USA > Virginia > Historical collections of Virginia : containing a collection of the most interesting facts, traditions, biographical sketches, anecdotes, &c. relating to its history and antiquities ; together with geographical and statistical descriptions ; to which is appended, an historical and descriptive sketch of the District of Columbia. > Part 48
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On the arrival at Westover, the troops were immediately disembarked : at first, from the reports of the country of the force that was assembling to defend Richmond, Gen. Amold hesitated whether he should proceed thither or not, his positive injunctions being not to undertake any enterprise that had much risk in it; but Lieut .- Cols. Dundas and Simcoe, concurring that one day's march might be made with perfect security, and that by this means more perfect inforination might be obtained. the troops were immediately put in motion, and proceeded towards Richmond, where the enemy was understood to have very considerable magazines. It was above 30 miles from Westover ; several trans- ports had not arrived, and Gen. Arnold's force did not amount to 800 men. On the second day's march, while a bridge was replacing over a creek, the advanced guard only having passed over, some of the enemy's militia, who had destroyed it the evening before, and were to assemble with others to defend it, were deceived by the dress of the Rangers, and came to Lieut .- Col. Simcoe, who immediately reprimanded them for not coming sooner, held conversation with them, and then sent them prisoners to Gen. Ar- nold. . Within seven miles of Richmond, a pattol of the enemy appeared, who, on being discovered, fled at full speed : the Queen's Rangers, whose horses were in a miserable condition from the voyage, could not pursue them. Soon after, Lieut .- Col. Simcoe halted having received the clearest information that a road, made passable by wood
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carts, led through the thickets to the rear of the heights on which the town of Rich- mond was placed, where they terminated in a plain, although they were almost inacces- sible by the common road. On giving this information to Gen. Arnold, he said it was not worth while to quit the road, as the enemy would not fight. On approaching the town, Gen. Arnold ordered the' troops to march as open, and to make as great an appearance, as possible ; and the ground was so favorable, that a more skilful enemy than those who were now reconnoit ing, would have imagined the numbers to have been double. The onemy at Richmond appeared drawn up on the heights to the number of two or three hundred men : the road passed through a wood at the bottom of these heights, and then ran between them and the river into the lower town. Lieut .- Col. Succe was ordered to desledge them: he mounted the bill in small bodies, stretching away to the right, to as to threaten the enemy with a design to outflank them ; and as they filed off, in ap- pearance to secure their flank, he directly ascended with his cavalry, where it was so steep that they were obliged to dismount and lead their horses. Luckily, the enemy made no resistance, nor did they fire; but on the cavalry's arrival on the summit. re- treated to the woods in great confusion. There was a party of horsemen in the lower town, watching the motion of Lieut .- Col. Dundas, who, the heights being gained, was now entering it. Licut .- Col. Simcoe pushed on with the cavalry, unnoticed by the enemy in the lower town, till such time as he began to descond almost in their rear, when an impassable creek stopped. him, and gave the enemy time to escape to the top uf another hill beyond the town. Having crossed over lower down, be ascended the bill, using such conversation and words towards them as might prevent their inclination to retreat. However, when the Rangers were arrived within twenty yards of the summit, the enemy, greatly superior in numbers, but made up of militia, spectators, some with and some without arms, genoped of; they were immediately pursued, but without the least regularity : Capt. Shank and Lieut. Spencer, who had met with good horses in the country, far distanced the rest of the cavalry. Lieut .- Col. Simcoe left an officer to mark the position he incant his infantry to take on their arrival, and collecting all the men he could overtake, followed Capt. Shank, anxious lest his ardor should prove fatal : he had pursued the enemy four or five miles, six or seven of whom he had taken, with several horses-a very well-timed capture. On Lieut .- Col. Simcoe's return, he met with orders from Gen. Arnold to march to the foundry at Westham, six miles from Richmond, and to destroy it ; the flank companies of the 80th, under Major Gordon, were sent as a reinforcement. With these, and his corps, he proceeded to the foundry : the trun- nions of many pieces of iron cannon were struck off ; a quantity of small arms, and a great variety of military stores, were destroyed. Upon consultation with the artillery- officer, it was thought better to destroy the magazine than to blow it up. This fatiguing business was effected, by carrying the powder down the cliff's, and pouring it in the water ; the warehouses and mills were then set on fire, and many explosions happened in different parts of the buildings, which might have been hazardous, had it been relied on that all the powder was regularly deposited in one magazine ; and the foundry, which was a very complete one, was totally destroyed. It was night before the troops iecurued to Richmond ; the provisions which had been made for them were now to be cooked : fatigued with the march. the men in general went to sleep ; some of them got into pri- vate houses, and there obtained rum.
