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 82
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* Gen. Dumas says, " The gratison detiled between the two lines, beyond which I caused them to tora in order of battle, and Bile their artus. Ils English officers manifested the most bitter mortification, and I remember that Col. Abercrombie of the English Chards-the same who afterwards perished in Egypt
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them useless. This irregularity, however, was checked by the authority of Gen. Lin- coin. After having grounded their arms, and divested themselves of their accoutre- ments, the captive troops were conducted back to Yorktown, and guarded by our troops till they could be removed to the place of their destination. The British troops that were stationed at Gloucester surrendered at the same time, and in the same manner, to the command of the Duke de Luzerne. This must be a very interesting and gratifying transaction to Gen. Lincoln, who having himself been obliged to surrender an army to a haughty foe the last year, has now assigned him the pleasing duty of giving laws to a conquered army in return, and of reflecting that the termas which were imposed on him are adopted as a basis of the surrender in the present instance: It is a very gratifying circumstance that every degree of harmony, confidence, and friendly intercourse sub- sisted between the American and French troops during the campaign ; no contest except an emulous spirit to excel in exploits and enterprise against the common eneiny, and a desire to be celebrated in the annals of history for an ardent love of great and heroic actions. We are not to be surprised that the pride of the British officers is humbled on this occasion, as they have always entertained an exalted opinion of their own military prowess, and affected to view the Americans as a contemptible, undisciplined rabble. But there is no display of magnanimity when a great commander sbrinks from the in- evitable misfortunes of war ; and when it is considered that Lord Cornwallis has fre- quently appeared in splendid triumph at the head of his army, by which he is almost adored, we conceive it incumbent on him cheerfully to participate in their misfortunes and degradations, however humiliating ; but it is said he gives himself up entirely to vexation and despair.
2007 .-- In the general orders of this day our commander in chief oxpresses his entire approbation, and his warmest thanks to the French and American officers and soldiers of all descriptions, for the brave and honorable part which they have acted during the siege. He congratulates the combined army on the momentous event which closes the campaign, and which crowns their heads with unfading laurels, and entitles them to the applause and gratitude of their country. Among the general officers whom his Excel- lency particularly noticed, for the important services which they rendered during the siege, are Generals Lincoln, de Lafayette, Steuben, Knox, and Du Portail, his Excellency Count Rochambeau, and several other distinguished French officers. To Gov. Nelson, of Virginia, he returned his grateful and sincere acknowledgments for the essential suc- cors afforded by him and the militia under his command. The commander-in-chief, wishing that every heart should participate in the joy of this memorable day, ordered that all those who are under arrest or confinement should be immediately pardoned and set at liberty, a circumstance which I believe has never before occurred in our army. He closed by ordering that divine service shall be performed in the several brigades to- morrow, and recommends that the troops attend with a serious deportment, and with that sensibility of heart which the recollection of the surprising and particular interposi- tion of Providence in our favor claims.
22d .-- Yesterday being Sunday, our brigade of infantry, and the York brigade were drawn up in the field to attend divine service performed by Mr. Evans. After offering to the Lord of hosts, the God of battles, our grateful homage for the preservation of our lives through the dangers of the siege, and for the important event with which Divine Providence has seen fit to crown our efforts, he preached an excellent and appropriate sermon. Generals Lincoln and Clinton were present. In the design and execution of this successful expedition, our commander-in-chief fairly outgenerated Si: Henry Clin- ton, and the whole movement was marked by consummate military address, which re- duced the royal general to a mortifying dilemma that no skill or enterprise could retrieve. A. siege of thirteen days, prosecuted with anexampled rapidity, has terminated in the capture of one of the greatest generals of which the English can boast, and a veteran and victorious army which has for several months past spread terror and desolation throughout the southern states. The joy on this momentous occasion is universally dif- fused, and the hope entertained that it will arrest the career of a cruel warfare, and advance the establishment of American Independence In the progress of the mati army through the state of Virginia the preceding summer, they practised the most abomi- nable enormities, plandering negros and horses from almost every plantation, and reduc- ing the country to ruin. Among the prodigious assemblage of spectators at the time of surrender, were a number of pheaters searching for the property which had been thus purloined from their estates. The famous C'ol Tarleton, mounted on a horse remarkable
on the deld of battle where he had just triumphal-at the moment when his troops laid down their armes; withdrew rapidly, covering his face, and buting his sword."
