University of Virginia Library

As early as 1645-6, a fort called Fort Henry, was established at the falls of the Appomattox,

where Petersburg now is, for the defence of the inhabitants on the south side
of James river.

In 1675, war being declared against the Indians, 500 men were ordered to proceed to
the frontier, and eight forts garrisoned. Among these was the one near the falls of the
Appomattox, at Major General Wood's, "or over against him at one ffort or defensible
place at ffleets, of which Major Peter Jones be captain or chief commander."

In 1728, fifty-three years after, Col. Byrd, on his return from the expedition in which
he was engaged as one of the Virginia commissioners, in running the line between this
state and North Carolina, mentions the site of Petersburg, as follows: "At the end of
thirty good miles, we arrived in the evening at Col. Bolling's, where from a primitive
course of life we began to relax into luxury. This gentleman lives within hearing of
the falls of Appomattox river, which are very noisy whenever a flood happens to roll a
greater stream than ordinary over the rocks. The river is navigable for small craft as
high as the falls, and, at some distance from them, fetches a compass and runs nearly
parallel with James River, almost as high as the mountains."

By an act passed in 1646, it appears that 600 acres of land adjacent to Fort Henry,
together with all the "houses and edifices" appurtenant thereto, were at that time
granted to Captain Abraham Wood in fee-simple; yet he was not the earliest settler;
for, by the same act, it appears that the land on which the fort stood, together with part
of the adjacent 600 acres, had been granted to Thomas Pitt. He may, therefore, be
considered the earliest proprietor of the site of Petersburg, it having been granted to
him previous to 1646. The town derived its name from Peter Jones, who opened a
trading establishment with the Indians at an early day, a few rods west of what is now
the junction of Sycamore and Old streets. The locality was called Peter's Point, subsequently
changed to Petersburg.

This Peter Jones was an old friend and fellow-traveller of Col. William Byrd, of
Westover; and in 1733, accompanied the latter on a journey to Roanoke, on which
occasion the plan of establishing Richmond and Petersburg was conceived. Byrd says,
in his journal, "When we got home, we laid the foundation of two large cities—one at
Shacco's, to be called Richmond, and the other at the point of Appomattox River, to be
called Petersburg. These Major Mayo offered to lay off into lots, without fee or reward.
The truth of it is, these two places being the uppermost landing of James and Appomattox
rivers, are naturally intended for marts, where the traffic of the outer inhabitants
must centre. Thus we did not build castles only, but cities, in the air."

In the October session, in 1748, in the 22d year of the reign of King George II., the
towns of Petersburg and Blandford were established. Four years later an act was
passed, allowing a bridge to be built by subscription over the Appomattox, at Bolling's
Point, "to the land of John Bolling, gentleman;" which was probably the first bridge
ever built over the river. In 1762, in the preamble to an act enlarging the town, it is
stated that it "had very greatly increased, and become a place of considerable trade."
At that time Robert Bolling, Roger Atkinson, William Eaton, John Bannister, Robert
Ruffin, Thomas Jones, Henry Walker, George Turnbull, and James Field, gentlemen,
were appointed trustees for laying out the town. In 1784, Petersburg was incorporated,
and Blandford, Pocahontas, and Ravenscrofts, united with it.

In the war of the revolution, Petersburg was twice visited by the enemy. On the
22d of April, 1781, the British, under Gen. Phillips, left Williamsburg, sailed up the
James, and on the 24th landed at City Point. "The next day," says Girardin's Hist.
of Va., "they marched up to Petersburg, where Baron Steuben received them with a
body of militia, somewhat under 1000 men. Although the enemy were 2,300 strong,
Steuben opposed their progress. For two hours, he skilfully and bravely disputed the
ground with them; the assailants were twice broken, and precipitately ran back until
supported by fresh troops. During the interval of time just stated, they gained but a
mile, and that by inches. The inferiority of the Virginians in numbers obliged them to
withdraw about 12 miles up the Appomattox, till more militia should be assembled.
They retired in good order over a bridge, which was taken up as soon as the militia
passed, so as to secure their retreat. The whole loss of the Virginians, in killed,
wounded, and taken, amounted to about 60. That sustained by the enemy, was conjectured
to be more considerable."[1]

There is, perhaps, no house in Virginia connected with a greater number of military
revolutionary recollections, than Bollingbrook, in the town of Petersburg.

On the approach of the enemy, a large portion of the people of the town made their
escape. General Phillips took up his residence at Bollingbrook. He and the officers of
his family are said to have treated Mrs. Bolling with a good deal of courtesy, and (some
add) addressed her always as Lady Bolling. Arnold is recollected as a handsome man,
that limped in his gait.[3] He was fond of caressing the children of the family, and dandled
them on his knee.

