Historical collections of Virginia containing a collection of the most interesting facts, traditions, biographical sketches, anecdotes, &c., relating to its history and antiquities, together with geographical and statistical descriptions : to which is appended, an historical and descriptive sketch of the District of Columbia : illustrated by over 100 engravings, giving views of the principal towns, seats of eminent men, public buildings, relics of antiquity, historic localities, natural scenery, etc., etc. |
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WYTHE. |
 | Historical collections of Virginia |  |
WYTHE.
Wythe was formed in 1790, from Montgomery, and named from
George Wythe, an eminent jurist, and a signer of the Declaration
of Independence; it is 24 miles long and 20 wide. The greater
part of the county is a mountain valley, included between Walker's
mountain on the NW. and Iron mountain on the SE. Wythe
valley is an elevated table-land, about 2,200 feet above the level of
the ocean. The surface is drained, principally, by New River and
its tributaries. The soil is good, and peculiarly adapted to the
cultivation of grass. Gypsum is advantageously used in agriculture.
Wythe is rich in minerals, in iron, lead, and coal. Pop. in
1840, whites 7,632, slaves 1,618, free colored 125; total, 9,375.
![illustration](https://iiif.lib.virginia.edu/iiif/uva-lib:427615/full/!1600,1600/0/default.jpg")
View in Wytheville.
Wytheville, the county-seat, is on the main turnpike from Harper's
Ferry to Knoxville, Tenn., 248 miles southwesterly from
Richmond, 55 miles from Abingdon, and 27 from Newbern. This
town was established by law in 1792, on land given by Stophel
Zimmerman and John Davis; and the following gentlemen were
appointed trustees: Alexander Smyth, Walter Crockett, William
Ward, Robert Adams, James Newell, David McGavock, William
Caffee, and Jesse Evans; it bore the name of Evansham, until
changed to its present one in 1838. It contains 8 mercantile stores,
2 newspaper printing-offices, 1 Presbyterian, 1 Protestant Methodist,
1 German Lutheran, and 1 Catholic church, and about 700
inhabitants. The village is neat, well built, and flourishing.
About nine miles easterly of Wytheville, on the great road, anciently
stood Fort Chiswell, which was occupied by British troops
in Braddock's war. This spot was once the county-seat of Montgomery,
for a jail. Tradition points to a stump at this place, as being the
remains of the identical tree to which Daniel Morgan was tied
and whipped for beating a British officer. We doubt the authenticity
of the tradition. This occurrence, we believe, took place
several hundred miles further north. The circumstances have
been variously stated. We here give them as we received them
from the lips of an officer of the revolution, who served under
Morgan.
Morgan at that time had charge of wagons transporting baggage.
An officer on this occasion came out and asked him why
the wagons were not ready for the march. He replied that he had
been delayed, but would have them ready as soon as possible.
The other insultingly replied, if he did not hurry he would run him
through with his sword. Morgan gave him a tart reply. The
officer thereupon fell into a passion, and made a lunge at him with
his sword. The latter parried the blow with a heavy wagon
whip, broke his sword, and gave him a severe drubbing. A courtmartial
sentenced him to receive 500 lashes. After receiving 450
of them, Morgan fainted. He was then allowed to go free, as it
was feared the complement would kill him. The officer afterwards
becoming convinced of his error, asked Morgan's pardon.
The LEAD MINES of Wythe are about 13 miles easterly from the C. H., on New River,
opposite the mouth of Cripple creek. Formerly they were worked with great profit;
but the discovery of lead in the far west has operated disadvantageously to the interest
of the proprietors of these works, situated, as they are, so far inland, and away from
easy means of transportation. These mines were discovered very early, and were extensively
worked in the revolution. The first proprietor was Col. Chiswell, an English
gentleman, who built a frame house—the first frame house erected in this section of the
country—which is now standing, in a dilapidated condition, near the mouth of Mill
creek. The Col. attempted unsuccessfully to extract silver from the ore. He killed a
man in a quarrel, and died in prison. Col. Lynch then came in possession, and after
him, Moses and Stephen Austin,[1]
who worked the mines for several years until 1796.
Since, the mines have passed through the hands of several proprietors. They are now
owned by the heirs of Col. James White, David Pierce, and Thomas Jackson.
Formerly, shafts were sunk perpendicularly at the top of the hill, from 50 to 150 feet,
until the ore was struck, when the excavations were nearly horizontal. From the
bottom of the shafts the ore was raised by windlasses. In 1840 an excavation was
commenced at the level of the plain on New River, and runs in horizontally, at the present
time, 1000 feet in solid limestone rock. The material excavated is carried off by a railroad.
Dr. Morse, in the 1st edition of his geography, published in 1789, has a description
of these mines.
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