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for elegance and noble appearance, while riding in company with several French officers with whom he was to dine, was met by a gentleman, who instantly recognised the ani- mal as his own property. Tarleton was stopped, and the horse peremptorily demanded ; observing a little hesitation, the British General O'Hara, who was present, said, " You had better give him his horse, Tarleton," on which the colonel dismounted and delivered the horse to the original proprietor ; after which, being remounted on a very miserable animal, he rejoined his company, and the French officers were greatly surprised that he should be so bumbly mounted. The British prisoners were all sent off yesterday, con- ducted by a party of militia on their way to the interior of Virginia and Maryland. I have this day visited the town of York, to witness the destructive effects of the siege. It contains about sixty houses, some of them are elegant ; many of them are greatly dam- aged, and some totally ruined, being shot through in a thousand places, and honey. combed ready to crumble to pieces. Rich furniture and books were scattered over the ground, and the carcasses of men and horses half covered with earth, exhibited a scene . of ruin and horror beyond description. The earth in many places is thrown up inte mounds by the force of our shells, and it is difficult to point to a spot where a man could have resorted for safety.
The loss on the part of the French during the siege, was fifty killed and one hundred andtwenty-seven wounded. Americans twenty- seven killed and seventy-three wounded. officers included. Cornwallis' account of his loss during the siege is one hundred and fifty-six, three hundred and twenty-six wounded, and seventy missing, probably de- serted, total five hundred and fifty-two. The whole number surrendered by capitulation. seven thousand two hundred and forty-seven .* The amount of artillery and military stores, provisions, &c., is very considerable ; seventy-five brass and one hundred and sixty nine iron cannon, seven thousand seven hundred and ninety-four muskets ; regi- mental standards, German eighteen, British ten. From the military chest we received two thousand one hundred and thirteen pounds six shillings sterling.
Dr. Thatcher, in the preceding account, has made mention of Dr. Æneas Munson, who was with him at the siege, in the ca- pacity of surgeon's mate. From the lips of this gentleman, now living, we have derived the following :
Col, Scammel was the highest officer in rank in the American army, killed at the siege. He was shot after he had surrendered, by two Hessian horsemen, and was buried at Williamsburg. The annexed lines, forming part of his epitaph, were written by Col. Humphreys :
What tho' no friend could ward thine early fall, Nor guardian angels turn the treacherous hall, Bless'd shade, be sooth'd ! thy virtues all are known, Thy fame shall last beyond this mould'ring stone, Which conquering armies, from their toils return'd, Rear to thy glory, while thy fate they mourn'd.
During the siege almost all the Americans had the fever and ague. The dews were very heavy, and wet through the tents. The soldiers were divided into two divisions, and on alternate nights slept in the trenches in the open air.
On the attack of the two advanced redoubts of the British, on the night of the 15th, in a great measure depended the result of the siege. Washington, surrounded by a group of officers, among whom was our informant, stood in the grand battery looking through the embrasures, while the two divisions of the attacking party advanced to the assault. Col. Alexander Hamilton led on the Americans, with empty muskets and fixed bayonets. When he arrived at the right redoubt, which he was to attack. he made * short but eloquent address, which was distinctly heard by the silent but deeply-interested witnesses in the grand battery. " Did you ever hear such a speech ?" remarked Lient. D. to Dr. M. ; " with such a speech I could storm - -. " Shortly after, the French officer arrived with his division before the other redoubt, when he was challenged by the sentinel :
Sentinel .- " Who comes there ?" French officer .-- " French."
Sentinel -- mautakes it for " friend," and again demands, " Who comes there ?"
* Another Est which has been published. minkes their total loss by death and capture to be eleven thousand eight hundred, including two thousand sailors, one thousand eight hundred negmes, one shot- sund five hundred tories, eighty vessels large and small.
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French officer .- " French Grenadiers and Chasseurs, s-h-a-r-g-e ! z-H-A-R-O-E! S-H-A-R-G-E !"
The word " charge" was drawled out with so much deliberation, and with such im- perfect pronunciation, as to excite hearty laughter from the witnesses in the grand bat- tery. The clash of bayonets succeeded, and the next morning the trench was seen filled five or six feet deep with the bodies of the gallant Frenchmen.
While the attack was progressing, a musket-ball rolled along a cannon, and fell at the feet of Washington. Gen. Knox seized him by the arm, and exclaimed, " My dear general, we can't spare you yet !" Washington replied, " It is a spent ball, and no harm is done." When it was all over, and the redoubts in possession of the two parties, Wash- ing turned to Knox and said, " The work is done, and well done " and then exclaimed to his servant, " William, hand me my horse."
The Moore House, Yorktown.
