USA > Washington DC > Washington DC > A new and comprehensive gazetteer of Virginia, and the District of Columbia > Part 21
USA > Virginia > A new and comprehensive gazetteer of Virginia, and the District of Columbia > Part 21
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Chesapeake bay. If such an attempt were made, the first calm would put the most powerful fleet of an enemy completely at the mercy of a few steam frigates or steam batteries, which, by means of their self-moving power, would be enabled to take such posi- tion as suited them, and to set fire to the ships of the enemy with hot shot, or cut them off in detail. The shel- trance of the Roads-and the castle ter of these forts, too, would enable a of the Rip Raps is directly opposite few ships, lying in security under their guns, to sally out and take advantage of any storm which might separate a blockading force, exposed to the acci- dents of an open sea. the point, at the distance of about 1900 yards. The two forts will complete- ly command the channel, and it will be impossible for a single ship of war to pass without the permission of the These circumstances give great im- portance to the works which are to form the gates at Hampton Roads- and, as a consequence, in a great de- gree to the whole Chesapeake bay. Fort Monroe is already finished, and power holding the fortresses. They are so constructed as to present im- mense batteries of cannon upon an approaching ship, from the moment she comes in reach, from the Capes, and throughout all the bendings of is at this moment in admirable condi- the channel it must still be under the tion, if its armaments were completed. power of the cannon: for the forts present a new aspect at every turn, and in all probability the interdicted ship would be a wreck, or a confla- gration, from the hot shot thrown into her, before she completed half the cir- cuit of the channel.
The Rip Raps structure, is a mon- ument, worthy of the people who have lavished their means in its erection, and of the genius of the engineers by whom it was planned. The area of the structure, as originally staked off includes five acres; a great part of
There is much salutary experience, which was 22 feet below the surface.
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EASTERN VIRGINIA-ELIZABETH CITY.
of the sea, and that nearest the surface; and Major McRee, the commissioners 18 feet. To get a foundation above ' water for the Fort or Castle, an Island has been raised, by throwing rocks into the water, until, by gradual ac- cumulation, it has emerged above the tides. The rock of which this Island is formed, has been brought from great distances, and at a vast expense.
After a foundation was obtained for the Castle above high water, the build- ing of the Castle was begun, and car- ried up so as to form the first embra- sures. It was found that the settling of the artificial mound of stone crack- ed the walls. The building was, therefore, discontinued; but immense masses of granite have since been It is a circumstance worth notice, that the material for the structure of the Castle of the Rip Raps is drawn from most of the commercial states of the Union. In walking over the piles brought and lodged upon the lines of the work, that the weight of the ma- terial, might be employed in consoli- dating its foundations. For some years this marine pyramid sunk be-) you behold the dark grey granite of tween six and eight inches; during the last year but one, although press- ed with the weight of all the material gathered for the superstructure, it set- tled about three inches.
The present aspect of the place is rough and savage, and when the surge rushes in among the hollow piles of granite, and the wind whistles among the naked spars, which are planted round the walls for the support of the scaffolding, the music of the surround- ing elements of sea and air, is quite in keeping with the dreary, desolate spot, which, at a distance, looks like a Gibralter, beaten down by cannon- ade, and fallen prostrate in the sea.
Nothing could add more to the grandeur, of what has been justly called the American Mediterranean, than the elevation of the Castle at Rip Raps-the rising of this giant of the flood, from the waves, as contem- plated by Commodore Warrenton, Commodore Elliot, General Armis- tead, General Bernard, General Swift
and engineers, in whose design the work originated. The ancients tell us that Venus rose from the sea, but it would seem a much fitter element, to give birth to the god of war; and never was there a nobler scene, or nobler temple, than that appropriated for his cradle, by the American peo- ple at the Rip Raps. He will appear here, not like the goddess of love, borne in a shell upon a summer's sea, but upon a tower of strength amidst the noise of restless surges,-a fit emblem of the American people, whose martial strength belongs alike to the' land and to the ocean.
