616 WILKINSON COUNTY. 



Mineral Spring. — There is on the Central RaUroad, four 

 miles below McDonald, a spring strongly impregnated with 

 sulphur. It has been named Cameron's spring, in honour of 

 Mr. Cameron, a gentleman who has been a conductor upon the 

 Central Railroad for ten years, and who has recently retired 

 with a reputation for politeness and attention to his duties, un- 

 surpassed by any railroad officer in the United States. 



Character of the People. — As far as industry and hos- 

 pitality are concerned, the people of this county acknowledge 

 no superior. The amusements are hunting, fishing, dancing, 

 and horse-racing. 



Name. — This county was named after Brigadier General 

 Wilkinson, who, in 1816, published a work in three large vo- 

 lumes, entitled " Memoirs of my own Times." It contains 

 many historical incidents of an interesting nature, but entirely 

 too cumbrous for general readers. As a book of reference it 

 is valuable, and we feel much indebted to it for the informa- 

 tion which it gives in regard to the services of this useful and 

 active officer. General James Wilkinson was born in Calvert 

 county, in the State of Maryland. At the age of seventeen 

 years he was sent by his mother to the Medical School at Phi- 

 ladelphia. Soon after his arrival he visited the barracks, where 

 a regiment of soldiers was stationed, and witnessed their pa- 

 rade, which pleased him so much, that from that day his incli- 

 nations took a military turn. He remained in Philadelphia two 

 years, and retired to Maryland and commenced the practice 

 of medicine, and joined a company commanded by a Quaker ; 

 and such was his fondness for military tactics, that notwith- 

 standing his residence was 30 miles from the place of rendez- 

 vous, he was always punctual at parade. Hearing of the bat- 

 tle at Breed's Hill, he abandoned his profession, repaired to the 

 camp before Boston, and joined a rifle corps under the com- 

 mand of Colonel WiUiam Thompson. In March, 1776, Wash- 

 ington gave him a commission as captain in the regiment com- 

 manded by Colonel James Read, of Philadelphia, and which 

 was under marching orders for Canada. In the course of 

 three or four years he was gradually promoted ; and in Octo- 

 ber, 1777, he was honoured with the brevet of Brigadier Gene- 

 ral, which however he resigned ; and shortly afterwards re- 