Morse, the geographer, thus describes Richmond in 1789, ten years after it was made the capital :
It " contains about 300 houses. "The new houses are well built. A large and elegant state-house. or capitol, has lately been crected on the hill. The lower part of the town is divided by a creek, over which there is a bridge which, for Virginia, is elegant. A handsome and expensive bridge, between 300 and 400 yards in length, has lately been thrown across James River at the foot of the falls, by Col. John Mayo, a respectable and wealthy planter, whose seat is about a mile from Richmond. This bridere connects Richmond with Manchester ; and as the passengers pay toll, it produces a handsome revenne to Col. Mayo, who is the sole proprietor. The falls above the bridge are seven miles in length. A canal is cutting on the north side of the river, which is to terminate in a basin of about two acres, in the town of Richmond. The opening of this canal promises the addition of much wealth to Richmond." In the year 1994, the canal was so far completed that the dithealty of passing the rapids was removed. At this period, the principal merchants of Richmond, and, indeed, of all the large towns.in Eastern Virginia, were Scotch and Seoteb Irish. The inhabitants of this town have been described by Paulding as being then generally " a race of most ancient and respectaldo
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planters, having estates in the country, who chose it for their residence for the sake of social enjoyment. They formed a society now seldom to be met with in any of our cities. A smarty of people not exclusively monopolized by money-making pursuits, but c' liberal education, liberal habits of thinking and acting ; and possessing both leisure and inclination to cultivate those feelings, and pursue those objects which exalt our nature, rather than increase our fortune."
Richmond has increased steadily in population and wealth since it became the metropolis of the state. The population, in 1800, was 5,737 ; in 1810, 9,785 ; in 1820, 12.067 ; in 1630, 16,000 ;. in 1840, 20,153. " Its situation is beautiful, and even romantic. Shockoe and Richmond Hills stand opposite to each other, with Shockoe creek, a bold and lively stream, between them. The city is spread over those hills ; and along the margin of the river the hills have been thrown into various undulations, and present a great many points from which different views may be taken, highly beautiful.
" The picturesque falls and rapids of the river, which extend more than six miles; the idlands ; the town of Manchester, connected by two bridges with Richmond ; the rich plantations adjoining the town; the river, winding and stretching below to a great extent ; the waring kins on As north side, and the valley through which Sheeloo orech passes, are the principal objects on which the eye fixes ; and from every eminence they are seen in some new form, and under some new coloring of light and shade ; the whole presenting the three great requisites of landscape, viz., grandeur, beauty, and variety. Besides, Richmond is one of the healthiest cities in the United States. The annual amount of deaths, on an average, is one in eighty-five."
With some trifling exceptions, the streets of Richmond intersect each other at right angles. The city plet has been greatly extended within a few years, and it now has an outline of 73 miles in length, and an area of 34 square miles, the larger portion of which is w.occupied by buildings. James River, immediately in front of the principal improve- ments, is interrupted by a ledge of rocks, which occasions a considerable fall in the stream. Some of these rocks rise into beautiful little islands. The navigable commu- nication around the falls, by means of a canal and locks, opened many years since, row forms the outlet of James River Canal, with winch it is connected by a capacious basin, situated near the centre of business in the city.
In the western division of the city, on Shockoe Hill, stands the capitol, on a com. manding situation, in the centre of a beautiful square of about eight acres. It is a suta Nous and showy building. The statue of Washington, in the area of the capitol, was the work of Houdon, a French sculptor. It was made by the order of the Virginia Assembly, at Paris, under the direction of Jefferson, a few years after the close of the American revolution. The costume of this statue is the military dress of the revolu- tion. . One hand holds a cane, the other rests upon the fasces, with which are united the sword and ploughshare, and over it a martial cloak. The inscription, by James Madison, on the pedestal, is as follows :
GEORGE WASHINGTON. The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia have caused this statue to be erected, as a monument of affection and gratitude to GEORGE WASHINGTON; who, uniting to the endowments of the hero the virtues of the patriot, and exerting both in establishing the liberties of his country, has rendered his name dear to his fellow- citizens, and given the world an immorud example of true glory. Done in the year of Christ, one thou- sand seven hundred and eighty-eight, and in the year of the connuonwealth the twelfth.
