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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CUMBERLAND. |
 | Historical collections of Virginia |  |
CUMBERLAND.
Cumberland was formed in 1748, from Goochland. It is 32 miles
long and about 10 broad, with the Appomattox running on its S.,
the James River on its N. boundary, and Willis River through its
NW. portion. The surface is undulating, and the soil productive.
Pop. 1830, 11,689; 1840, whites 3,263, slaves 6,791, free colored
355; total, 10,399.
Cartersville, on the James River, contains a church and about 50
dwellings. Ca Ira, 5 miles W. of the C. H., has an Episcopal church
and 10 dwellings. Cumberland court-house is in the southern part
of the county, about 52 miles from Richmond. The village has not
increased since the Marquis de Chastellux was here, about the
year 1782. In his travels, he says:
Besides the court-house and a large tavern, its necessary appendage, there are seven
or eight houses, inhabited by gentlemen of fortune. I found the tavern full of people,
to hear and register the claims of sundry persons who had furnished provisions for the
army. We know that in general, but particularly in unexpected invasions, the American
troops had no established magazines, and as it was necessary to have subsistence for
them, provisions and forage were indiscriminately laid hold of, on giving the holders a
receipt, which they called a certificate. During the campaign, while the enemy were
at hand, little attention was given to this sort of loans, which accumulated incessantly,
without the sum total being known, or any means taken to ascertain the proofs. Virginia
being at length loaded with these certificates, it became necessary, sooner or later,
to liquidate these claims. The last assembly of the state of Virginia had accordingly
thought proper to pass a bill, authorizing the justices of each county to take cognizance
of these certificates, to authenticate their validity, and to register them, specifying the
value of the provisions in money, according to the established tariff. I had the curiosity
to go to the court-house to see how this affair was transacted, and saw it was performed
with great order and simplicity. The judges wore their common clothes, but were
seated on an elevated tribunal, as at London in the Court of King's Bench, or Common
Pleas.
Gen. Charles Scott, a distinguished officer of the revolution,
and subsequently governor of Kentucky, was born near the line
of this and Powhatan county. The present residence of Mr.
Thomas Palmer, in the upper part of that county, was built by
him.
Scott raised the first company of volunteers in Virginia, south of the James River, that
entered into actual service; and so distinguished himself prior to 1777, that when
Powhatan county was formed in that year, the county-seat was named in honor of him.
When governor of Kentucky, he had some severe battles with the Indians, in which he
lost two sons. Immediately after St. Clair's defeat, Gen. Scott, at the head of a body
of Kentucky cavalry, reconnoitred the battle-ground. Finding the Indians still there,
rejoicing over their victory in a drunken revelry, he surprised and fell upon them. Being
totally unprepared, they were routed with great slaughter. About two hundred of them
were killed, and he recovered six hundred muskets, and all the artillery and baggage
remaining in the field. This, the most brilliant affair of the war, in a measure "dispelled
the gloom occasioned by the misfortune of St. Clair, and threw, by the power of
contrast, a darker shade of disgrace over that unfortunate general's miscarriage."
Scott was a man of strong natural powers, but somewhat illiterate and rough in his
manners. He was eccentric, and many amusing anecdotes are related of him. When
a candidate for governor, he was opposed by Col. Allen, a native of Kentucky, who, in
an address to the people when Scott was present, made an eloquent appeal. The
friends of the latter, knowing he was no orator, felt distressed for him, but Scott, nothing
daunted, mounted the stump, and addressed the company, nearly as follows:
"Well, boys, I am sure you must all be well pleased with the speech you have just heard. It does my
heart good to think we have so smart a man raised up among us here. He is a native Kentuckian. I see
a good many of you here that I brought out to this country when a wilderness. At that time we hardly
expected we should live to see such a smart man raised up among ourselves. You, who were with me in
those early times, know we had no time for education, no means of improving from books. We dared not
then go about our most common affairs without arms in our hands, to defend ourselves against the Indians.
But we guarded and protected the country, and now every one can go where he pleases; and
you now see what smart fellows are growing up to do their country honor. But I think it would be
a pity to make this man governor; I think it would be better to send him to Congress. I don't think it
requires a very smart man to make a governor; if he has sense enough to gather smart men about
who can help him on with the business of state. It would suit a worn-out old wife of a man like
myself. But, as to this young man, I am very proud of him; as much so as any of his kin, if any of
them have been here to-day, listening to his speech." Scott then descended from the stump, and the
huzzas for the old soldier made the welkin ring.
Scott had the greatest veneration for Washington; and while governor of Kentucky,
he visited Philadelphia during the session of Congress. Attired in the rough garb of
the backwoods, with a hunting-shirt, buckskin leggings, and a long beard, he gave out
that he was going to visit the president. He was told that Washington had become
puffed up with the importance of his station, and was too much of an aristocrat to welcome
him in that garb. Scott, nothing daunted, passed up to the house of the president,
who, with his lady, happened to be at the window, and recognising the old soldier,
rushed out, and each taking him by the arm, led him in. "Never," said Scott, "was
`old hoss'[1] still."
Major Joseph Scott, a brother of the above, was an officer of the revolutionary
army, and was appointed marshal of Virginia by Jefferson, under the following circumstances:
Major Joseph Eggleston, from Amelia, who had been a meritorious officer of
Lee's legion through the whole of the southern campaigns, and a member of Congress in
1798-99, was tendered the office by the president. This he declined, but recommended
his old friend and companion in arms, Major Scott, then a steward upon the estate of
John Randolph. The first intimation Scott had of the matter was the reception of the
appointment, which was extremely gratifying; he being at the time in necessitous circumstances.
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