University of Virginia Library

20th July, 1749, (O. S.)—GEORGE WASHINGTON, Gent., produced a commission
from the President and Master of William and Mary College, appointing him to be
surveyor of this county, which was read, and thereupon he took the usual oaths to his
majesty's person and government, and took and subscribed the abjuration oath and test,
and then took the oath of surveyor, according to law.

Immediately on the breaking out of the war in 1775, Patrick Henry, then commander
of the Virginia troops, sent to this section of the colony for assistance. Upon his summons,
150 men from Culpeper, 100 from Orange, and 100 from Fauquier, rendezvoused
here and encamped in a field now the property of John S. Barber, Esq., half a mile
west of the court-house. An old oak now standing, marks the spot. These were the
first minute-men raised in Virginia. They formed themselves into a regiment, choosing
Lawrence Taliaferro of Orange, colonel; Edward Stevens of Culpeper, lieutenant-colonel;
and Thomas Marshall of Fauquier—the father of Chief-Justice Marshall—
major. The flag used by the Culpeper men is depicted in the accompanying engraving,
with a rattlesnake in the centre. The head of the snake was intended for Virginia, and
the 12 rattles for the other 12 states. This corps were dressed in green hunting-shirts,
with the words "LIBERTY OR DEATH!"[1] in large white letters on their bosoms.

They wore in their hats buck-tails, and in their belts tomahawks and scalping-knives.
Their savage, warlike appearance, excited the terror of the inhabitants as they marched
through the country to Williamsburg. Shortly after their arrival at that place, about
150 of them—those armed with rifles—marched into Norfolk co., and were engaged in
the battle of the Great Bridge. Among them was Chief-Justice Marshall, then a lieutenant,
and Gen. Edward Stephens.

In the course of the war, 8 companies of 84 men each, were formed in Culpeper for
the continental service. They were raised by the following captains: John Green,[2]
John Thornton, George Slaughter, Gabriel Long, Gabriel Jones, John Gillison,[3] —
M'Clanahan,[4] and Abraham Buford[5]

Virginia raised, in the beginning of the war, 15 continental regiments of about 800
men, besides 3 state regiments of regular troops, not subject to be ordered out of the
state. Besides these were Lee's legion, composed of two companies of cavalry and two
of infantry, a regiment of artillery under Col. Harrison, Col. Baylor's and Col. Bland's
regiments of cavalry, and the corps of horse raised by Col. Nelson. These, we believe,
comprised most if not all the regular troops raised by the state. They became reduced
to one quarter of their original number before the war was over, particularly by disease
and the casualties of battle in the southern campaigns. From this statement—supplied
from the memory of a surviving officer of the Virginia line—it will be seen that Culpeper
bore her full share of the burden of war. On the same authority we state, that in skirmishes,
when the numbers were equal, the American troops were superior to the British.
The former took aim; the latter fired with their pieces brought on a level with the hip.
Hence the superiority of the Americans on these occasions. They despised the English
as being no marksmen.

Capt. Philip Slaughter, now (1844) residing in this co., is probably the only officer
living in Virginia who served in the continental establishment throughout the revolution.
At the age of 17 years he entered the Culpeper minute-men as a private, and marched
with them to Williamsburg shortly after the hegira of Dunmore. Having received the
commission of lieutenant, he marched to the north in the fall of 1776 with the 11th Virginia
continental regiment. Daniel Morgan was then colonel of this corps, and of a
volunteer rifle regiment. There Slaughter remained until the commencement of the
year 1780, and was in the battles of Brandywine, Gerinantown, Monmouth, and at the
storming of Stony Point. He spent the winter of 1777-78 at Valley Forge. His messmates

were Lieut. Robert (afterwards Gen.) Porterfield, Capt. Chas. Porterfield, Capt.
Johnson, and Lieut. John (afterwards Chief-Justice) Marshall. There they were all reduced
to great deprivations in the want of food and clothing. They bore their sufferings
without murmur, being fortified by an undaunted patriotism. Most of the officers
gave to their almost naked soldiers nearly the whole of their clothing, reserving only
that they themselves had on. Slaughter was reduced to a single shirt. While this was
being washed, he wrapped himself in a blanket. From the breast of his only shirt he
had wristbands and a collar made, to complete his uniform for parade. Many of his
brother officers were still worse off, having no under garment at all; and not one soldier
in five had a blanket. They all lived in rude huts, and the snow was knee-deep the
whole winter. Washington daily invited the officers in rotation, to dine with him at his
private table; but for want of decent clothing, few were enabled to attend. Slaughter
being so much better provided, frequently went in the place of others, that, as he said,
"his regiment might be represented." While in this starving condition, the country
people brought food to the camp. Often the Dutch women were seen riding in, sitting
on bags on their horses' backs, holding two or three bushels each of apple pies, baked
sufficiently hard to be thrown across the room without breaking. These were purchased
eagerly, eaten with avidity, and considered a great luxury.