Maine-the whitish blueand the black speckled granite of Connecticut-the red free stone of the same state-tlie pied granite of the Susquehannah- the deep blue of the Little Falls of Potomac-and the ash colored of the James river.
In this edifice, which is to form 'a strong liold in a central position-de- fend our great naval depot, and to pro- tect our naval power over the ocean; and especially to afford a place of re- fuge to the commerce of the nation, cach commercial state may point to a portion of the blended strength which it has contributed to the common structure. The castle, at the Rip Raps, should then be called, as well from its use, as from its origin, the Castle of the FEDERAL UNION-and when attacked by foreign or domestic assailants, it should run up with the ensign of "the Federal Union," the watch word " it must be preserv- cd."
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EASTERN VIRGINIA-ESSEX.
ESSEX.
ESSEX was created by the Legislature in 1692, from a part of (Old) Rappahannock Co. It is bounded E. by the Rappahannock river, which separates it from Richmond,-S. E. by Middlesex,-S. and S. W. by King and Queen,-W. and N. W. by Caroline,-and N. by the Rappahannock, which divides it from King George and Westmoreland. Length 28 miles, mean breadth 10, and area 280 sq. miles. Lat. 38° intersects the meridian of Washington, about one-third of the length of the county from its northern extremity. Surface in the western part moderately hilly, and soil general- ly sandy and barren except on the rivers and creeks. Population 1820, 9,999-1830, 10,531. Essex belongs to the fourth judicial circuit, and · second district. Taxes paid in 1833, $2452 26-in 1834 on lots, $55 10 -land, $1124 96-3235 slaves, $808 75-1476 horses, $83 56-studs, $118 00-38 coaches $101 75-1 stage $3-21 caryalls, $24 10-178 gigs, $99 15. Total $2996 18. Expended in education of poor children in 1834, $183 72-in 1833, $300 74.
TOWNS, VILLAGES, POST OFFICES, &c.
BOWERS, P. O. 62 ms. N. E. by |N. E. of R. and 109 S. E. of W. E. of R. and 121 from W. in the lat. 37º 58' N .; long 11º 10' E. W. southeastern part of the couuty.
C. The situation is low and flat, but DUNNSVILLE, P. O. 56 ms. S. E. as there is not much marsh land in the neighborhood, it is not very sick-
from R. and 115 from W.
. LORETTO, P. V. 69 ms. N. E. from ly. It was formerly a place of con- R. and 92 from W. situated on the siderable trade, as large vessels can mail route from Tappahannocktó Fre- ascend some distance above it, but dericksburg, about 40 miles from the like most of the villages on tide wa- Jatter and 20 from the former; and a ter in Virginia it is not increasing, mile from the Rappahannock river. because the business formerly trans- It contains 20 dwelling houses, lacted by them directly with foreign Episcopal church, 2 mercantile stores, countries, is now transacted through a tavern, shoemaker, blacksmith, tai- the medium of the cities. It is about lor, bricklayer, painter, and several 50 miles from the open Chesapeake hourse carpenters. Population 50 bay. It contains 29 dwelling houses, persons, of whom one is a physician. 4 mercantile stores, 2 druggists, one LLOYDS, P. O. 62 ms. from R. and house of worship free for all denomi- 97 from W.
nations, 2 hotels, a female seminary MILLER'S TAVERN, P. O. 40 ms. of the first order, which has been es- tablished 15 years, and received an
from R. and 119 S. of W.
MONTAGUE, P. V. 67 ms. S. E. by unusual share of public favor ; in this E. from R. and 126 from W. A all the usual female accomplishments small village in the southern part of are taught, whilst every attention is the county, on the stage road from paid to the moral and religious dutics Tappahannock, to Urbanna, and 2 of the pupils, by the pious and ac- m's from the Rappahannock river. complished lady who presides over Population 50; of whom one is an the establishment .- The mechanics attorney, and one a physician.
are, a jeweller, milliner and mantua
TAPPAHANNOCK, P. V. and maker, 2 tailors, a saddle and harness seat of justice ; situated on the rightlinaker, a coach maker, and 2 boot and bank of the Rappahannock, 50 miles|shoe makers .-- There is a Ferry
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EASTERN VIRGINIA-FAIRFAX.
across the Rappahannock at this point. in March, May, August and Novem- Population 1830, 280. Three attor- neys, and five physicians reside here. County courts are held on the third
ber. JUDGE BROWN holds his Cir- cuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery, on the 4th of May and Monday in every month : Quarterly October.
