The Fort alluded to, by Mr. Alder, was probably "Fort Chiswell" which had been built during Braddocks wars an was about nine miles east of the present site of Wytheville, on the great road leading from Harper's Ferry, to Knoxville, Tenn., and was occupied by the English troops during the border wars, under Lord Dunmore. The lead mines of Wythe are opposite the mouth of Cripple Creek, and were worked by Col. Chiswell, an English officer, prior to 1774. The home of Bartholomew Alder was not a great distance from the mines, and his children often visited them out of curiosity. The country is mountainous, and the valley lying between Wa1ker's and the Iron Mountain, is over 2,000 feet above the level of the sea. The principal stream is New River and it's branches.