Slaughter performed the duties of captain, paymaster, and clothier. He was promoted
to a captaincy in 1778, he then being not 20 years of age. He has in his possession a
brief journal of the movements of the troops during the time he was in service, and
certificates of his soldier-like conduct from Chief-Justice Marshall, Gen. Robert Porterfield,
and Col. Jamieson.

As tending to show the chivalrous feelings among the Virginia officers, we will state,
that one of them, on his promotion to a captaincy, wrote the name of the lady to whom
he was engaged upon his commission, declaring, at the same time, that it should never
be disgraced with her name upon it. It never was disgraced. The same officer, while
in camp in New Jersey, heard that a wealthy gentleman was laying siege to the affections
of his betrothed, and was advised to return home. Failing in his application for a
furlough, he dispatched a sergeant on horseback with a letter—there being no mails—to
the friend in Virginia from whom he received the information, making further inquiries.
The distance there and back was 500 miles. The messenger returned with an answer
that quieted the apprehensions of the officer, and he married the lady after the war.

Capt. Slaughter has held various civil offices, among which was that of high sheriff
of Culpeper. He has married twice, had 19 children, and numbers among his descendants
nearly 100 souls. From the lips of this venerable and patriotic old man, we have
received most of the information embodied in the two preceding pages.

A number of my persecutors resorted to the tavern of Mr. Steward, at the court-house,
where they plotted to blow me up with powder that night, as I was informed, but all they
could collect was half a pound. They fixed it for explosion, expecting I was sitting directly
over it, but in this they were mistaken. Fire was put to it, and it went off with considerable
noise, forcing up a small plank, from which I received no damage. The next
scheme they devised was to smoke me with brimstone and Indian pepper. They had
to wait certain opportunities to accomplish the same. The lower part of the jail door
was a few inches above its still. When the wind was favorable, they would get pods of
Indian pepper, empty them of their contents, and fill them with brimstone and set them
burning, so that the whole jail would be filled with the killing smoke, and oblige me to go
to cracks and put my mouth to them, in order to prevent suffocation. At length a certain
doctor, and the jailer, formed a scheme to poison me, which they actually effected.

My prison then, was a place in which I enjoyed much of the Divine presence; a day
seldom passed without some signal token of the Divine goodness towards me, which
generally led me to subscribe my letters in these words, "From my Palace in Culpeper."

IN MEMORY OF
GENERAL EDWARD STEVENS,
WHO DIED
AUGUST THE 17TH, 1820,

At his seat in Culpeper, in the 76th year of his age.

This gallant officer and upright man, had served his country with reputation
in the Field and Senate of his native state. He took an active part, and
had a principal share in the war of the revolution, and acquired great distinction
at the battles of Great Bridge, Brandywine, Germantown, Camden,
Guilford Court-House, and Siege of York; and although zealous in the
cause of American Freedom, his conduct was not marked with the least degree
of malevolence, or party spirit. Those who honestly differed with him
in opinion, he always treated with singular tenderness. In strict integrity,
honest patriotism, and immoveable courage, he was surpassed by none, and
had few equals.

Gen. Stevens resided in the village of Culpeper C. H., in the house on the corner of
Coleman and Fairfax streets, now occupied by Mrs. Lightfoot. Aside from the above,
we have but little to add respecting this highly meritorious officer. The histories of the
revolution make such honorable mention of him, that it is evident his epitaph is no fulsome
eulogy. At the battle of Guilford Court-House, "the brave and gallant Stevens,"
animated his men by words, and still more by his example. Resolved to make even the
timid perform their duty, he placed several riflemen in the rear, with peremptory orders
to shoot down any of his militia that should attempt to escape before a retreat was ordered.
In this action he received a ball in the thigh, but he enjoyed the reflection that
his men had made a noble stand, and displayed an honorable firmness in opposing the
enemy, by whom they were at last, after an obstinate conflict, driven back by an overwhelming
force at the bayonet's point.