Both the houses on Bollingbrook hill were occupied by British officers.[4] Mrs. Bolling
was allowed the use of a room in the rear of the east building. Two sentinels were
placed at each door of the house with crossed bayonets. The British soldiery repeatedly
set on fire the fences about Bollingbrook, and frequently "all around was in a light
blaze."[5] Upon these occasions, Mrs. Bolling was obliged to send her servants to arrest
the flames, and she was thus kept in a state of continual apprehension and alarm.

On the next day after his arrival, (to wit, the 26th of April,) General Phillips (according
to Arnold's letter to Sir Harry Clinton) burnt 4000 hhds. of tobacco. The warehouses
which belonged to Mrs. Bolling, at her solicitation, were spared on condition that
the inhabitants should remove the tobacco from them, which was accordingly done, by
extraordinary exertions, during the night of the 25th. This conflagration must have
presented a striking and picturesque spectacle. The scarlet-dressed soldiers moving
about amidst the flames, scattering the fire-brands, and officiating in the work of destruction—the
burning of the shipping on the river, reflecting its lurid glare on Pocahontas
and Blandford—heightened the effect of the scene.

Arnold, on dit, cautioned Mrs. Bolling to be careful in her intercourse with General
Phillips, not to irritate him, as he was a man of an ungovernable temper. This lady,
during that period of terror, suffered an intense solicitude and anxiety, which discovered
itself in her unconsciously darning the needles, with which she was knitting, into the
bed by which she sat. Her conduct during this trying crisis, displayed a heroism which
doubtless won the respect of the British officers; who are in general "men of honor
and cavaliers."

After committing devastations at Osborne's, Manchester, Warwick, &c., the enemy
set sail, and proceeded down James River, until, receiving (near Hog Island) countermanding
orders, they returned up the river. On the 7th of May, they landed in a gale
of wind at Brandon; and on the 9th, marched 30 miles, and entered Petersburg late in
the night. They came so unexpectedly as to surprise ten American officers, who were
there for the purpose of collecting boats to convey the army of the Marquis de Lafayette
across the James River.

General Phillips entered Petersburg this second time, sick of a bilious fever;—he arrived
on the 9th of May, and breathed his last on the 13th, at Bollingbrook. He lay
sick in the west room front of the east building. During the illness of General Phillips,
the town was cannonaded by Lafayette from Archer's hill,[6] and it is commonly reported
that he died while the cannonade was going on. It seems, however, more probable,
that this cannonade occurred on the 10th, when Lafayette (according to Arnold's
letter) "appeared with a strong escort on the opposite side of the river,[7] and
having stayed some time to reconnoitre, returned to Osborne's." Cannon-balls fired upon
that occasion, were preserved in the town some years ago, and may be yet extant. The
Americans being aware that Bollingbrook was head-quarters, directed their shot particularly

PETERSBURG.

The above view was taken on an eminence about half a mile north of the central part of the town. In the centre of the view is seen the depot of the
Richmond and Petersburg railroad; on the right, a glimpse of the Appomattox river, and beyond, the principal part of Petersburg.

at that house,[8] a measure which, considering the sickness of General Phillips,
would hardly have been justifiable, but for the horrid series of devastations in which he
had just been engaged, in company with that odious traitor Arnold. This officer, in
the early part of the cannonade, was walking across the yard, until a ball having passed
very near him, he hastened into the house, and directed all the inmates to go down into
the cellar for shelter.[9] General Phillips was removed down there. Mrs. Bolling also
took refuge there, with one or two ladies who were with her. Anburey[10] (if memory
serves) mentions that during the firing of the American artillery, Phillips, being then at
the point of death, exclaimed—"Wont they let me die in peace?"

Gen. Phillips died on the 13th of May, and was buried in the grave-yard adjoining
Blandford church. There reposes one, of whom Mr. Jefferson said—"he is the proudest
man, of the proudest nation on earth."

On the 20th of May, 1781, just one week after the death of Phillips, Lord Cornwallis
entered Petersburg on his route from Wilmington, North Carolina. He remained in
Petersburg only three or four days, and, as is understood, made his head-quarters at Bollingbrook.
General O'Hara, it appears, was quartered at what is commonly styled the
"Long Ornary,"—about a mile to the west of Petersburg, on the main road. Mrs.
Bolling found it necessary to visit this officer at that place, for the purpose of recovering
certain negroes and horses, which had been taken from her, and were then there. The
general consented to restore the slaves, but with respect to the horses proved quite inexorable.
He is described as a harsh, uncouth person. He was wounded at the battle
of Guilford, and surrendered Lord Cornwallis' sword at Yorktown.

