3. Peyton, John, 1st Lieutenant 2nd Virginia Regiment, 1776, wounded at
the battle of Brandywine 1778.
4. Peyton, Robert, of Virginia; 2nd Lieutenant 3d Va. Regiment, 1777,
killed at Brandywine Sept. 11, 1777.
5. Peyton, Valentine, Captain 1777, killed at Charleston, S. C. May 12,
1780.
6. Peyton, William, of Kentucky.
7. Peyton, John Rowze, 1776 to 1783, the "hero boy of '76."
8. Peyton, Robert, of Tennessee, killed by the Indians.
9. Peyton, Yelverton, of Virginia.
10. Peyton, Captain John, 1776, Clothier General 1779. Quartermaster
General 1782, of Fluvana Co.
11. Peyton, Harrison, Captain 1776, of Albemarle Co.
12. Peyton, Colonel Henry, Co., Lieutenant of Prince William 1755, Member
Legislature 1761, Sheriff 1779 (see Sharp, life of Washington, vol.
2nd, p. 73.) From whom descends Col. John B. Baldwin, and Mrs. A.
H. H. Stuart.
13. Peyton, Major Henry, of Lee's Legion, died in the service.
14. Peyton, Timothy Killed by the Indians in Ky., 1786-7.
15. Peyton, Colonel Francis, of Loudoun, Colonel 1776, Member of Va.,
Convention of 1776. Member of Legislature 1780, of the Senate
1789 to 1803.
16. Peyton, Francis, M. D., Surgeon in Lee's Legion. Washington said he
and his brother were two of the best officers in the army. (see
Sharp, Washington, vol. II, p. 273.)
17. Peyton, Yelverton, of Stafford, Va., born during the Revolution and
ensign in U.S.A., 1st Infantry 1794.
18. Peyton, Valentine, M.D., Surgeon in Rev'y. army, brother-in-law of Col.
Wm. Washington, of S.C.
19. Peyton, Ephraim, of Tenn., served 1774 vs. the Indians, from him Balie
Peyton springs, also Chief Jus. E. G. Peyton, of Mississippi.
20. Peyton, Capt. Valentine 3rd Comp., 3rd Va., Reg't 1778, from him
springs Col. Charles L. Peyton, of Greenbrier Co., W. Va.
21. Peyton, John jr., of Frederick Co., from him springs Capt. Wm. L.
Clark, Peyton Randolph, late of the R. & D. Railroad, John S.
Peyton U.S.A., and H. J. Peyton, the old Clerk of the Staunton
Chancery Court.
22. Peyton, George, ensign to Rev. Army 1776, ancestor of Col. George L.
Peyton, of Glendale, Augusta Co.
23. Peyton, George of Ky., Continental line 1776.
LIST OF PEYTON'S IN THE U. S. ARMY.
1. Peyton, Yelverton, of Virginia, ensign in sub-legion, Aug. 1st, 1794;
lieutenant 1799; resigned June, 1800.
2. Peyton, Garnett, of Virginia; captain in 8th Infantry, 1799.
3. Peyton, Francis H., of Virginia, surgeon in 7th Infantry, 1799.
4. Peyton, Robert, of Virginia; captain in 2nd Infantry, 1812; died 1813.
5. Peyton, James R., of Virginia; captain in 1st Infantry, 1813; died
1814.
6. Peyton, John S., of Virginia; captain in 2nd Infantry, 1813; resigned
1816.
7. Peyton, Bernard, of Virginia; captain 1813; resigned 1816; Adjutant
General of Virginia and ex-officio President of the Board of
Visitors of the Virginia Military Institute 1839-'40.
8. Peyton, Richard H., of Virginia; a distinguished graduate of West
Point, standing among first in his class; lieutenant of artillery
1831; captain 1838; served in the Seminole War, Florida, and died
November 11th, 1839, while on duty at Tampa, in Florida, and P. M.
of that place. He was one of the 12 persons who bought the land and
laid out the city of Chattanooga, Tenn., foreseeing its future
importance.