Near the statue of Washington is a marble bust of Lafayette. In one angle of capi. tol square stands the city-hall, decorated at each end by a fine Dorie portico of four culumins. Near the eastern part of capitol square is a house erected for the residence of
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the governor of the state. In another part of Richmond is seen the county court. house. In the western suburbs of the city is the state penitentiary, a large building in the form of a hollow square, 300 feet long and 110 feet broad, with several acres of ground connected with it. In the suburbs of the city, on the N., is the altashouse, a spacious building, surrounded by extensive grounds. Among the other public buildings are a county and city jail, an orphan asylum, a theatre, a museum, two markets, an The city is supplied by water, which is elevated, by water-power and two forcing-pumps, into three large reser- voirs, containing 1,000,000 gallons cach, from which it is distributed over the city, and forms a great resource in case of fire, as well as a supply for the inhabitants, The cost of these works was about $120,000. There arethreebanks in the city.
Richmond is wall situated for commerce. Vessels drawing It ist of water come to Rocket's, about a mile below the centre of the city ; and those drawing 15 feet, to War. wick, 3 miles below the city. The falls in James River are obviated by the canal, and above them it is navigable to Lynchburg. Regular fines of packets connect this city with New York and other places, and it is connected by steamboats to Norfolk. The principal articles of exportation are wheat flour, and tohacen. The experts amount to about $3,000,000 annually. The tonnage of this port in 1840, was 6,911.
The manufactures of Richmond are also extensive. The falls of the James River aford a water-power of unlimited extent. There were in 1240, 17 foreign commercial and 29 counts where, cap. 53,10,000 ; 256 retail stores, om. 61 615.150; 3 lumber-yards, cap. 824 000 ; A furnaces, and & forges. &# , cap. $317.009 ; machinery produced amounted to 8125, 000 ; 1 cotton factory, 5,81M &p., cap. 8175, 000 ; tobacco manufactories, cap. 8492,250; 1 paper factory, cap. $75,000 ; 3 fouring.mills, 2 grist- mills, 3 saw-mullis, total cap. $01,000; 8 printing-offices, i bindery, 2 dany, 6 weekly, and 2 semi-weekly newspapers, and I periodical, cap. 848,700. Total cap, in manu- factories, $1,372.950.
Richmond contains 23 churches-4 Protestant Episcopal, 4 Baptist, 4 Methodist, 3 Presbyterian, come of them a Bethel,; ] Catholic, 1 German Latherau, I Disciples, or Campbellite, 1 Universalist, 1 Friends, or Quakers, 1 African, 2 Jewish Synagogues.
The Monumental ( Episcopal) Church is a handsome octagonal edifice, erected upon the spot once occupied by the Richmond Theatre, which was burnt in 1811. The remains of the unfortunate victims in that sad catastrophe, are deposited in a marble urn which stands in the front portico of the church, and from which it derives its name. The Kight Rev. Bishop Moore preached here during his whole residence in Richmond.
The Monumental congregation are now building a new structure, to which they in. tend removing, to be called St. Paul's Church. Its model is St. Luke's, in IPhiladelphia, of the Corinthian order, much elaborated. The spire is to be 208 feet high.
The subjoined account of the burning of the Richmond Theatre, was published in the Richmond Standard the following day.
Last night the play-house in this city was crowded with an unusual audience. There could not have been less than 600 persons in the house. Just before the conclusion of the play, the scenery caught fire, and in a few minutes the whole building was wrapped in flames. It is already ascertained that sixty-one persons were devoured by that most terrific element. The editor of this paper was in the house when the ever-to-be-remain- bered deplorable accident occurred. He is informed that the scenery took fire in the back part of the house, by the raising of a chandelier ; that the boy who was ordered by some of the players to raise it, stated that if he did so, the scenery would take fire, when he was commanded in a peremptory manner to hoist it. The boy obeyed, and the fire instantly communicated to the scenery. He gave the alarm in the rear of the . stage, and requested some of the attendants to cut the corus by which the combustible materials were suspended. The person whose duty it was to perform this became panic- struck, and sought his own safety. This unfortunately happened at a time when one of the performers was playing ucar the orchestra, and the greatest part of the stage, with its horrid danger, was obscured from the audience. by a curtain.
