The Dismal Swamp and Lake Drummond, Early recollections

The Dismal Swamp and Lake
Drummond, Early
by Robert
Arnold

The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Dismal Swamp and Lake
Drummond, Early
recollections, by Robert Arnold This eBook is for the use of anyone
anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You
may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project
Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at
www.gutenberg.org
Title: The Dismal Swamp and Lake Drummond, Early recollections
Vivid portrayal of Amusing Scenes
Author: Robert Arnold
Release Date: December 26, 2006 [EBook #20186]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE
DISMAL SWAMP ***

Produced by Bryan Ness, Diane Monico, and the Online Distributed
Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net. (This file was produced

from images generously made available by the Library of Congress.)

THE
DISMAL SWAMP
AND
LAKE DRUMMOND.
EARLY RECOLLECTIONS.
VIVID PORTRAYAL OF AMUSING SCENES.
BY
ROBT. ARNOLD.
SUFFOLK, VA.
NORFOLK, VA. GREEN, BURKE & GREGORY, PRINTERS. 1888.

Entered according to act of Congress in the year 1888, by R. Arnold, in
the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington.

INTRODUCTION
This little volume is launched upon the sea of public favor. If it should
stem the tide of criticism and reach a haven, my object in the writing of
it will be accomplished. Being partially blind and physically unable to
labor, I have adopted this as a means by which I might gain an honest
assistance, a double object presented itself:
1st. That I might give to its readers some idea of the Dismal Swamp
and Lake Drummond as they were and as they now are.

2d. That I may from the sale of my book receive an amount that will
place me beyond penury. The work will contain some interesting
incidents, and in many instances will give the real names of persons
now living who will be acquainted with the subject of which I write.
Having said this much introductory of my book, I will now proceed
with my task.
When I determined to indite the lines which compose this volume, I
had, as has been stated, a double purpose in view. I thought I could not
employ a portion of my leisure hours more profitably, certainly not
more pleasantly, than by recounting some of the scenes, incidents and
associations which carries my mind back to the days of "Auld Lang
Syne." What more natural, then, than that my thoughts should revert to
the friend of my early manhood--one who, by the uprightness of his
character, geniality of his disposition, the chivalric impulses of his
nature, deserves, as it is my greatest pleasure to accord, the dedication
of this little volume; and I have said all when I mention the name of my
esteemed friend Robert Riddick, Esq., of Suffolk, Va.
Suffolk, Va., January 1, 1888. THE AUTHOR.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I. DESCRIPTION AND SITUATION OF THE
SWAMP--WASHINGTON THE OWNER. 5
II. TO GROW UP AGAIN IN A JUNGLE. 8
III. HEALTHFULNESS AT THE SWAMP. 10
IV. ORIGIN OF THE LAKE DISCUSSED. 16
V. THE VISIT OF TOM. MOORE, AS RELATED BY TONY. 20
VI. PORTE CRAYON'S VISIT, INCIDENTS, ETC. 22

VII. MANY CHANGES HAVE TAKEN PLACE. 30
VIII. THE FUTURE FOR THE DISMAL SWAMP. 35
IX. SUFFOLK AND EARLY DAYS. 45
X. ENTERPRISE AND PROSPERITY. 50
XI. THE OLD BRICK CHURCH AT BENN'S--SUFFOLK'S FIRST
RAILROAD, ETC. 52
XII. BEAR HUNTING IN THE DISMAL SWAMP--COLONEL
GODFREY'S VISIT TO SOUTHAMPTON. 56
XIII. THE ADVENTURES OF SMITH, JONES AND
BROWN--JONES, HEARING THAT A SNAKE IS IN THE BOAT,
JUMPS INTO THE CANAL. 76
CHAPTER I.
DESCRIPTION AND SITUATION OF THE
SWAMP--WASHINGTON THE OWNER.
The Dismal Swamp, of which but little is known, is a large body of
dense woods, being situated and laying in Nansemond county, Virginia,
and the county of Gates, in North Carolina. It contains, by survey,
about 100,000 acres. I have been told by H. E. Smith, Esq., our county
treasurer, that 45,000 acres were listed in the county of Nansemond. It
is thickly set with juniper, cypress and other timber, which makes it
very valuable. It came into the possession of General George
Washington, and after the Revolutionary War a company known as the
Dismal Swamp Land Company was formed, and arrangements made to
manufacture the timber; hands were put in the Swamp and it was
regularly opened. A large quantity of timber was manufactured, and
Washington found it necessary to find some outlet for it, which could
only be done by a canal or ditch. A suitable place was soon found, and
Washington commenced in person to survey the route known as the
Washington Ditch. He commenced at the northwest of the Lake, on

lands known as "Soldiers' Hope," belonging to the estate of