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the imaginative and the active； was just the man； the time being ripe； to
encounter and surmount that wall。 Fortunately； too； the Virginians were
horsemen； man and horse one piece almost； New World centaurs。 They would
follow the bridle…tracks that pierced to the hilly country； and beyond that
they might yet make way through the primeval forest。 They would encounter
dangers； but hardly the old perils of seacoast and foothills。 Different；
indeed； is this adventure of the Governor of Virginia and his chosen band
from the old push afoot into frowning hostile woods by the men of a hundred
and odd years before！
Spotswood rode westward with a company drawn largely from the colonial
gentry； men young in body or in spirit； gay and adventurous。 The whole
expedition was conceived and executed in a key both humorous and knightly。
These 〃Knights〃* set face toward the mountains in August； 1716。 They had
guides who knew the upcountry； a certain number of rangers used to Indian
ways； and servants with food and much wine in their charge。 So out of
settled Virginia they rode； and up the long； gradual lift of earth above
sea…level into a mountainous wilderness； where before them the Aryan had
not come。 By day they traveled； and bivouacked at night。
* On the sandy roads of settled Virginia horses went unshod； but for the
stony hills and the ultimate cliffs they must have iron shoes。 After the
adventure and when the party had returned to civilization； the Governor；
bethinking himself that there should be some token and memento of the
exploit； had made in London a number of small golden horseshoes； set as pins
to be worn in the lace cravats of the period。 Each adventurer to the mountains
received one； and the band has kept； in Virginian lore； the title of the
Knights of the Golden Horseshoe。
Higher and more rugged grew the mountains。 Some trick of the light made
them show blue； so that they presently came to be called the Blue Ridge； in
contradistinction to the westward lying； gray Alleghanies。 They were like
very long ocean combers； with at intervals an abrupt break； a gap；
cliff…guarded； boulder…strewn； with a narrow rushing stream making way
between hemlocks and pines； sycamore； ash and beech； walnut and linden。
Towards these blue mountains Spotswood and his knights rode day after day
and came at last to the foot of the steep slope。 The long ridges were high；
but not so high but that horse and man might make shift to scramble to the
crest。 Up they climbed and from the heights they looked across and down
into the Valley of Virginia； twenty miles wide； a hundred and twenty longa
fertile garden spot。 Across the shimmering distances they saw the gray
Alleghanies； fresh barrier to a fresh west。 Below them ran a clear river；
afterwards to be called the Shenandoah。 They gazedthey predicted
colonists； future plantations； future towns； for that great valley； large
indeed as are some Old World kingdoms。 They drank the health of England's
King； and named two outstanding peaks Mount George and Mount Alexander；
then； because their senses were ravished by the Eden before them； they
dubbed the river Euphrates。 They plunged and scrambled down the mountain
side to the Euphrates； drank of it； bathed in it； rested； ate； and drank
again。 The deep green woods were around them； above them they could see the
hawk； the eagle； and the buzzard； and at their feet the bright fish of the
river。
At last they reclimbed the Blue Ridge； descended its eastern face； and；
leaving the great wave of it behind them； rode homeward to Williamsburg in
triumph。
We are thus； with Spotswood and his band； on the threshold of expanding
American vistas。 This Valley of Virginia； first a distant Beulah land for
the eye of the imagination only； presently became a land of pioneer cabins；
far apartvery far apartthen a settled land； of farms； hamlets； and
market towns。 Nor did the folk come only from that elder Virginia of tidal
waters and much tobacco； of 〃compleat gentlemen〃 at the capital； and of
many slaves in the fields。 But downward from the Potomac； they came south
into this valley； from Pennsylvania and Maryland； many of them Ulster Scots
who had sailed to the western world。 In America they are called the
ScotchIrish； and in the main they brought stout hearts； long arms； and
level heads。 With these they brought in as luggage the dogmas of Calvin。
They permeated the Valley of Virginia； many moved on south into Carolina；
finally； in large part； they made Kentucky and Tennessee。 Germans； too；
came into the valley…down from Pennsylvaniaquiet； thrifty folk； driven
thus far westward from a war…ravished Rhine。
Shrewd practicality trod hard upon the heels of romantic fancy in the mind
of Spotswood。 His Order of the Knights of the Horseshoe had a fleeting
existence； but the Vision of the West lived on。 Frontier folk in growing
numbers were encouraged to make their way from tidewater to the foot of the
Blue Ridge。 Spotsylvania and King George were names given to new counties
in the Piedmont in honor of the Governor and the sovereign。 German
craftsmen； who had been sent over by Queen Annevine…dressers and
ironworkerswere settled on Spotswood's own estate above the falls of the
Rapidan。 The little town of Germanna sprang up； famous for its smelting
furnaces。
To his country seat in Spotsylvania； Alexander Spotswood retired when he
laid down the office of Governor in 1722。 But his talents were too valuable
to be allowed to rust in inactivity。 He was appointed deputy
Postmaster…General for the English colonies； and in the course of his
administration made one Benjamin Franklin Postmaster for Philadelphia。 He
was on the point of sailing with Admiral Vernon on the expedition against
Cartagena in 1740； when he was suddenly stricken and died。 He was buried at
Temple Farm by Yorktown。 On the expedition to Cartagena went one Lawrence
Washington； who named his countryseat after the Admiral and whose brother
George many years later was to receive the surrender of Cornwallis and his
army hard by the resting…place of Alexander Spotswood。 Colonial Virginia
lies behind us。 The era of revolution and statehood beckons us on。
CHAPTER XVI。 GEORGIA
Below Charleston in South Carolina； below Cape Fear； below Port Royal； a
great river called the Savannah poured into the sea。 Below the Savannah；
past the Ogeechee； sailing south between the sandy islands and the main；
ships came to the mouth of the river Altamaha。 Thus far was Carolina。 But
below Altamaha the coast and the country inland became debatable； probably
Florida and Spanish； liable at any rate to be claimed as such； and
certainly open to attack from Spanish St。 Augustine。
Here lay a stretch of seacoast and country within hailing distance of
semi…tropical lands。 It was low and sandy； with innumerable slow…flowing
watercourses； creeks； and inlets from the sea。 The back country； running up
to hills and even mountains stuffed with ores； was not knownthough indeed
Spanish adventurers had wandered there and mined for gold。 But the lowlands
were warm and dense with trees and wild life。 The Huguenot Ribault； making
report of this region years and ye