University of Virginia Library

Westover, long the seat of the distinguished family of Byrds, is on the James River. It was originally
the residence of Col. Wm. Byrd, where he long lived. In his time, it was "a beautifully decorated and
princely mansion, which even at this late day exhibits admirable remains of his taste, and his magnificent
scale of expenditure for its gratification." Col. Byrd was the author of "The History of the Dividing
Line," and one of the most accomplished men in Virginia at his day. He was a worthy inheritor of the
opinions and feelings of its old cavaliers. He was for 37 years a member, and at last became president of
the council of the colony. He died in 1744, at the age of 70 years. His grave is covered by a white
marble monument, which yet stands at Westover. The Marquis de Chastellux, who was here in 1782,
gives, in his travels, a glowing description of Westover, which he says surpassed all the seats in the
country round about "in the magnificence of the buildings, the beauty of its situation, and the pleasures
of society." He eulogizes Mrs. Byrd as a lady of great sense, and an agreeable countenance, who fulfilled
the duties incumbent upon her, as the head of a large household, with uncommon skill. To her
negroes she did all in her power to render them happy, and served "them herself as a doctor in time of
sickness."

Three times, in the course of the revolutionary war, the enemy landed at Westover, under Cornwallis
and Arnold.

Gen. Arnold directed a patrol to be made on the night of the 8th of January towards
Long Bridge, in order to procure intelligence. Lieut.-Col. Simcoe marched with forty
cavalry, for the most part badly mounted, on such horses as had been picked up in the
country; but the patrol had not proceeded above two miles before Sergeant Kelly, who
was in advance, was challenged: he parleyed with the videttes till he got nearer to them,
when, rushing at them, one he got hold of, the other flung himself off his horse and escaped
into the bushes. A negro was also taken, whom these videttes had intercepted
on his way to the British army. From these people information was obtained that the
enemy was assembled at Charles City court-house, and that the corps which had appeared
in the day-time opposite Westover, nearly to the amount of 400 men, lay about 2
miles in advance of their main body, and on the road to Westover. The party were
immediately ordered to the right-about, and to march towards them. Lieut. Holland,
who was similar in size to the vidette who had been taken, was placed in advance; the
negro had promised to guide the party so as to avoid the high road, and to conduct them
by an unfrequented pathway which led close to the creek, between the body which was
supposed to be in advance, and that which was at Charles City court-house. Lieut.
Col. Simcoe's intention was to beat up the main body of the enemy, who, trusting to
those in front, might reasonably be supposed to be off their guard; in case of repulse he
meant to retreat by the private way on which he advanced, and should he be successful,
it was optional to attack the advance party or not on his return. The patrol passed
through a wood, where it halted to collect, and had scarcely got into the road when the
advance was challenged: Lieut. Holland answered, "A friend,"—gave the countersign
procured from the prisoner—"It is I, me, Charles," the name of the person he personated;
he passed one vidette, whom Sergt. Kelly seized, and himself caught hold of the
other, who in a struggle proved too strong for him, got free, presented and snapped his
carbine at his breast; luckily it did not go off, but the man galloped away, and at some
distance fired the signal of alarm. The advance division immediately rushed on, and
soon arrived at the court-house; a confused and scattered firing began on all sides;

Lieut.-Col. Simcoe sent the bugle-horns, French and Barney, through an enclosure to
the right, with orders to answer his challenging, and sound when he ordered; he then
called loudly for the light infantry, and hallooed "Sound the advance;" the bugles
were sounded as had been directed, and the enemy fled on all sides, scarcely firing another
shot. The night was very dark, and the party totally unacquainted with the
ground; part of the dragoons were dismounted, and mixed with the hussars; some of
the enemy were taken, others wounded, and a few were drowned in a mill-dam. In
saving three armed militia-men from the fury of the soldiers, Lieut.-Col. Simcoe ran a
great risk, as their pieces were loaded, pointed to his breast, and in their timidity they
might have discharged them. From the prisoners he learned that the whole of their force
was here assembled, and that there was no party in advance: the soldiers were mounted
as soon as possible, nor could they be permitted to search the houses where many were
concealed, lest the enemy should gain intelligence of their numbers, and attack them;
and this might easily be done, as the darkness of the night prevented the Rangers from
seeing around them, while they were plainly to be distinguished by the fires which the
enemy had left. It appeared that the militia were commanded by Gen. Nelson, and
consisted of seven or eight hundred men: they were completely frightened and dispersed,
many of them not stopping till they reached Williamsburg. Sergt. Adams, of
the hussars, was mortally wounded. This gallant soldier, sensible of his situation, said,
"My beloved colonel, I do not mind dying, but for God's sake do not leave me in the
hands of the rebels." Trumpeter French and two hussars were wounded. About a
dozen horses were seasonably captured.

