Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) today issued the following statement in honor of the Battle of Point Pleasant, which took place on October 10, 1774:
“240 years ago today, western Virginia frontiersmen under the command of Colonel Andrew Lewis met an army led by Chief Cornstalk, a Shawnee chief, at the juncture of the Kanawha and Ohio Rivers known as Point Pleasant. This was then located in the colony of Virginia, but today is in West Virginia.”
“This battle marked a turning point in North American history. While I could spend hours discussing what lead up to the battle and its aftermath, I won’t do so at this time. I recommend you research this important date for yourself.”
“However, it is important to note that this battle is credited as being the first battle of the American Revolution by the Senate of the United States. The defeat of Chief Cornstalk’s army meant that settlers could pour across the ridge of the Appalachians and settle in the Kentucky territory of Virginia and in parts of Tennessee. The settlers were led in large part by Daniel Boone who, although not present at the time of the battle, was a part of Colonel Lewis’ army and was in charge of Lewis’ army’s supplies. Because of the large number of settlers who crossed the mountains after 1774, when peace was reached with George III of England, the British crown had to cede to the new country of the United States of America lands to the Mississippi, and not just to the ridge of the Appalachians.”
“Rarely studied, but extremely important in the development of this great country was this battle fought by the western Virginians.”