9. Peyton, Balie, of Tennessee; member of Congress in 1833; United States
District Attorney for Louisiana 1837; in 1841 appointed Secretary of
War by President Harrison, but declined to accept it under President
Tyler; colonel of 5th Louisiana Regiment in the Mexican War; aid to
Gen. W. J. Worth and mentioned for gallantry in the battle of
Monterey; voted a sword of honor by Louisiana, said sword is now a
trophy of the Civil War and in the capitol of Minnesota. He was
envoy ext. and minister plenipotentiary to Chili from 1849 to 1853;
presidential elector on Bell and Everett ticket in 1860; member of
the Senate of Tennessee 1865-1869. The town of Peytonville, Tenn.,
named in his honor. Recommended by Thurlow Weed to President Lincoln
for Sec. of War in 1860 (see 5th vol. of C. L. Webster's history of
American Literature.)
EARLY LAND GRANTS TO THE PEYTON'S.
Peyton, Henry, Book 4, p. 255, 400 acres in Westmoreland Co., Va., Nov.
1st, 1657.
Peyton, Valentine, Book 4, p. 42?, 1600 acres in Westmoreland Co., July
20th, 1662.
Peyton, Major Robt., Book 7, p. 81, 1000 acres in New Kent Co., April 23,
1681.
Peyton, Robert, of Gloucester, Book 7, p. 233, 150 acres in Kensington
parish, Gloucester Co., Va., Feb. 20th, 1682.
Peyton, Thomas, Book 17, p. 524, 100 acres in Gloucester Co., June 16th,
1738. (See Benning, vol. 3, p. 566, and Land Registry office).
ANECDOTE OF GEN. PEYTON OF KENTUCKY.
It was customary, thirty years ago, for the ladies to attend political
pic-nics, or "barbacues" as they are called "out west." This was
particularly the case in the exciting contest between General Leslie
Coombs and John C. Breckenridge for a seat in Congress in 1840. Out of
this affair grew the authentic story of the beautiful widow--called the
"gem of the prairies." Not far from the Elkhorn river lived the pretty
little widow; Mrs. Fauntleroy, whose nearest neighbor was Major-General
John Peyton. The gallant general looked upon the widow very much as he
did upon his thorough-bred horse, Powhatan. She was the finest woman
and Powhatan the finest horse in the "Blue grass" district. Mrs. F. had
mourned the loss of her husband more than twelve months; while the
General--who was punctilious as to etiquette--waited patiently for the
time to elapse in order to propose: The widow kept, with a woman's art,
her lover at bay. He with her attended a pic-nic and on their return he
declared his confidence in the success of the Whigs. The widow was
equally confident of the success of the Democrats and offered to wager
her palfrey "Gipsy" against Powhatan--the General accepted the wager and
said, "it should be Powhatan or anything else she preferred on his
estate." They had now reached the river (Elkhorn) and were about to ford
it, when they were overtaken by the General's only son and heir John
Peyton, an athletic and spirited young Kentuckian of 24 years. The party
struck into the water. The east bank was steep and slippery, and as the
horses were clambering up, the girth of Mrs. F.'s saddle broke, and the
lady and saddle fell back into the stream, while the unencumbered horse
mounted the bank with the swiftness of an arrow. In an instant John
Peyton leaped from his horse into the stream and seizing the floating
lady bore his lovely burden to the shore. The frightened lady recovering
her self-possession requested the General to secure her horse, which was
making off rapidly. The General disappeared and soon returned with the
animal, finding his son and the widow in fine spirits and very merry
over the adventure. She was soon mounted again and proceeded home with
the General, while John struck across the meadows for his father's
mansion. On reaching the Fauntleroy seat, General Peyton was easily
persuaded to remain to dinner, after which the widow entertained him
with some of her sweetest music. When he bid her adieu that night, his
ponderous frame thrilling with the electrical touch of her hand, he
inwardly felt that she was the most perfect woman and sweetest
songstress in all Kentucky.
That night in his dreams the little widow was so often repeated that he
resolved to propose on the next meeting. Business called him to
Louisville the next day and detained him until after the election which
resulted in the defeat of the Whigs and in the election of Breckenridge.
General Peyton was both astonished and indignant.
"Mr. Clay's district has disgraced itself," was almost his first remark
to his neighbor, Colonel Beaufort.