FAIRFAX.
FAIRFAX was created by the Legislature in 1742, from a part of Prince William. It is bounded E. partly by the Potomac river, which separates it from Prince George's Co., of Maryland, and partly by the District of Co- lumbia,-S. by the Potomac and Occoquan river, which separates it from Prince William,-W. by Loudoun,-and N. by the Potomac, separating it from Montgomery Co. Maryland. Length from S. E. to N. W. 25 ms. mean breadth 180-arca 450 square miles; it extends in lat. from 35° 36' to 39º 03' N. and in long. from 0° 03' to 0° 33' W. of W. C. The sur- face is hilly and broken ; the soil is in some places good, but much of it is sterile. Population 1820, 11,404 ; in 1830, 9,204. Fairfax belongs to the 6th judicial circuit and 3d district. Taxes paid in 1833, $3070 00- in 1834 on lots, $56 72 -- land, $2144 63 -- 1896 slaves, 474 00-2618 horses, $157 08 -- 6 studs, $35 00-44 coaches, 890 00-31 caryalls, $31 00-12 gigs, $7 75. Total, 2996 18. Expended in educating poor children in 1832, $435 50-in 1833, $440 70.
TOWNS, VILLAGES, POST OFFICES, &c.
CENTREVILLE, P. V. in the wes- penters, and 1 tailor. For some time tern part of the county, 143 ms. from past this village has been declining ; R., and 27 S. W. of W. This village but the spirit of industry and enter- is situated on the Fauquier, and Alex- prize at present manifested by its in- habitants, justifies the hope of a more favourable state of things. Population 220; of whom 2 are attorneys, and 3 physicians. andria turnpike road, about 6 ms. from the line dividing the counties of Lou- doun, and Prince William. It derives its name from its central position, being about equi-distant from Leesburg, DRONESVILLE, P. O. 140 ms. from R., and 17 from W. Middleburg, Warrenton, Washington, Georgetown and Alexandria. Its situ- ation is elevated and highly pictu- resque,affording one of the best moun- tain prospects in the state of Virginia.
FAIRFAX C. H. P. O. 140 ms. from R., and 28 ms. S. W. by W. of W. It contains besides the ordinary county buildings, 50 dwelling houses, It has always been remarkable for the for the most part frame buildings, 3 salubrity of its air, and the health of its mercantile stores, 4 taverns, and 1 inhabitants. It contains 30 dwelling common school. The mechanics are houses, 1 Methodist meeting house, 2 boot and shoe makers, saddlers, black- taverns, 3 mercantile stores, 1 com- smiths, tailors, &c. Population 200 mon school, and a well organized persons; of whom 4 are attorneys and 2 physicians.
Sunday school. The mechanics are 2 tanners, 1 saddler, 4 boot and shoe County Courts are held on the 3rd Monday in every month ;- Quarterly manufacturers, 1 wheelwright, 2 black- smiths, I cabinet maker, 2 house car-fin March, June, August and Novr.
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JUDGE SCOTT holds his Circuit some walks, with box-wood borders, Superior Court of Law and Chancery on the 25th of May and October.