The flames spread with almost the rapidity of lightuing ; and the fire falling from the ceiling upon the pertorier, was the first notice the audience had of their danger. Even then, many supposed it a part of the play, and were a little time restrained from flight by a cry from the stage that there was no danger. The performers and their attendants . in vain endeavored to tear down the scenery ; the fire Hasled in every part of the house with a rapidity borrible and astonishing; and, alas! gushing tears and unspeakable anguish deprived me of utterance. No person who was not present can form any idea
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of this unexampled scene of distress. The editor, having none of his family with him and not being får from the door, was among the first who escaped.
Burning of the Richmond Theatre.
[The above engraving of the burning of the theatre at Richmond, on the night of December 20th, 1811. "is a reduced copy from one published at Philadelphia, by B. S. Tanner, in the February following.]
No words can express his horror when, on turning round, he discovered the whole building to be in flames. There was but one door for the greatest part of the audience to pass. Men, women, and children were pressing upon each other, while the flames were seizing upon those behind. The editor went to the different windows, which were very high, and implored his fellow-creatures to save their lives by jumping out of theni. Those nearest the windows, ignorant of their danger, were afraid to leap down, while those behind them were seen catching on fire, and writhing in the greatest agonies of pain and distress. At' length those behind, urged by the pressing flames, pushed those who were nearest to the window, and people of every description began to fall one upon another, some with their clothes on fire, some half roasted. Oh, wretched me! Oh, afflicted people ! Would to God I could have died a thousand deaths in any shape, could individual suffering have purchased the safety of my friends, my benefactors, of those whom Iloved ! . . . The editor, with the assistance of others, caught several of those whom he had begged to leap from the windows. One lady jumped out when all her clothes were on fire. He tore them burning from her, stripped her of her last rays, and, protecting her nakedness with his coat, carried her from the fire. Fathers and mothers were deploring the loss of their children, children the loss of their parents ; husbands were heard to lament their lost companions, wives were bemoaning their burnt husbands. The people were seen wringing their hands, beating their heads and breasts ; and those that had secured themselves, seemed to suffer greater torments than those enveloped in the flames.
Oh ! distracting memory ! Who that saw this can think of it again, and yet retain his senses! . Do I dream? No. no! Oh, that it were but a dream. My God! whe that saw his friends and nearest connections devoured by fire, and laying in heaps at the door, will not regret that he ever lived to see such a sight? Could savages have scen this memorable event it would even soften their hearta,
A sad gloom pervades this place, and every countenance is cast down to the earth
---- -
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The loss of a hundred thousand friends on the field of battle could not touch the heart like this. Enough. Imagine what cannot be described. The most distant and imple- cable enemy, and the most savage barbarians, will mourn our unhappy lot. All of those in the pit escaped, and had cleared themselves from the house, before those in the boxes could get down ; and the door was for some time empty. Those from above were pushing each other down the steps, when the hindermost might have got out by leaping into the pit. A gentleman and lady, who otherwise would have perished, had their lives saved by Wahr providentially thrown from the second boxes. There would not have been the least difficulty in descending from the first boxes into the pit.
St. John's Church.
In addition to the list now given, it is believed that at least sixty others perished, whose naines are not yet ascertained :
George W. Smith, governor, A. B. Venable, president of the bank, Benjamin Botts, wife, and niece, Mrs. Taylor Braxton, Mrs. Patterson, Mrs. Gallego, Muss Covers, Bient. J. Gibbon. in attempting to save Miss Conyers : Mrs. E. Page, Miss Louisa Mayo, Mrs. William Cook. Miss Elvina Coutts, Mrs. John Les- ley. Miss M. Nelson, Mise Nelson, Miss Page. Wann. Brown, Miss Jaba Hervey, Miss Whitlock, George Dixon, A. Marshall (of Wythe) broke his neck'in attempting to jump from a window, Miss Ann Craie, Miss Stevenson, (of Spottsylvania,) Mrs. Gibson, Miss Maria Hunter, Mes. Mary Davis, Miss Gerard, Thomas Lecroix, Jane Wade, Mrs. Pirket, Mrs. Heron, Mrs. Laforest and niece, Jo. Jacobs, Miss Jacobs, Miss. A. Biusnan, Miss M. Marks, Edward Wanton, jr., two Misses 'Trouins, Mrs. Gerer, Mrs. Elcour, Miss Patsey Griffin, Mrs. Moss and danghier, Miss Littlepage, Miss Rebec, Cook, Mrs. Girardin and two children, Miss Margaret Copeland, Miss Gwathmey, Miss Clay, danghter of M. Clay, member of Congress, Miss Gatewood, Mrs. Thomas Wilson, Win. Southgate, Mrs. Robert Greenhow, Mrs. Convert and child, Miss Green, Miss C. Raphael.
