Bath County Virginia USGenWeb Archives History - Books .....Bath County History 1845
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Alice Warner Brosey EmbryProject@gmail.com August 29, 2009, 9:05 pm

Book Title: Historical Collections Of Virginia By Henry Howe, 1845

Bath was formed in 1791, from Augusta, Bottetourt, and Greenbriar. It is about
35 miles long and 25 broad. It is watered by the head-branches of the James, Cow
Pasture, and Jackson Rivers. Some of the valley lands are very fertile, but the
greatest proportion of the county is uncultivated, and covered with mountains.
Pop. 1830, 4,008; 1840, whites 3,170, slaves 347, free colored 83; total 4,300. 

Warm Springs, the county-seat, is 164 miles W. of Richmond, and 40 miles N. E.
of the White Sulphur Springs of Greenbriar. Besides the county buildings, and
the elegant hotels for the accomodation of visiters at the springs, there are
but a few dwellings. The situation of the place is delightful, in a narrow and
fertile valley, between two high mountains, and offers numerous attractions to
its many visiters. 

The tradition respecting the discovery of the springs is, that a party of
Indians hunting, spent a night in the valley. One of their number discovering
the spring, bathed in it, and being much fatigued, he was induced, by the
delicious sensation and warmth imparted by it, to remain all night. The next
morning he was enabled to scale the mountain before his companions. As the
country became settled, the fame of the waters gradually extended: and at first,
visiters from the low country dwelt here in rude huts. For a long time, both
this and the Hot Spring were only surrounded by brush, and open at top. 

The subjoined analysis of these waters was made by Prof. Rogers:
"The bath is an octagon, 38 feet in diameter, and 16 feet 9 inches inside-- its
area is 1163.77 feet. The ordinary depth of water being 5 feet, the cubic
capacity is 5818.86 feet, or 43533.32 gallons. Notwithstanding the /leaks/, this
quantity of water will flow into the reservoir in one hour. The average
/temperature/ of the bath is 98 deg. Fahrenheit. The gas which rises in the bath
consists of /nitrogen/ with minute quantities of /sulphuretted hydrogen/ and
/carbonic acid/. 

"Besides this gas, each gallon of water contains 4.5 cubic inches of gas,
consisting of nitrogen, 3.25 cubic inches; sulphuretted hydrogen, 0.25 do;
carbonic acid, 1.00 do.

"The saline contents of one gallon of the water are as follows: muriate of lime,
3.968; sulphate of magnesia, 9.984; carbonate of lime, 4.288; sulphate of lime,
5.466; a trace of soda, no doubt, in the state of muriate.

"While the Warm Springs afford the most luxurious bath in the world, they
contain neutral salts and various gases, which act as a gentle aperient,
diuretic, and sudorific, and give tone and vigor to the human system. It is well
ascertained in other countries, that waters of a high temperature tend more to
strengthen the digestive organs than those of a low temperature; but it is
found, by actual experiment, that the water at the Warm Springs retains a
considerable portion of its useful qualities when bottled in the spring, and
then cooled by immersing the bottles in cold water, or even ice; and this plan
is adopted by many of those who have a repugnance to the use of warm water."

The approach to the Warm Springs from the east, is over the mountain of the same
name. The road which leads across it is five miles, four-fifths of which is on
the east side of the ridge, where to the traveller a succession of deep
precipices and glens present themselves, environed with gloomy woods and obscure
bottoms. From the summit of the mountain at the Warm Spring Rock, which is much
visited, there is a sublime view of parallel ridges of mountains, extending for
40 or 50 miles, one behind the other, as far as the eye can reach, "like a dark
blue sea of giant billows, instantly stricken solid by nature's magic wand."
Some 70 years since, the principal route of emigration was across this mountain,
at which time there was no wagon road over it. The emigrants came in wagons to
"the camping-ground," a level spot near what is now Brinckley's tavern, at the
eastern base of the mountain. From thence they transported their baggage to the
west on pack horses while their wagons returned east loaded with venison, hams, &C.

One mile west of the little village of Milboro' Spring, and 12 miles east of the
Warm Springs, on the road between the two places, in a high ledge on the bank of
the Cow-Pasture River, is the celebrated "blowing-cave" described in Jefferson's
Notes. The mouth of the cave is 20 or 30 feet above the road, in a shape
semi-circular, and in height about 4 feet. It has been explored for a
considerable distance. It is said that a small dog who entered found hi way out
through some unknown passage. When the internal and external atmosphere are the
same, there is no perceptible current issuing from it. In intense hot weather,
the air comes out with so much force a to prostrate the weeds at the entrance.
In a warm day in June, in 1843, as Dr. John Brockenbrough, the principal
proprietor of the Warm Springs was passing in his carriage, he sent a little
child to the mouth of the cave, who let go before it a handkerchief, which was
blown by the current over the horses' heads in the road, a distance of 30 or 40
feet. In intense cold weather, the air draws in. There is a /flowing and ebbing
spring/ on the same stream with the blowing-cave, which supplies water-power for
a grist mill, a distillery, and a tan-yard. It flows irregularly. When it
commences, the water bursts out in a body as if let loose from a dam.

Gen. Samuel Blackburn, who resided in this county, was born about the year 1758.
He was one of the most successful orators and criminal lawyers of his time in
Virginia. He was the father of the anti-duelling law of the state, which we
believe was the first passed in the country after the war of the revolution.
Among other penalties it prohibited any one who had been engaged in a duel from
holding offices of trust in the gift of the state. Some years after, a gentleman
who had challenged another was elected to the legislature. When he came forward
to take the customary oath, his violation of the law was urged against him.
Some, however, contended that the circumstances of the case were so aggravating
that its provisions ought to be disregarded, and fears were entertained that
this sentiment might prevail. Then it was that Gen. Blackburn, who was a member,
came forward with a speech of great power in opposition. The result was the
triumph of the law in the rejection of the member. Gen. B. died in 1835, aged
about 77. He was a man of much benevolence. At his death, he by will manumitted
all his slaves, and provided for their transportation to Liberia. 

The /Hot Springs/ are 5 miles from the Warm, in the same beautiful valley with
the latter. These springs stand high in public favor. There are several baths
here, called the Hot Spouts. Their highest temperature is 106 degrees. 

"The beneficial effects of hot spouts, topically applied, are so miraculous, in
many painful and obstinate complaints, that words cannot adequately describe
them; therefore the prisoners of pain are strongly recommended to expose their
rheumatic joints, gouty toes, and enlarged livers, to the comfortable
outpourings of these healing steams. The water of the Hot Springs contains
nitrogen and carbonic acid, carbonate of lime, sulphate of lime, sulphate of
soda, sulphate of magnesia, muriate of soda, silica, and a trace of oxide of
iron. It may be taken internally with much advantage, particularly as a sure and
gentle diuretic. 

"The effect of this bath on rheumatic and gouty affections, and on old
deep-seated and chronic complaints, that medicine does not seem to reach, is
very beneficial. It restores the surface to a good condition, and promotes the
healthy action of the skim and every person who drinks the water of the various
sulphur springs, should afterwards stop here two or three weeks, and try the
virtue of the boiler. There are, near the hotel, a hot and cold spring issuing
so near each other, that you can dip the thumb and forefinger of the same hand
into hot and cold water at the same time. 

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