MOUNT VERNON, is situated 8 ms. from Alexandria, and 15 ms. from Washington. The house erect- ed on this consecrated spot, is of wood, About 200 yards from the house, in a southerly direction, stands a sum- mer house, on the edge of the river bank, which is lofty and sloping, and clothed with wood to the water's edge. The summer house commands a fine prospect of the river, and the Mary- land shore,-also of the White House at a distance of 5 or 6 ms. down the river, where an engagement took place during the late war, with the cut in imitation of free stone. The centre part was built by Lawrence Washington, brother to the General: the wings were added by General Washington. It is named after Ad- miral Vernon, in whose expedition Lawrence Washington served. The house is 2 stories high and 96 feet in length, with a portico fronting the ri- ver, extending the whole length of the house surmounted by a cupola; the British vessels which ascended the ri- grounds are in the same state as left by General Washington.
The house contains on the ground floor, 6 rooms and a spacious passage, 4 of these are of ordinary size: at the north east is a large room, very lofty, with a handsomely sculptured ceiling, which contains a very handsome mar- ble mantle-piece sent to General Washington from Italy,-also a very fine organ, on which instrument the late Mrs. Washington was an accom- plished performer; this room is only used for large dinner parties, &c. The room, at the south east end of the house, is used as a family dining room, and contains busts of Monsieur Neckar, Paul Jones, and General Washington,-also a handsome libra- ry, fitted in the wall, with glass cases; the books chiefly collected by Ciene- ral Washington.
The house fronts N. W., the rear looking to the river. In front of the house is a lawn, containing 5 or 6 acres of ground, with a serpentine walk around it, fringed with shrubbery, and planted with poplar. On cach side of the lawn stands a garden : the one on the right is the flower garden, and contains two green houses, (one built by Gen. Washington, the other by Judge Washington,) a hot house, and a pinery. It is laid off' in hand-
remarkable for their beauty. It con- tains, also, a quantity of fig trees pro- ducing excellent fruit-the other is a kitchen garden, containing only fruit and vegetables.
ver. Proceeding from the summer house about 150 yards, in a westerly direction, you come to the vault-a plain excavation in the bank, faced with brick, and surrounded with a rough white-washed paling. Several lofty oaks stand around it, and small red cedar trees grow on the top of the tomb. The door and door posts are covered with names of visitors. In the vault are buried GENERAL WASHING- rox and his WIFE, Judge Washing- ton and his wife, with many relations of the family.
'The estate, as owned by Judge Washington, consisted of between 3 and 4000 acres, now divided between the Judge's nephews. John Augustine Washington, owns Mount Vernon with the grounds immediately around the house, and 1200 acres of land. The fallow deer abound in the woods. The timber of which is com- posed chiefly of white and black oak, with dogwood, hickory, ash, cedar, &c., the soil is thin, and rather poor, cultivated chiefly in Indian corn, rye, barley, &c. Judge Washington cul- tivated the millet to a considerable ex- tent ;- he kept many sheep, and found them profitable. There are 2 fishe- ries on the place, where shad and her- ring are caught in large quantities. Mount Vernon is healthy during all
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the year except the fall, when agues more rare plants we saw the night and bilious fevers prevail. An intel- blooming cereus, the guava, from which the jelly of that name is made, alloes of a gigantic growth, the West India plantain, the sweet cassia in bloom, the prickley pear, and a thou- sand others. They are all tastefully arranged in large boxes made for the ligent visiter, connected with the pub- lic press, some years since gave to the world an interesting sketch of a visit to Mount Vernon, he remarks, " we were conducted over long gravel walks, bordered with box, which is arranged and trimmed into the most purpose, and nurtured with unceasing " fanciful figures, and which at the age of 20 years and upwards, still pos. sesses the vigour and freshness of youth. At the extremity of these ex- tensive alleys and pleasure grounds, is an extensive kitchen garden, sur- ornamented with fruit trees and shrub- bery, and clothed in perennial ver- dure, stands two hot houses, and as many green houses, situated in the sunniest part of the garden, and shield- ed from the northern winds by a long range of wooden buildings, for the ac- con.modation of servants. From the air of a frosty December morning, we were suddenly introduced into the tropical climate of these spacious! houses, where we long sauntered among groves of the coffee tree, le- mons and oranges, all in full bearing, regailing our senses with the flowers and odours of spring."