The first night the American army reposed after the investment of : Yorktown, Washington slept in the open air under & mulberry tree, the root forming his pillow. Cornwallis's head-quarters were originally in a splendid brick house, belonging to Secretary Nelson, (see p. 295,) the ruins of which are now visible in the large and continuous redoubt constructed by the British at the E. end of the town. He remained there until a servant was killed, and the building much injured by the American artillery, when he removed into the town. Fifty or sixty yards from this dwelling, on the hill- side at the lower end of the redoubt, he had a cave excavated in the earth. It was hung with green baize, and used solely for holding councils of war. There is a cave in the solid mass of stone marl which forms the river bank, improperly called Corn- wallis's cave. This was used for a sutlery ; it is now a piggery. The Moore House, on Temple Farin, is yet standing on the banks of the river, about a mile below Yorktown. It is memorable as being the dwelling where the articles of capitulation were signed by Lord Cornwallis : it was then the property of a widow Moore.
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The place of surrender was about half a mile from the E. limits of the town, on the s. side of the road to Hampton.
The frontispiece to this volume, representing the Surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown, is copied from the painting of Col. John Trumbull. It is a faithful copy of the original, and the portraits and minor details are imitated with accuracy. Col. Trumbull, who died in 1843, was the son of Gov. Trumbull of Connecticut, and one of Washington's aid-de-camps in 1775, and in 1776 the deputy adjutant-general of the northern department, under the command of Major-Gen. Gates. He retired from the service in .
1777, and afterwards became the great historical painter of the revolution. This was one of his series of pictures in commemora- tion of the principal events of the revolution, in which series he preserved, as far as possible, faithful portraits of its conspicuous actors, with accurate details of dress, manners, arms, &c., of the times. In the prosecution of his plan he was encouraged by John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, whose friendship he enjoyed. The portraits of the French officers he painted in 1787. at the house of Mr. Jefferson, in Paris. In 1791 he visited Yorktown, and made the drawing of the place of surrender.
Explanation of the Engraving .- The scene represents the mo- ment when the principal officers of the British army, conducted by Gen. Lincoln, are passing the two groups of American and French officers, and entering between the two lines of victors. By this means the principal officers of the three nations are brought near together, so as to admit of distinct portraits. In the centre of the view, in the distance, is seen the entrance of the town, with the captured troops marching out, following their officers ; and also a distant glimpse of York River, and the entrance of the Chesapeake Bay, as seen from the spot.
The prominent figure on horseback in the centre, is Gen. Lin- coln, by whose side stands the British general, O'Hara. Wash- ington, on horseback, is a little in the rear and on the left of Gen. Lincoln. Count Rochambeau, the French general, is on horseback at the end of the line of French officers, and on the right and back of Gen. O'Hara. On the reader's right, the four American officers on foot are, respectively -- commencing with the one near- est the margin-Col. Nicholas Fish, New York ; Col. Walter Stu- art, Phila, ; Col. John Laurens, S. Carolina ; and Col. Alexander Hamilton, commander of light-infantry. On the reader's right, those on horseback -- commencing with the figure nearest the mar- gin-are, respectively, Col. Timothy Pickering, Lieut .- Col. E. Hunt- ington, aid to Lincoln ; Maj. Gen. Knox, commander of artillery ; Gen. Peter Muhlenburg, Virginia ; Gen. Hand, adjutant-general, Pennsylvania ; Gen. Anthony. Wayne, Maryland ; Gen. Gist. Mary- land ; Major-Gen. James Clinton, New York ; Cot. Trombuli, seo- retary to Washington; Col. Cobb. aid to Washington : baron Steuben ; Lafayette ; and. Gov. Nelson, of Virginia. In the dis- tance, the small figure on horseback, beyond some of the cannon,
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is Col. Ebenezer Stevens, of the American artillery. Those drawn up on the left side of the reader, are the French officers. The three first on foot -- commencing with the one nearest the margin --- are Count Deuxponts, colonel of French infantry ; Duke de Laval Montmorency, colonel of do. ; and Count Custine, colonel of do. The first figure on horseback, (who has a plume in his cap.) is the Duke de Lauzun, col. of cavalry ; and those next in order, as fol- lows-Gen. Choizy ; Viscount Viomenil ; Marquis de St. Simon , Count Fersen, aid to Rochambeau ; Count Charles Dumas, and to do. ; Marquis Chastellux ; Baron Viomenil ; Count de Barras, ad- miral ; and Count de Grasse, admiral.
ADDENDA.
