Several months ago I offered to copy for interested researchers James W. Hagy's thesis on the frontier settlement of Castle's Woods, Virginia. I had searched for many long years before finding an actual copy of this work at a rare book dealer in North Carolina. This thesis was presented to the Faculty of the Department of History, East Tennessee State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts, 1966. The original thesis contained no copyright provision as did the 1979 Russell County Historical Society printing which contained landowner maps and local Russell county info. that did not appear in the 1966 version. This one unfortunately can not be copied. I thought I was done with this project but recently have received a number of additional requests for this material so I have decided to make ONE more printing and then retire from the copying business. For all of those folks who for one reason or another failed to secure a copy of this work, this is the last chance. "This thesis is a narrative account of the frontier settlement of Castle's Woods. The community is an interesting case study of the ideas of Frederick Jackson Turner regarding the frontier. Castle's Woods in many ways fits the pattern of the typical frontier community. Apparently first settled by a long hunter, Castle's Woods, like a magnet, drew westward the classic frontier types, hunters, farmers, speculators, surveyors, artisans, and preachers. Even some aristocrates settled there. The usual frontier customs and activities were observed in the community. These included a considerable amount of lawlessness. The greatest problem for the settlers in Castle's Woods was the Indians who were a menace from the time of the first settlement until nearly the end of the eighteenth century. After the Indian problem had been eliminated, the frontier stage quickly passed away...... A large amount of primary materials were used in this study. The most important sources were county records, state archives, national archives, and the Draper Manuscripts." The importance of Castle's Woods is twofold. First, it had its day of importa nce as a stepping stone to the West. Secondly, it is important as a case study of the American frontier. It was the first permanent settlement in Russell County, Virginia, founded in 1769 and located on the Clinch River. Many of the early southwest Virginia families are discussed in detail including Russell, Walker, Cowan, Porter, Moore, Campbell, Stuart, Houston, Montgomery, Snoddy, Thompson, Robinson and many, many more. Detailed accounts of many of the Indian battles are described in great detail and this research material makes interesting reading. If anyone would like information on how to acquire a copy of this 140 page thesis please contact me privately at cscunc@aol.com. Regards, Robert Cowan 525 Harrogate Rd. Matthews, North Carolina 28105