At a meeting of the commissioners appointed by the Common Hall to superintend the interment of the remains of their friends and fellow-citizens, who unfortunately lost their lives in the configration of the theatre. the following revolutions were adopted :
Ist. That the citizens of Richmond and Manchester. and the citizens at present residing in either of those places. be requested to assemble to-morrow, the 28th inst., at 10 o'clock, P. M., at the Baptist theet- ing-house. for the purpose of attending the funeral.
24. That the following be the order of procession :- corpses, clergy, mourners and ladies, executive council. directors of the bank, judiciary, members of the legislature, Court of Hastings, Common Hall, citizens on foot, citizens on horseback.
WVM. IlAY, Jr., J. G. GAMELE,
JOHN ADAMS, GAB. RALSTON,
ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, On Richmond Hill. is the oldest colonial place of worship in the town. It is preserved with religious care, and has been somewhat modernized by the addition of a tower. This church stands in the centre of' a grave-yard, embosomed by trees, where all around in crowded hillocks are the mansions of the dead.
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It was here, in the Virginia convention of '75, that Patrick Henry thundered against the common oppressor of America, and uttered that immortal sentence, " Give me lih. ertu, or give me death !"
The celebrated Virginia convention of '88, that met to ratify the federal constitution, assembled within its walls. The transcendent talents engaged in its discussion, " tempted industry to give mefire pursuits, and even dissipation its objects," for the high intelec tual feast here presented. Among the crowd from far and near, who filled the hall, " no bestle, no sound was heard, save only a slight movement when some new speaker arose, whom they were all eager to see as well as to hear ; or when some master stroke of elo- quence shot the Pier along their nerves, and extorted au involuntary and inarticulnie murmur. Day after day was this banquet of the mind and the heart spread before them, with a delicacy and variety which could never cloy." Among its illustrions members were Madison, Marshall, and Monroe ; and " there were those sages of other days, Pen- dleton and Wythe ; there was seen the Spartan vigor and compactness of George Nicho- las ; and there shoue the radi int genius and sensibility of Grayson ; the Roman cuergy and the Attic wit of George Mason was there ; and there also the classic taste and harmony of Edmund! Randolph ; . the splendid conflagration' of the high-minded Innis ; and the matchless eloquence of the immortal Heury !"
The medical department of Hampden Sidney College was established in the year 1838, and has succeeded beyond the expectations of its most sanguine friends. The ne- cessity of an institution where the young men of Virginia might prosecute the study of medicine without incurring the expense of a winter's residence in a northern city, had long been Feenly felt, and the projet was carried into effect by a few cutciprising mem- bere of the faculty resident in Richmond. Unassisted by legislative appropriation, this college struggled nobly through an infancy of six years, and " now presents to the stu- dent of the healing-art advantages not to be surpassed by any other establishment in the Union." The hospital of the penitentiary and alinshouse are under the supervision of the professors; and the most abundant opportunities for clinical study are thus afforded. Attached to the college, building is an extensive infirmary. The college building recently erected, is a fine specimen of the Egyptian style of architecture, admirably arranged for the purposes of lecture and dissection. The following is the faculty : - Augustus L. Warner, M. D., Dean of the faculty, John Cullen, M. D., Jeffries Wyman, M. D., S. Maupin, M. D., L. W. Chamberlayue, M. D., R. L. Bohannan, M. D.
St. Vincent's College, under the control of the Catholic clergy, is pleasantly situated about a mile east of the city. The Rev. Bishop Whelan is president. There is a very respectable number of students, who attend mass every morning at the chapel in Kich- mond.
Richmond College, a Baptist institution, was incorporated by act of legislature in the year 1832. The Rev. Robert Ryland is president of the institution. It contains five or six professors, and about one hundred students. The buildings are deligInfully situated. about a mile west of the city, on the Fredericksburg rail-road.
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