Since the first edition of this work was put to press, the following counties have been created :
Appomattox was formed Feb. 8th, 1845, from parts of Prince Edward, Charlotte, und Campbell.
Doddridge was formed Feb. 4th, 1845, from Harrison, Tyler, Ritchie, and Lewis. Gilmer was formed Feb. 3d, 1845, from parts of Lewis and Kanawha.
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HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE SKETCH
OF THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA* was ceded to the United States in 1790, by the states of Virginia and Maryland, and in 1800 the seat of government was removed here from Philadelphia. Its site was selected by GEORGE WASHINGTON, by authority from Congress, after great research and observation, to become the metropolis of this republic. It forms an exact square of 10 miles on a side, lying upon both banks of the Potomac. The location being determined upon, the first stone to mark its boundary was set in Jones's Point, the uppermost cape of Hunting creek, April 15, 1791, in the pres- ence of a large concourse of spectators.
The District is divided into two counties. Washington county is on the N. side of the Potomac, and includes Washington city and Georgetown. Alexandria county is on the s. side of the Potomac, and has the city of Alexandria. In the former, the laws of Mary- land continue in force ; in the latter, those of Virginia. The District has never been represented in the Congress of the United States. Congress, however, makes what laws it pleases for both, which meets annually on the first Monday of December, unless otherwise provided by law.
The surface of the District is gently undulating, furnishing fine sites for cities. The soil is naturally sterile, but it possesses a fine, healthy climate. This District bas become the centre of a consid- erable and active commerce, though it cannot at alt compete with Baltimore, in its vicinity. Vessels of the largest class come up to Alexandria, 6 miles below Washington, where the Potomac is a mile wide, and from 30 to 50 feet deep ; and vessels of a large - size come up to the U. S. Navy Yard, at the junction of the East Branch with the Potomac, at Washington. A very considerable quantity of flour, and other produce, comes down the Potomac, and centres chiefly at Alexandria, and some at Georgetown. The chief business of Washington city has relation to the accommo- dation of the national legislature, and of the officersof the general government. In 1800, the population was 14,093; in ISI0. 24,023: in 1820, 33,039; in 1830, 39,858 ; in 1840, 43.712, of which 30.657 were whites, 8,361 were free colored persons, and 1,691 were slaves.
The valley at the feet of Capitol Hill, washed by the Liber creek. it is stated on the authority of some of the early settlers, was je- riodically visited by the Indians, who named it their fishing-ground,
* We are indebted to Sherman and Smith's valuable Gazettcer of the United States Guer much information respecting the District,
(15*)
3
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in contradistinction to their hunting-ground ; and that they assem- bled there in great numbers in the spring months to procure fish. Greenlief's Point was the principal camp, and the residence of their chiefs, where councils were held among the various tribes thus gathered there. The coincidence of the location of the national legislatures so near the council-house of' an Indian nation, cannot fail to excite interesting reflections in intelligent minds, It is highly probable that Washington was acquainted with this tradition.
Washington City, the capital of the United States, is situated on the E. side of the Potomac, 295 miles from the ocean, by the course of the river and bay. It is 38 miles sw. from Baltimore; 136 from Philadelphia : 225 from New York ; 432 from Boston ; 856 from St. Louis ; 544 from Charleston, S. C .; 662 from Savannah, Ga. ; 1,203 from New Orleans. The population in 1800, was 3,210; in 1810, 8,208 ; in 1820, 13,247; in 1830, 18,827 ; in 1840, 23,364 ; in 1844, 30,429. Employed in commerce, 103; in manufactures and trades, 886 : navigating the ocean, 45 : do. rivers and canals, 25 ; learned professions, 83.