To his son John, he communicated his intention of bringing Mrs. F. to
adorn his establishment.
"Sir, she is" said he, "the finest woman in Kentucky--the pride of the
'blue grass' district. I hope you will, notwithstanding her youth, treat
her with deference and respect, and yield her the love she has a right
to expect from my son!"
John, with a quiet but knowing smile, assured the General of his
determination to accord affectionate respect to whomever he might choose
for a wife. The old soldier was delighted and ordered Powhatan to be led
to Mrs. Fauntleroy's. "Sir," said he to his son, "the Whig party has
disgraced itself and Mr. Clay's district, and I must part with my
favorite horse Powhatan, who has no equal in the Commonwealth. I have
just ordered him to be delivered to Mrs. F. and am about to call, will
you accompany me?" The son consented, and when they arrived they found
Mrs. F. and two lady friends admiring the splendid animal.
"Madam," said the General, addressing the pretty widow, "I have come to
pay the wager I have lost--Powhatan is yours."
"But General," interposed the lady, "I believe the wager was
conditional. It was the horse or anything else I might prefer on your
estate, was it not?"
"Right you are madam," said the General, "but I can never allow you to
select an inferior animal, and I have none that approaches Powhatan."
"You have a very superior biped on your estate, General," replied the
blushing widow, "your son, John, whom I have already promised to accept
instead of Powhatan."
The astonished General, defeated for the first time, summoned his
fortitude, and after recovering from the stunning effect of the widow's
speech, rose and in his blandest manner bade the party adieu. To his son
he said--"Sir, you will remain and do your duty."
The General never entirely forgave his daughter-in-law her practical
joke. In after years he used to say, "Lilley is the finest woman in
Kentucky, but she always lacked taste."
COL. HENRY PEYTON--A HERO OF 1776.
INTERESTING LETTER FROM JEFFERSON TO C. PEYTON, OF ALBEMARLE.
We publish below an interesting letter written by the illustrious
Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence, to his connection,
the late Craven Peyton, Esq., of Monteagle, Albemarle county, Va. Craven
Peyton was one of the first gentlemen of his day in Virginia, but his
tastes were social and literary rather than political, and he passed a
long and useful life in the quiet of his plantation, loved and admired
by all who enjoyed the privilege of his friendship and partook of the
elegant hospitalities of his old Virginia home--one of the stately
mansions and most extensive landed estates in Virginia. He married Miss
Lewis, a niece of the President, and left among other issue a son,
Charles L. Peyton, of Greenbrier, now surviving at an advanced age, and
a daughter who married an esteemed townsman, William C. Eskridge, Esq.,
the father of William Peyton Eskridge, of this city. Craven Peyton was a
nephew of the Revolutionary patriot, Colonel Henry Peyton, whose third
and last son, old enough for military duty, was killed by a cannon ball
from the British fleet during the siege of Charleston, S. C. He fell
into the arms of the late Lieut., afterwards Gen. Porterfield, of
Augusta, who immediately communicated the sad intelligence of his death
to his father. Col. Peyton, when he heard of it, was struck dumb with
grief, but in a moment recovering his equilibrium and self-control,
exclaimed, "_Would to God I had another to put in his place._" Such was
the stuff of our Revolutionary heroes. Col. Henry Peyton was the father
of Miss Fanny Peyton, wife of Chancellor Brown, and great-grandfather of
the late distinguished and still lamented Col. John B. Baldwin and Mrs.
Alexander H. H. Stuart:[30]
[30] From this branch of the Peytons are also descended Mrs. J. M.
Ranson, of Jefferson county, W. Va., Captain William L. Clark, of
Winchester, Va., Mrs. R. T. W. Duke, of Albemarle, the late Judge J. E.
Brown, of Wythe, Mrs. Hunter McGuire, of Richmond, Mrs. Robert Gibson,
of Cincinnati, and many others of worth and distinction in Virginia, the
South and West.--R. A. B. in Richmond Standard.
Monticello, August 12, 1821.
