hich to bring back two bushels of
alum salt, each bushel weighing eighty-four pounds. Each horse carried
two bags on the return journey. This was not such a heavy load for a
horse but one must remember the animal also had to carry its own food.
Somewhere along the narrow trail, some of this grain was hidden until
the return journey. Large pouches or bags were also carried in which
were loaves of home-baked bread or "Journey Cake," a mixture of Indian
meal and water baked on an iron skillet and boiled ham and cheese.

The men traded first in Baltimore, Hagerstown and Cumberland. They also
took along a cow and a calf, which was what they paid for one bushel of
the much needed salt. While the salt was being weighed, no one was
allowed to walk on the floor.

Woodstock

First called Muellerstadt after its founder Jacob Miller, Woodstock was
granted its charter in 1761 by the General Assembly of Virginia. Miller
was farsighted in his plans for the community and provided adequate
building sites for homes and businesses.

The historian Kercheval tells an interesting account of the appearance
of Indians around Woodstock:

"In 1766, the Indians made a visit to the neighborhood of
Woodstock. Two men by the name of Sheetz and Taylor had taken
their wives and children into a wagon, and were on their way to
the fort. At the narrow passage, three miles south of
Woodstock, five Indians attacked them. The two men were killed
at the first onset, and the Indians rushed to seize the women
and children. The women, instead of swooning at the sight of
their bleeding, expiring husbands, seized their axes, and with
Amazonian firmness, and strength almost superhuman, defended
themselves and children. One of the Indians had succeeded in
getting hold of one of Mrs. Sheetz's children, and attempting
to drag it out of the wagon; but with the quickness of
lightning she caught her child in one hand, and with the other
made a blow at the head of the fellow which caused him to quit
his hold to save his life. Several of the Indians received
pretty sore wounds in this desperate conflict, and all at last
ran off, leaving the two women with their children to pursue
their way to the fort."

When Lord Dunmore came to govern the colony of Virginia in 1772 the
citizens passed a resolution endorsing his administration. They
requested that a new county be for