The city stands on a point of land between the Potomac and the Anacostia or Eastern branch. It contains a little over 8 square miles, and upwards of 5,000 acres. The ground is, in general, about 40 feet above the level of the river, and there are some moderate elevations, on two of which stand the Capitol and the President's house. The city is regularly laid out in streets running north and south, and crossed by others at right angles, running east and west. But the different parts of the city are connected by broad avenues, which traverse the rectangular divisions diagon- ally. Where the intersection of these avenues with each other and with the streets would form many acute angles, considerable rectangular or circular open grounds are left, which, when the city shall be built up, will give it an open appearance. The avennes and streets leading to public places are from 120 to 160 feet wide, and the other streets are from 70 to 110 feet wide. The avenues are named after the states of the Union, and the other streets. beginning at the capitol, are denoted by the letters of the alphabet, as A. north and A. south, B. north and B. south, &c. ; and east and west, they are designated by numbers, as Ist east, Ist west, &c. Pennsylvania avenue, between the capitol and the president's house, contains the most dense population, and is much the finest street in the city. Five of the avenues radiate from the capitol, and five others from the president's house, giving these promi- nent places the most ready communication with all parts of the city. The buildings of Washington consist of scattered clus- ters ; nor is it probable that the magnificent plan of the city will soon be built up, although it has greatly increased within the last few years. Three things are requisite to sustain a large city, one of which, it is to be hoped, will never be found in the United States, There must be extensive commerce, or manufactures, or an expen
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sive and luxurious court, with the multitudes which a luxurious court draws around it, to expend their money. This last constitutes a great item in the support of some European cities. Washington cannot be expected to become a very great commercial or manu- facturing place ; and though the chief men of the government. and the national legislature, and the multitudes whom they draw around them, do much towards the prosperity of Washington, the money thus expended is too small in amount to constitute a main reliance of a large city. Baltimore, in the vicinity, will be likely to surpass Washington in commerce and manufactures, for a long time to come. The growth of Washington, however, has been considerably extensive, and it is continually increasing ; and probably the bustle of a large city would not much improve it as a seat for the national congress. It enjoys the two important requisites for health, pure air and good water; and there is much elegant and refined society, rendering it a pleasant place of resi- dence.
The Capitol at Washington.
The public buildings of Washington have a splendor becoming a great nation. The Capitol is probably the finest senate-house in the world, and it is fit that the most august legislative assembly on earth should be thus accommodated. The ground on which the capitol stands is elevated 73 feet above the level of the tide, and affords a commanding view of the different parts of the city, and of the surrounding country. The building, which is of free- stone, covers an area of more than an acre and a half ; the length: of the front is 352 feet, including the wings; the depth of the wings is 121 feet. The centre building is surmounted by a lofty dome; and there are 2 less elevated domes, one towards each end. A projection on the east or main front, including the steps. is 65 feet wide ; and another on the west front, with the steps. is 83 feet wide. In the projection on the east front, there is a noble portico of 22 lofty Corinthian columns ; and in the west front there is a portico of 16 Corinthian columns. The height of the building to the top of the dome is 120 feet. Under the dome in the middle of
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the building is the rotunda, a circular room 95 feet in diameter and of the same height, adorned with sculptures, representing in relief Smith delivered by Pocahontas, the Pilgrims landing ai, Ply- mouth, Penn treating with the natives, and a fight of Boone with the Indians ; and 4 magnificent paintings by Trumbull, with figures as large as life, representing the presentation to Congress of the Declaration of Independence, the capture of Burgoyne, the surren- der of Cornwallis, and Washington resigning his commission to Congress. Another painting, the baptism of Pocahontas, by Chapman, has recently been added. The rotunda has recently received a splendid additional ornament in Greenough's statue of Washington, a colossal figure in a sitting posture, twice as large as life. On the west of the rotunda is the library-room of Con- gress, 92 feet by 34, and is 36 feet in height, containing, in arched alcoves, 20,000 volumes. In the second story of the south wing of the capitol, is the hall of the House of Representatives, of a semicircular form, 96 feet long and 60 high, with a dome sup- ported by 24 beautiful columns of variegated marble from the Potomac, with capitals of Italian marble, of the Corinthian order. The circular wall is surrounded by a gallery for men, and the chord of the arc, back of the speaker's chair, has a gallery for the ladies. The room is ornamented with some fine statuary and paint- ings, and the whole furniture of it is elegant. The Senate cham- ber is in the second story of the north wing of the capitol, and is semicircular like that of the Representatives, but smaller, being 75 feet long and 45 feet high. The vice-president's chair is cano- pied by a rich crimson drapery, held by the talons of a hovering eagle. A gallery of light bronze running round the arc in front of the vice-president's chair, is mainly appropriated to ladies. There is another gallery above and behind the chair, supported by fine Ionic columns of variegated marble. A magnificent chande- lier hangs in the centre of the room, and the whole appearance and furniture of the room are splendid. Below the Senate cham. ber, and of nearly the same form and dimensions, but much less elegant, is the room of the Supreme Court of the United States : and there are in the building 70 rooms for the accommodation of committees and officers of Congress. The grounds around the capitol are spacious, containing 22 acres, highly ornamented with gravelled walks, shrubbery, and trees, a naval monument orna- mented with statuary, and fountains, and the whole is enclosed by a handsome iron railing. The whole cost of the building has exceeded $2.000,000:
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