The Shadow
COVINGTON, Va. (VR) – America was made in Virginia. This campaign puts emphasis on Virginia’s role in the nation’s 250-year history and now we celebrate the semi quincentennial. Virginia was also a prominent part of the Revolutionary War. The Alleghany Highlands VA250 committee wants to take the opportunity this year to honor as many of these soldiers as we can. We will also honor the Virginia signers of the Declaration of Independence.
On April 1, 2026, the Alleghany Highlands VA250 committee revealed the first in a series of Wall of Valor at the Covington post office during 2026. At least 16 Revolutionary War veterans are known to be buried in Alleghany County, although many of their graves are unmarked. There are others whose locations are lost completely. Over 40 patriots with known service have ties to Alleghany County.
Thank you to the Alleghany Highlands Genealogical Society and Phil Amick for all the hard work that went into this wall.
Itis an honor to be a part of this special VA250 Wall of Valor. It is our goal to recognize as many patriots as we can and touch the lives of their ancestors. The Wall of Valor will change during the year to show more patriots and Declaration of Independence signers.
Follow along with us this year as we pay tribute to those men and women who paved the way for America and the freedoms we still enjoy today. As part of this project, we want to reach out to local citizens to send us the names of any ancestors you would like to see honored. You can call Marian Paxton at 843-653-6098 or email at marianpaxton@gmail.com.
The VA250 commission in the Alleghany Highlands will have a presence at many upcoming events in Covington and Clifton Forge. Come join us and celebrate this great nation.
VA250 WALL OF VALOR – APRIL 1 SOLDIERS ON WALL
Pvt. William Smith – 1755-1835 Virginia Militia
Buried at Smith Cemetery (no marker)
There are believed to be two different William Smiths buried at the Smith Family Cemetery.
Pvt. William Humphrey – 1748-1827 Virginia Militia
Buried in a lone grave in southwestern Alleghany
County (no marker)
Served in Captain Tate’s Company of the Augusta Militia
William Smith, Spy – 1740-1836 Continental Line
Buried at Smith Cemetery
1774 spy and scout, entered service under Captain Matthew Arbuckle, acting under orders of Colonel Andrew Lewis around Greenbrier Co., Alleghany Mountains and Ohio. Subsequent tours of duty as spy under Colonel William Fleming.
In April 1775 Smith was sent to act as Indian spy between Gauley and New Rivers until November. In 1776 he was acting as a scout in the New River Valley for the militia. Smith was also involved in carrying lead from Chissels Mines to Captain Stewart at Fort Spring in Greenbrier. He was a part of a group who traveled independently looking and listening for groups of Indians.
In 1777 Smith was with Colonel Skillern to Point Pleasant, arriving just before Chief Cornstalk was murdered. His tour of duty was about three months.
Cpl. Jacob Persinger – 1749-1840 Virginia Militia
Buried at Persinger Memorial Cemetery
Cpl. Persinger enlisted in 1774 serving as a corporal under Captain Matthew Arbuckle, First Lt. Andrew Wallace, Second Lt. Wood, Third Lt. John Galloway, Ensign Samuel Walker, Major Nevis commanding the **regiment. (Phil – don’t understand this part with all the names)**
Persinger marched from Muddy Creek, Greenbrier to Pittsburgh, and then to Point Pleasant where he was discharged.
The Persinger family operated a powder mill for the Revolutionary munition supply.
John Richardson Sr. – 1751-1837 Virginia Militia
Buried at Falling Springs Presbyterian Church (no marker)
Richardson is believed initially to have served in the Continental Line in Pennsylvania. He then moved to Shenandoah County, Virginia and took the oath of Captain there on 28 February 1982 for the Shenandoah Militia.
Major Henry Walker – 1760-1803 Continental Line
Buried at the Walker Family Cemetery in Potts Creek (no marker)
Major Henry Walker served with the 6th and 10th Continental line from December 1776 in George Washington’s regular army. He was with Washington at Valley Forge winter encampment 1777-1778. He is believed to have been discharged in 1779.
Charles King – 1750-1836 Virginia Militia
Buried in the King-Stull Family Cemetery in Rich Patch (no marker)
In Charles King volunteered for three months to fight Indians under George Givens and Captain George Frazier. They marched from Botetourt County to Greenbrier County where they assisted in building Savannah Fort in Lewisburg and was released.
In 1775 King was drafted into Captain George Frazier’s Company and stationed at the fort on Muddy Creek, again returning home after three months.
In 1776 he volunteered into the Company of Captain James Hall of Rockbridge, under command of Colonel George Skillern and served four months.
In the summer of 1777, King was again drafted to fight Tories on the New River under Captain Joseph Mills, serving two months.
In August 1781, he was again drafted into a company commanded by Captain John Galloway and Colonel Samuel Lewis. Joining the Continental Army, he was at the Battle of Yorktown in 1781.
Pvt. John Kincaid – 1758-1835 Virginia Militia
Buried at Falling Springs Presbyterian Church Cemetery
In 1778 Pvt. Kincaid was drafted to serve six months in the militia against Indians under Captain Alexander Handley of Botetourt County, only got to Lewisburg for two months.
In 1781 Kinkaid volunteered in Captain John Bollar’s company (under Colonel Thomas Preston and Major Thomas Rowland, joining General Nathaniel Green). He was in engagements at the Battle of Alamance and Skirmish at Wetzel’s Mill and then returned home.
In 1781 Pvt. Kincaid was drafted for three months into Captain Joseph Looney’s company of Botetourt. He marched to James River, Petersburg, Richmond, and Williamsburg. He was involved in several skirmishes.
Pvt. James Brown – Unk-1801 Virginia Militia
Buried at the Brown Family Cemetery in Moss Run (no marker)
**Pvt. Brown served in Captain Young’s company of the Augusta Militia from 1778 to ?