_Dear Sir_--Instead of answering your letter yesterday, I desired the
bearer to tell you I should see you at Monteagle to-day, being anxious,
also, to see my sister before I set out for Bedford, whom you mention to
be still unwell. I accordingly mounted my horse just now to visit you,
but found him so lame I was obliged to turn back. With respect to the
fodder I had, on Mr. Bacon's suggestion, searched for and found the
account of it, which he had given me, at the time and I had forgotten;
that, therefore, is right and there can be no difficulty between us. I
have not yet learned from Mr. Estor Randolph when he will be able to
make me payment. The moment he does I will transmit to you. I have not
yet urged him, because I know he is a most anxious man always to pay a
debt and that he will soon inform me. With respect to ----, if he ever
becomes a sober man, there will be no difficulty of reconciliation on
Anne's account, but as long as he is subject to drink, his society is
dangerous and we shall reject it.
I shall be glad to know the exact state of my sister's health; and pray,
if she needs it, that Dr. Watkins may be requested to attend to her, and
to place it on my account. I shall not stay more than a week in Bedford.
Affectionately yours,
Craven Peyton, Esq. TH. JEFFERSON.
OLD LETTER OF COL. JOHN L. PEYTON.
TO HIS UNCLE, MAJ. T. PRESTON LEWIS.
Shirley, near Staunton, Feb'y 28th, 1858.
_Dear Uncle:_
I was much gratified to get your letter, brief as it was, a few days
since, and was surprised to hear that you had been so long and so
seriously indisposed. I hope by this time you have entirely recovered,
and if not, I must renew my suggestion and invitation to you again. My
suggestion that you ought to leave Washington for a time, and my
invitation that you should pass that time in the fresh air and quiet
comforts of my house at Shirley. By coming and staying a month or two
with me you might be permanently improved in health, and it would not,
as you seem to apprehend, increase your expenses, or cut off your salary
in Washington. Gov. Floyd, under the circumstances of the case would not
hesitate to grant you a furlough. The pleasure I would enjoy from your
society would be very great, and my wife asks me to assure you that
nothing would give her more pleasure than to have you come.
The weather here is charming, and spring-like, which is something
unusual at this season, but is what we expected after the vile "spell"
we have had for the past five weeks.
Staunton has been quite up in the books this winter between lectures,
concerts, auctions, exhibitions and other pastimes and amusements.
Among the eminent strangers we have had lecture here, was George D.
Prentice, of the "Louisville Journal." I did not hear his lecture, but
dined with him one day while here at Judge J. H. McCue's, and confess I
was not much impressed which is still further evidence of the soundness
of the opinion I formed when travelling west in 1848, namely: The
farther I went west the more convinced I was that the wise men came from
the East.
Few persons left here for Richmond on the 22nd, and those who did were
so worried by the great crowd that they saw little, and enjoyed what
they saw, less.
Everett's[31] oration surpassed any anticipations I had formed of it,
while Hunter's fell far below the public expectation. What can
compensate a man for falling below the public estimate on such an
occasion! It almost drives a man to believe every effort a mockery--and
that he is apt to reap by his efforts not fame, but despair.
[31] Edward Everett's Oration on Washington.
Crawford's statue of Washington is said to be the finest specimen of
the kind extant, by the side of which that hobby-horse concern, Mill's
Statue of President Jackson, in Washington is a miserable failure. The
"horse" of Crawford is agreed to be above praise, while that of "Mills,"
in front of the President's house is said to be a ewe-necked tacky, a
mealy-mouthed, wall-eyed brute, who looks as if old Jackson, in the
language of a Tennessee poet:
"Had placed on him a bridle and a saddle,
Then on his back had leapt astraddle."
and had been ever since fastened there by iron rods, which are said to
run up the horse's hind legs, keeping him on an equipoise, and forever
facing the White House.
Among those who were attracted to Richmond was Howe, but what, (if any)
impressions were made on his mind, is not known, as he has since
observed a severe silence.
I was not surprised to learn of the rage for fashion and extravagance in
Washington. It is always so with the _parvenues_, whether in Washington
or on 5th Avenue. The "new-rich" have no other way of bringing
themselves into notice and contempt. They constitute a beastly crew, who
change their principles much oftener than their linen. I cordially
participate in your feelings of disgust for such a gang.
