of the movements of the British army in South Car. olina. In August and September, 150 men from Washington county were in service on New River, about the lead mines, and over the mountains in North Carolina, under Col. Campbell, to prevent and suppress insurrections among the tories in those quarters. In the fall of this year the regiment of Col. William Campbell was in the battle of King's Mountain, and behaved with great bravery. The signal defeat which the enemy expe rienced on that occasion crushed the hopes of the tories, and did much towards giving a favorable turn to the tide of war in the southern states.*

The annexed biographical sketches of Col. Arthur Campbell, and of Gen. William Campbell, are from the Ms. history of Washington county. The notice of the latter was written by the former, who was both a cousin and a brother-in-law:

ARTHUR CAMPBELL was born in 1742, in Augusta county. When about fifteen years old he volunteered as a militiaman, to perform a tour of duty in protecting the frontier settlements against the incursions of the Indians, and was stationed in a fort which had been erected about that period, near where the road leading from Staunton to the Warm Springs at this time crosses the stream called the Cow Pasture. While engaged in this service, a party of men from the fort, of which he was one, went some distance to a plum thicket, in quest of plums. The Indians, lying in ambush, fired upon them, and one of their balls grazed the knee of Arthur, then in one of the plum-trees. He sprang to the ground, and the shock, together with the injury from the wound, although slight, caused him to fall, and he was captured ere he could recover himself. The others made their escape without injury.

This youth, a mere stripling, was loaded with Indian packs, and made to carry them for seven days. The Indians, who were of one of the tribes in the vicinity of Lakes Erie and Michigan, immediately set out for their country. He was soon exhausted, unable to travel, and was treated with great severity. The aged chief in command interfered, took him from the others, and protected him from further injury; and when the party reached the Indian towns, this chief adopted him, and he remained in his family during his captivity.

The young man now turned his attention to studying the Indian character, learning their language and customs; and soon acquiring the confidence of his chief, became his companion in all his hunting excursions, in which they rambled over the whole country now forming Michigan, and the northern portions of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. In 1759, some portion of the British army was marched towards the upper lakes and the country bordering on Lake Erie, with a view of bringing the Indian tribes to submission. In what particular direction the force marched, the writer hereof has not now the means of ascertaining. It was moving towards the borders of Lake Erie when runners and traders made known to the Indians that such a force was marching towards their country. Campbell knew that although they were several hundred miles distant, the Indians would watch his every movement with the greatest suspicion; he, however, formed the bold resolution of escaping to them. To accomplish it required skill and cool determination, and the result showed he possessed both in a high degree. A hunting excursion was soon projected, in which he joined; and after several days march in an opposite direction somewhat from the army, the party left their camp one morning, each separating for the day's hunt. Campbell took what he judged to be the proper course, and in two weeks reached the British army. In this journey of several hundred miles, partly through an unknown country, great peril was encountered in avoiding Indian hunting parties; but he escaped all, furnishing himself meat with his rifle. On reaching the outposts, he requested to be conducted to the commander. The officer was deeply interested in his narrative, and being struck with the intelligence of the young

*We learn from tradition, that after the battle, the American officers held a council, and hung some fifteen or twenty of their tory prisoners. Many more were condemned; but, disgusted with this work of blood, their lives were spared. Among those who suffered was an Irishman, a noble-looking young inan, who had by his own exertions raised a company of royalists. As the rope was being adjusted around his neck, he was offered his life if he would join the Americans. He spurned the offer with indignation, and as they were about swinging him off, cried, "Long live King George!"-H. H.

man, engaged him to pilot the army. In this he rendered them important service, and soon after returned home.

During his three years of captivity, his friends had not heard of his destiny, and time in some measure had healed the wounds inflicted by his supposed horrible fate. In their imaginations his name had long been numbered with the dead, and to sooth the feelings of his pious parents, it had been ceased to be mentioned in the midst of a numerous family of brothers and sisters. A letter is unexpectedly received from him, dated at Pittsburg, announcing his safety, and that in a few days he would have the pleasure of meeting them at the parental hearth. The parents and children are overwhelmed with joy at the prospect of once beholding and embracing their long-lost son and brother. The eldest son starts immediately to meet him, and they meet in the road alone. The captive boy has grown a tall youth, with the erect, manly step, and lofty air of the red man. He reaches home, the neighbors flock to see him. He has acquired the taciturnity of the Indian, and the thousand inquisitive interrogatories annoy him. Soon as he becomes settled, instead of devoting his leisure to social amusements, he is acquiring a knowledge from books that places him above his cotemporaries, and to the astonishment of all, writes an elegant epistle to the governor of the state, detailing his captivity, escape, and services rendered to the army as a guide; upon which the government then allows him a thousand acres, near Louisville, Kentucky.

About four years before the commencement of the revolution, David Campbell (his father) and family, (Arthur and one sister having emigrated two years previous,) moved, and settled at a place called "the Royal Oak," on Holston River, then a wilderness and an Indian hunting-ground. Arthur was soon appointed a major in the Fincastle county militia, and in the spring of 1776 was elected to the Virginia assembly, and was a mem ber of the convention forming the constitution. In this convention he took a decided stand against an established church, and although not a public speaker, influenced some of the first members of the convention. While a member of the Assembly, he became intimately acquainted with Edmund Pendleton, Richard Henry Lee, and George Mason, and afterwards with Jefferson and Madison, with all of whom he corresponded. Previous to this, he married the third sister of Gen. William Campbell, a lady of beauty, sprightliness, and intelligence. When Washington county was formed, he was appointed county lieutenant, or colonel-commandant. At this period there was a general military spirit, and no officers resigned their commissions. Col. Campbell retained command of this regiment (the 70th) for nearly thirty years; and there were in his corps several captains with heads perfectly white with age. Before Col. Campbell reached the command of a regiment, he was engaged in and commanded several military expeditions, as well as after. The public documents at Richmond giving authentic accounts of public affairs, were destroyed (it is supposed) by Arnold, and therefore previous to the date of his colonelship, little can be learned about his public services. The crowning act of his life, his brilliant services against the Cherokees, are elsewhere detailed.

Col. Campbell resided on the farm he first settled after coming to Holston, about thirty-five years. He then removed to Yellow Creek, Knox county, Kentucky, where he died of a cancer in the face, in the 74th year of his age. Col. Campbell was tall, of a dignified air, a man of extensive reading, and fine conversational talents. With the mass of society he was unpopular, although respected, owing mainly to his not relaxing in his manner to suit it. His temper being hasty and overbearing, occasioned violent quarrels and bitter enemies. He was a zealous whig, and in the gloomiest hour had not a doubt of an auspicious result to the contest.

Col. Arthur Campbell had two sons, who died in the army during the late war. Capt. James Campbell died at Mobile, and Col. John B. Campbell fell at Chippewa, where he commanded the right wing of the army under Gen. Winfield Scott. He was a gallant and a humane officer, and in the winter of 1813, commanded an expedition against the Indians on the Wabash, and had a bloody battle with them at Mississinewa, and finally destroyed their towns.

Gen. WILLIAM CAMPBELL, the subject of this memoir, was a native of Augusta, in the state of Virginia, of the true Caledonian race by the maternal line, as well as that by the father. Being an only son, he received a liberal education under the best teachers of those times. He had an ardent mind, very susceptible of literary improvement, and acquired early in life a correct knowledge of the English language, of ancient and modern history, and of several branches of the mathematics. Nature had formed him for a commander in military capacity. His personal appearance was grave and masculine, being something about six feet high, and well proportioned; in conversation rather