At the siege of Toulon, in a sortie made by the youthful Napoleon, a grenadier in
the darkness of the night drew a wounded prisoner down into a ditch; that prisoner
was Major-General O'Hara, of "Long Ornary" memory, commander-in-chief of the
British forces.

General Orders.

The term of service for which the Petersburg Volunteers were engaged having expired,
they are permitted to commence their march to Virginia, as soon as they can be
transported to the south side of the lake.

In granting a discharge to this patriotic and gallant corps, the General feels at a loss
for words adequate to convey his sense of their exalted merits; almost exclusively composed
of individuals who had been nursed in the lap of ease, they have, for twelve
months, borne the hardships and privations of military life in the midst of an inhospitable
wilderness, with a cheerfulness and alacrity which has never been surpassed. Their
conduct in the field has been excelled by no other corps; and while in camp, they have
set an example of subordination and respect for military authority to the whole army.
The General requests Capt. M'Rae, his subalterns, non-commissioned officers, and
privates, to accept his warmest thanks, and bids them an affectionate farewell.

Herewith is a list of this corps: the italicised letters attached to their names signify

as follows: k. killed at Fort Meigs; w. wounded at Fort Meigs; d. died; p. promoted;
and p. a. promoted in the army.

Captain:

• Richard M'Rae.

Lieutenants:

• William Tisdale, 1st.

• Henry Gary, 2d. d.

Ensign:

• Shirley Tisdale, p.

Sergeants:

• James Stevens, d.

• Robert B. Cook, p.

• Samuel Stevens, w.

• John Henderson, p. a.

Corporals:

• N'bn. B. Spotswood, p.

• John Perry, d.

• Joseph Scott, w.

• Thomas G. Scott, w.

• Joseph C. Noble,

• G. T. Clough, k.

Musicians:

• —Daniel Eshon, w.;

• James Jackson, w.

Privates:

• Andrew Andrews, d.

• Richard Adams,

• John Bignall,

• Edward Branch, p.

• Richard H. Branch,

• Thos. B. Bigger, p. a.

• Robert Blick, w.

• George Burge,

• William Burton,

• Daniel Booker,

• Richard Booker, p. a.

• George Booker, k.

• Joseph R. Bentley,

• John W. Bentley,

• Edmund Brown, w.

• Thomas Clarke,

• Reuben Clements,

• Moses Clements,

• Jas. G. Chalmers, p.

• Edward Cheniworth, d.

• James Cabiness,

• Edward H. Cogbill,

• Samuel Cooper, w.

• James Cureton, d.

• William R. Chives, w.

• George Craddock,

• Laven Dunton,

• Wm. B. Degraffenreidt,

• George P. Digges,

• Grieve Drummond, w.

• A. O. Eggleston, p. a.

• James Farrar, p.

• John Frank,

• Edmund Gee, d.

• James Gary,

• Frederick Gary,

• George Grundy,

• George W. Grymes,

• Leroy Graves,

• Edmund M. Giles, p. a.

• William Harrison,

• Nathaniel Harrison,

• Jacob Humbert,

• John C. Hill,

• James Jeffers,

• William Lacey, d.

• Herbert C. Lofton, w.

• Benjamin Lawson,

• Alfred Lorain,

• William Lanier, d.

• William R. Leigh, w,

• David Mann,

• Nich. Massenburg, k.

• Anthony Mullen,

• Benjamin Middleton,

• Roger Mallory,

• Joseph Mason, w.

• Edwd. Mumford, p. a.

• Samuel Miles, d.

• James Pace,

• James Peterson,

• Richard Pool,

• Benjamin Pegram,

• Thomas W. Perry, w.

• John Potter, p. a.

• John Rawlings,

• Wm. P. Rawlings, d.

• Evans Rawlings,

• George Richards,

• Geo. P. Raybourne, d.

• John Shore, k.

• John Shelton,

• Richard Sharp,

• John H. Smith,

• John Spratt,

• Robert Stevens,

• Edward Stith, w.

• Thomas Scott, w.

• John H. Saunders,

• Daniel Worsham,

• Charles Wynne,

• Nath. H. Willis, w.

• Thomas Worsham,

• Samuel Williams, k

• James Williams,

• John F. Wiley,

• David Williams.