Betty joins me in affectionate salutations. Hoping to hear from you
soon, I am dear Uncle, as ever,
Your affectionate nephew,
Thos. P. Lewis, Esq.,} JOHN LEWIS PEYTON.
War Department, }
Washington, D. C. }
LETTER OF COL. JOHN LEWIS PEYTON.
A DISPUTED POEM--PROOF THAT THE EARL OF DERBY DID NOT WRITE THE POEM TO
GENERAL LEE.
Staunton, Va., December 3, 1877.
_To the Baltimore Gazette:_
In your paper of the 30th of November you introduce the following lines,
with the remark, "_On the fly-leaf of the copy of the Iliad given by the
late Earl of Derby to General Robert E Lee were the following verses_:"
The grave old bard, who never dies,
Receive him in our native tongue;
I send thee, but with weeping eyes,
The story that he sung.
_Thy_ Troy has fallen--thy dear land
Is marred beneath the spoiler's heel;
I cannot trust my trembling hand
To write the grief I feel.
Oh, home of tears! But let her bear
This blazon to the end of time;
No nation rose so white and fair,
None fell so pure of crime.
The widow's moan, the orphan's wail,
Are round thee; but in truth be strong;
Eternal right, though all things fail,
Can never be made wrong.
An angel's heart, an angel's mouth,
(_Not Homer's_) could alone for me
Hymn forth the great Confederate South;
Virginia first--then Lee.
Permit me to say that you are in error in attributing these lines to the
late Earl of Derby. Lord Derby was an eminent statesman, as well as
distinguished scholar, and during the whole period of the civil war in
our country was the leader of the opposition, or Tory party in the
British Parliament. Never during this time did he criticise adversely
the policy of Lord Palmerston in refusing recognition to the Confederate
government. So far from it, he distinctly and repeatedly announced his
concurrence in the course of the British cabinet. Had he been at the
head of her majesty's government at that period I am satisfied that he
would have adhered strictly to the policy of Palmerston and Gladstone in
this particular. This was his firm position, though urged to use his
influence to secure Confederate recognition by many influential
gentlemen of the Tory party, among them Sir Seymour Fitzgerald, the
present governor of Bombay; Mr. Beresford Hope, M. P.; Mr. Gregory, M.
P. for Galway, and others not so well known in this country.
Such was Lord Derby's anxiety to relieve the distress arising from the
cotton famine in Lancashire, lest it might lead to popular agitation in
favor of a recognition of the Southern States, that he made a single
subscription to the relief fund of L5,000. Not only in this case, but in
many others throughout the war, he showed himself anything else than
what was styled in those days in England "a friend and sympathizer with
the South."
It is not at all likely, then, that his lordship would, whatever his
admiration of the character and military genius of General Lee, have
addressed him the foregoing lines, nor is it true. The lines were
written by a young and gifted English poet, now no more, _Philip
Stanhope Worsely_. Mr. W. was a scholar of Corpus Christi College,
Oxford, and died about ten years since. He gave the world in 1861 a
translation of the Odyssey in the Gregorian stanza--one of the most
pleasing hitherto produced--and in 1865 published a translation of the
Iliad in the Spenserian stanza. A copy of this latter work he sent to
General Lee, with a little poem of presentation written on the fly-leaf.
It was seen by the General's friends, who requested a transcript of the
verses for publication, but he would never permit them to be printed,
his native modesty shrinking from the warm panegyric they embodied. Now
that both poet and soldier have passed away there is no good reason why
they should be withheld from the public eye, and I must express my
gratification at seeing them in _The Gazette_. At the same time it is
due to the memories of both that the error into which you have
unconsciously fallen should be corrected, and this is the sole motive
with which I have addressed you this brief and hasty note.
J. LEWIS PEYTON.
INDEX.