attention, requiring the constant ser- vices of two assistants besides the chief gardener. To the north of the range of buildings before mentioned, rounded with a hedge of cedar, so regularly trimmed, as to present the appearance of a verdant wall. At every step in these pleasure grounds, the thought occurred that the illus- trious projector is no more. "There was a garden, and in the garden, a new sepulchre," says the Scripture. The lesson on human pursuits and human pleasures, inculcated by this concise and beautiful narration of the Evangelist, never struck me more forcibly than when we left the gate, and walked towards the tomb of Washington. In passing the house, the chamber in which he died was pointed out to us; and imagination aided by these memorials, soon pre- sented the whole scene in such dis- tinct and vivid colors that we seemed almost to follow his remains to the grave. The family vault in which the dust of the hero reposes, is at the distance of perhaps 30 rods from the house immediately upon the bank of the river. A more romantic and pic- turesque site for a tomb can scarcely be imagined. Between it and the Potomac, is a curtain of forest trees covering the steep declivity to the water's edge, breaking the glare of the prospect, and yet affording glimpes of the river, when the foliage is the thickest. The tomb is surrounded by several large native oaks, which
"One of the hot houses is appro- priated entirely to rearing the pine apple which grows in great perfec- tion, long rows of which we saw in a flourishing and luxuriant condition. A stalk produces but a single apple, which grows near the ground, in the centre of a cluster of tall and spear- shaped leaves. Many bushels of le- mons and oranges of every variety are annually grown, which besides furnishing the family with a supply of these fruits at all seasons, are dis- tributed as a delicacy to their friends, or used to administer to the comforts of their neighbours in cases of sick- ness. The coffee plant thrives well, yields abundantly, and in quality is said to be equal to the best Mocha. The branches under which we walk-fare venerable by their years, and ed were laden with the fruit, fast ad- which annually strow the sepulchre vancing to imaturity Among the with autumnal leaves, furnishing the
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most appropriate drapery for such a tiful emblem of the immortal spirit. place, and giving a still deeper im- The sacred and symbolic cassia was familiar to Washington, and perhaps led to the selection of a spot where the ever green flourished." pression to the memento mori. Inter- spersed among the oaks, and over hanging the tomb, is a copse of red cedar; but whether native or trans- PLEASANT VALLEY, P. V. 138 ms. from R., and 30 ms. W. of W., situ- ated on Little river turnpike road, 10 ms. above Fairfax C. H. It contains 10 dwelling houses, a tavern, store, and blacksmith shop. Population 20. planted, I could not ascertain, its ever green boughs presents a fine contrast to the hoary and leafless branches of the oak ; and while the de- ciduous foliage of the latter indicates the decay of the body, the eternal ver- PROSPECT HILL, P. O. 132 ms. dure of the former furnishes a beau- from R., and 9 WV. of W.
FAUQUIER.
FAUQUIER Was created by the legislature in 1759, from a part of Prince William. It is bounded N. by Loudoun, N. E. and E. by Prince William, E. and S. E. by Stafford, S. and S. W. by the Rappahannock, which sepa- rates it from Culpeper, and W. N. W. by the Blue Ridge, which separates it from Frederick :- greatest length 45 ins. mean breadth 16, and area 720 sq. m.s .- It extends in lat. from 38' 24' to 300 02, and in long. from 00 32,' to 1º 5' W. of WV. C. This county possesses very valuable beds of mag- nesia, soap stone, and several gold mines, worked upon an extensive scale. 'The northern part of the county slopes north, and sends it waters to Goose creek; but from the neighbourhood of Cobler mountain, near Salem, a ridge runs to the S. E. extremity of the county, which divides its waters : those on the N. E. side flowing N. E. into the Occoquan, and those on the S. W. Nowing in a S. E. direction until they reach the Rappahannock. The sur- face is agreeably diversified, and the soil when judiciously cultivated, sus- ceptible of high improvement, and very productive. Population 1820, 23, 103-1830, 26,036. Fauquier belongs to the 6th judicial circuit, and 3rd district. Taxes paid in 1833, 87,282 69-in 1834, on lots, 8293 42- land, 81,558 74-5,903 slaves, 81,475 75-7132 horses, 8427 92-28 studs, 8311 00-76 coaches, 8191 50-52 carryalls, 862 26 -- 35 gigs, $23 75. Total $7,344 28. No report of school commissioners.