His father, Benjamin Harrison, was a conspicuous patriot of the revolution. When
a very young man, he honorably represented his native district in the House of Burgesses
for many years, and on the 14th of Nov., 1764, was one of those of its distinguished
members chosen to prepare an address to the king, a memorial to the lords, and
a remonstrance to the House of Commons, in opposition to the stamp act. He was a
delegate from Virginia to the first Continental Congress, which assembled at Philadelphia,
Sept. 1st, 1774, when he had the gratification of seeing his brother-in-law, Peyton Randolph,
placed in the presidential chair. "At the congress of the following year, 1775,
after the death of Mr. Randolph, it was the wish of nearly all the southern members
that Mr. Harrison should succeed him in the presidency; but as the patriotic John Hancock,

of Massachusetts, had likewise been nominated, Mr. Harrison, to avoid any sectional
jealousy or unkindness of feeling between the northern and southern delegates at
so momentous a crisis, with a noble self-denial and generosity relinquished his own
claims, and insisted on the election of Mr. Hancock, who accordingly had the honor of
being unanimously chosen to that high office. Mr. Harrison still, however, continued
one of the most active and influential members of the Continental Congress. On the
10th of June, 1776, as chairman of the committee of the whole house, he introduced
the resolution which declared the independence of the colonies; and on the ever-memorable
fourth of July, he reported the more formal Declaration of Independence, to which
celebrated document his signature is annexed. The legislature of Virginia returned Mr.
Harrison four times as a delegate to Congress. On the expiration of his last term of
congressional service, he was immediately elected to the House of Burgesses from his
own county, and was at once chosen speaker of that body—an office he held uninterruptedly
until the year 1782, when he was elected governor of Virginia, and became one
of the most popular officers that ever filled the executive chair. This eminent patriot
died in the year 1791."

William Henry Harrison was left under the guardianship of Robert Morris, the distinguished
financier, and was educated at Hampden Sydney College, and turned his attention
to the study of medicine. "The hostilities of the Indians on the northwestern frontier
having begun to excite general attention, the young student resolved to relinquish his
professional pursuits, and join the army destined to the defence of the Ohio frontier. In
1791, soon after the death of his father, who died in April of the same year, he received
from President Washington, when only in his 19th year, the commission of ensign; in
1792 he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant, and he fought under Gen. Wayne, who
spoke of his gallant conduct in a very flattering manner. After the desperate battle of
the Miami Rapids, he was promoted to the rank of captain, and was placed in the command
of Fort Washington. In 1797 he resigned his commission in the army, and was
immediately appointed secretary of the NW. territory. In 1799, at the age of 26, he was
elected a delegate from this territory to Congress, and in this office he performed very
important services for his constituents. On the erection of Indiana into a territorial
government, he was appointed its first governor, and he held this office by reappointment
until 1813. In addition to the duties in the civil and military government of the
territory, he was commissioner and superintendent of Indian Affairs; and in the course
of his administration he concluded thirteen important treaties with the different tribes.
On the 7th of Nov., 1811, he gained over the Indians the celebrated battle of Tippecanoe,
the news of which was received throughout the country with a burst of enthusiasm.
During the last war with Great Britain, he was made commander of the northwestern
army of the United States, and he bore a conspicuous part in the leading events of the
campaign of 1812-13—the defence of Fort Meigs, and the victory of the Thames. In
1814 he was appointed, in conjunction with his companion in arms, Gov. Shelby, and
Gen. Cass, to treat with the Indians in the northwest; and in the following year, he was
placed at the head of a commission to treat with various other important tribes.

"In 1816, Gen. Harrison was elected a member of Congress from Ohio; and in 1828
he was sent minister plenipotentiary to the Republic of Columbia. On his return, he
took up his residence at North Bend, on the Ohio, 16 m. below Cincinnati, where he
lived upon his farm in comparative retirement until he was called by the people of the
United States to preside over the country as its chief magistrate." Of 294 votes for
president, he received 234. He died April 4th, 1841, just a month after his inauguration.
His death caused a deep sensation throughout the country.

John Tyler, the father of the late President of the United States, resided in this
county. "He was one of the leading revolutionary characters of Virginia, was many
years a member of the House of Delegates, and in 1781 succeeded Mr. Benjamin Harrison
as speaker. After being governor of Virginia, to which office he was elected in
1808, he was judge of the District Court of the United States for Virginia, and died at
his seat in Charles City co., Jan. 6th, 1813. He was simple in his manners, distinguished
for the uprightness and fidelity with which he discharged his official duties, and enjoyed
in an uncommon degree the esteem and confidence of his fellow-citizens."