Abandons the Jackson party, 11
Alexander, Dr., 53
Alexander, John, 130
Account of his visit to Kentucky, 51
African colonization favors, 79
Ablest criminal lawyer in Virginia, 84
Academy, the Staunton, 10
Adams, John Quincy, 11
Adams, Dr., 37
Appendices A, 276
Anecdote of the Fighting Major, 29
Anecdote of Gen. Peyton of Kentucky, 260
Anecdote of J. H. P. in a criminal case, 55
Allen, Judge J. J., 13, 116, 138, 132
Augusta Agricultural Society, 10
"Allen" nominates Mr. P. for Court of Appeals, 118
A bundle of miscellaneous letters, 131
Amherst Festival, J. H. P's letter, 123-5
Anderson, Col. Wm., a letter of, 236
Advice of J. H. P. to S. M. P., 132
A hero of 1776--Col. Hy Peyton, 280
Advice to Col. J. L. P., 139
Appeals, Court of, adopts J. H. P's letter to Tucker, 116
A deplorable accident to J. H. P., 125
Accident to Judge B. G. Baldwin, 101
A captain of light horse, 7
Attorney for the Commonwealth resigns, 158
A complete lawyer, 160
Allison's History of Europe, Mr. P. on, 180
Always helped the young, 179
A master spirit, 181
Barbour, Judge P. P., 9
Baldwin, J. B., 17, 46, 149, 226
Baldwin, Susan M., sketch of, 271
Baldwin, B. G. on J. H. P., 65, 76, 101, 138
Bumgardner, Capt. James' speech, 204, 210
Bowyer, m., 37
Bowyer, Henry, 126
Baxter, John, 49
Baxter, Sidney S., 208
Barton, R. R., 130
Bickle, Adam, 20
Berrian, John M. (Senator), 70
Brockenbrough, Dr. John, 37, 134
Brickley, 37
Brock, R. A., letter of, 238
Bradshaw, 48
Brown, Chancellor John, 45
Breckenridge, Gen. Jas, 92
Benton, Th. H., 104
Bosses, The Ring, Mr. P. on, 76
Burrell, Nat, 126
Boys, Dr. William, 45
Books a boy should read, 45
Cabell, J. C., 109
Cabell, Wm. H., 116
Cabell, Mayo, accident to, 144
Cadets, the Va., at West Point, 143
Campbell, Hugh, 143
Campaign of 1840, 118
Clay, Henry visits Staunton, 113
Charlottesville, J. H. P., speech, 114
Cameron, Col, 48
Carter, Hill, 116
Carter, Robt. W., 160
Conrad, R. Y., 13
Comfort, Professor, 53
Chalkley, Judge L., letter of, 203
Cowan, Joseph, 40, 82
Crutchfield, Mr., 240
Cowan, A. M. D., 14
Clark, Samuel, 82
Crawford, B., 50, 191
Clark, A. B., of N. Y., 107
Cochran, John, his home, 97
Cochren, Geo. M, 204, 191
Couch, Deborah, 144
Captain of Light-horse, 7
Chief of Staff, 27
County Court, on J. H. P's resignation, 159
Daniel, Judge Wm., 13
Daniel, Peter V., 97
Dabney, John, 108
Dade, Judge A. G., 111
Declines a 2nd term in Senate, 127
Dorman, Geo. C. P., 130
Dined and wined, 97
Descendants of Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Peyton, 270
Duncan, Judge E. S., 112
Divers, Mr., 95
Difficulties, how to overcome, 90
Disease leads to his change of home, 23
Democratic party, 11
Davidson, Jas. D., 209, 235
Dupuy, Mrs. L., letter of, 239
Derby, Earl of, 285-86
Empress, Catherine, of Russia, 36
Education, his views on, 10, 11
Eskridge, George, 82
Elder, Maj. T. C. speech accepting J. H. P's portrait, 210
Echols, General letter of, 230
French, Judge S. B., letter of, 235
Fighting Major, 29
Federal Attorney declines, 32
Fultz, David, 59
Green, T. M., 208
Goss, John, 242
Family, every one a history, 88
Frazier, Win., sketch of J. H. P., 109, 168
Farragut, Admiral, 105
Fry, Judge, 107
Faulkner, Chas. J., 160
Garland, Mayor James, 184
Gallagher, M., 54
Gaston, Judge Wm., 70
Gallagher, Miss, 98
Green, Mary, of Kentucky, 98
Girl, defenceless, J. H. P. defends, 112
Gallaher, J. S. on J. H. P's retirement, 128
Griffith, Dr., 126