TOWNS, VILLAGES, POST OFFICES, &c.
ARNOLD'S OLD PLACE, P. O. 129 | makes annually from 3 to 4000 bar- ms. from R., and 73 from W.
rels of flour, a grist, and a saw mill which saws from 2 to 300,000 feet of plank annually. The mechanical pursuits are various, such as millers, mill wrights, coopers, boot and shoe makers, blacksmiths, &c. Popula- tion 30.
BARNETTS' MILLS, P. O. 93 ms. from R., and 68 from W., situated on the north side of the Rappahannock river, about 6 ms. above its junction with the Rapid Ann. It contains 12 dwelling houses, a Presbyterian house! of worship, a mercantile store, an ex- The Rappahannock is at this place 100 yards wide, and is now being tensive flour manufacturing mill, 10. feet square, and 5 stories high, which made navigable for boats to Frede-
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ricksburg, by the Rappahannock Com-|amount of wheat which it purchases. It manufactures 30,000 bushels an- nually. There is also a good saw mill, with an abundance of pine timber at hand, 1 general store, and 10 dwel- ling houses. The country around is densely populated ;- the soil suscep- tible of high improvement, especially by the use of clover- and plaister. Population at the mill 30.
pany. The navigation is to extend 50 ms. above Barnett's mills, and will greatly enhance the value of water power at this and other points on the river. The water power at this place is created by a dam 5 feet high, situated half a mile above the mills, and conveyed to them by a canal cut in some places through the solid rock, to the depth of 25 or 30 feet, the fall gained by the dam and canal is 16 feet. There has recently been erected at this place a stamping mill, for the purpose of stamping gold ores, ob- tained from a mine about half a mile distant, worked by a company. The ore of this mine is thought by expe- rienced judges, to contain gold enough to afford a good profit upon the in- vestment necessary to keep the mine in operation,-It is even said that ore yielding fifty cents a bushel, may be worked profitably-and picked ore from this mine has yielded 88 per bushel by actual assay. We learn
N. W. of R., and 60 ms. S. IV. by W. of W., situated 6 ms, W. of War- renton, 40 N. of Fredericksburg, and 50 ms. S. W. of Alexandria, on the east side of Carter's Run, about 2 ms. above its junction with the Rappa- hannock, on the main road leading from Warrenton to Chester's Cap; at the end of the progressing improve- ment of navigation, which, when com- plete will make the mill, the main de- posit of all the grain raised west of it, as far as the Blue Ridge, a distance of 18 ms, of fine wheat growing country. 'This mill stands unrivalled in its see -! tion of country, for the immense'
DODDSVILLE, P. O. 105 ms. from R. and 68 from W.
EDGEFIELD, P. O. 105 ms. from R. and 73 from W.
ELK MARSH, P. O. 101 ms. from R. and 57 from W .- situated in the southern part of the county, 22 ms. N. W. of Fredericksburg.
ELK RUN CHURCH, P. O. 90 ms. from R. and 68 from W .- situated in the S. E. part of the county, 20 ms. N. N. W. of Fredericksburg.
FARROWSVILLE, P. V. in N. W. part of the county, 130 ms. from R. and 64 W. of W .- situated on the head waters of Goose creek, 4 ms. be- also by a recent communication, that low Manassa's Gap .-- It contains a the miners in searching for gold have tavern, 2 mercantile stores, and a house of public worship free for all denomi- nations. Population 20. recently discovered a beautiful soap- stone which has already become an article of commerce, and is likely to be very profitable, when the improve- ments on the river shall have been completed sufficiently for its trans- portation.
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