Being unable to pass the Ohio on account of the running of the ice, they encamped
near the village, and remained about two weeks, during which time the writer had an
opportunity of learning their character, which soon became of great service to him.
Soon as the ice permitted, they struck their tents and began to cross the river, rejoicing
in the prospect of soon reaching the post of danger. Some five or six of these soldiers,
impatient of delay, were about to take a skiff which belonged to the writer, who was
then young, inexperienced, and of such very fiery temperament as not to be very passive
when his rights were invaded, and therefore began rather abruptly, perhaps, to remonstrate
with them; and on their persisting in taking the skiff, high words ensued, in
which he called them a set of scoundrels. The words were scarcely uttered, when he
was surrounded by half the company, all of whom seemed to feel that the indignity was
offered to the whole company. As more and more still gathered around him, they said:
`We have a right to use any means in our power to get on where our country calls us.
We bear the character of gentlemen at home: you have called us scoundrels; this you
must retract, and make us an apology, or we will tear you in pieces.' Thinking I
knew their character, I instantly resolved on the course to be pursued, as the only
means of saving myself from the threatened vengeance of men exasperated to the
highest pitch of excitement. Assuming an apparent courage, which I confess I did not
feel as strongly as I strove to evince, I turned slowly round upon my heels, looking them

full in the face, with all the composure I could command, without uttering a word. By
this time several of the citizens were standing on the outside of the crowd that surrounded
me. The volunteers, not knowing I was a stranger there, thought I had turned round
in search of succor from the citizens, and with a view of making my escape—said to me,
`You need not look for a place of escape; if all the people of the county were your
friends, they could not liberate you—nothing but an apology can save you.' The citizens
were silent witnesses of the dilemma in which the Yankee, as they called me, was
involved. I replied, `I am not looking for a place of escape—I am looking on men
who say they have volunteered to fight their country's battles—who say they are gen-

The Blanford Church.

tlemen at home—who doubtless left Petersburg, resolved, if they ever returned, to do so
with laurels of victory round their brows. And now, I suppose, their first great victory
is to be achieved before they leave the shores of their native state, by sixty or seventy of
them tearing one man to pieces. Think, gentlemen, if indeed you are gentlemen, how
your fame will be blazoned in the public prints—think of the immortality of such a victory!
You can tear me in pieces; and, like cannibals, eat me, when you have done. I
am entirely in your power; but there is one thing I cannot do. You are soldiers, so am
I a soldier; you ask terms of me no soldier can accept; you cannot, with a threat over
my head, extort an apology from me; therefore, I have only to say, the greatest scoundrel
among you, strike the first blow! I make no concession.' The result was more
favorable than I had anticipated. I had expected to have a contest with some one of
them, for I believed the course I had taken would procure me friends enough from among
themselves, to see me have, what is called `fair play' in a fisticuff battle. But I had
effected more. I had made an appeal to the pride, the bravery, and the noble generosity
of Virginians—too brave to triumph over an enemy in their power—too generous to
permit it to be done by any of their number. A simultaneous exclamation was heard all
around me, `He is a soldier; let him alone'—and in a moment they dispersed."

Within the limits of Petersburg, "on the north bank of the Appomattox, within a few
feet of the margin of the river, is a large, dark-gray stone, of a conical form, about five
feet in height, and somewhat more in diameter. On the side which looks to the east,
three feet above the ground, there is an oval excavation about twelve inches across, and
half as many in depth. The stone is solitary, and lifts itself conspicuously above the
level of the earth. It is called the Basin of Pocahontas, and except in very dry weather,
is seldom without water."

John Burk, a lawyer, was a native of Ireland, and settled in Petersburg, where he
wrote and published, in 1804, three volumes on the history of Virginia, bringing it down
to the commencement of the American revolution. While here, he wrote plays for an
histrionic society in the town, and on the boards of its amateur theatre, acted parts in
them. His work on the state he did not live to complete. At a public table Burk used
some expressions derogatory to the French nation. A French gentleman accidentally
present, named Coburg, a stranger in the country, offended by the remarks, challenged
him. They fought at Fleet's Hill, on the opposite bank of the Appomattox, and Burk
was killed. The 4th and remaining volume, published in 1816, was written by Skelton
Jones and Louis Hue Girardin, the latter of whom was a Frenchman, and, it is stated,
wrote under the supervision of Jefferson at Monticello, who, familiar with the era to
which it related, imparted valuable information.

Gen. Winfield Scott, the present commander-in-chief of the U. S. Army, was born
near Petersburg, June 13th, 1785. As an officer and a soldier his name stands conspicuous
in the annals of our country.