Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-05-16

Willamsburgh, the point 20 which the late
Yorktown rebels are reported TO have fed is
twelve miles north of Yorktown-with which
Il communicates by two main roads-and IF
ty-eight miles from Richmond. The penin-
suls at this point is between eight and ten
miles wide, from the York to the James Riv-
er, and the town is about midway between
the rivers, situated on a level plain There
have been rumors from time to time that the
rebels had a line OF works here similar to that
which they had at Yorktown; but regarding
this, the public at least have had no very de-
finite information.
Willamsburgh is a small town of less than
thousand inhabitants, the capital Of James
City County. It's laid out in parallel streets,
with square of several acres in the centre,
containing the county buildings. Through it
runs the principal streets, which is very wide
and about a mile in length, at one end of
which is the old College Of William and
Mary, founded in 1922, and at the other the
ruins of the old capito-for it was formerly
the seat Of the Colonial Government. The
place is situated near by jamestown, the
first settlement in British America, where
Capt John Smith and his companions planted
themselves in 1907. In its most palmy days,
Willamsburgh contained only population
of 1000, but latterly the place declined. Be-
fore the peninsula was racked by war, there
was an air Of repose about this village city,
so interesting from its historic associations
1t is the oldest incorporated town in Virgin
ia In 1893 the seat of Government was
removed here from jamestown by Gov. Mich
olson. AT Middle Plantation, seven miles
from Jamestown says an old writer, Gov
Nicholson laid out the City of Williamsburgh
in the form Of a cypher made Of w and NJ
ON ridge at the head springs Of two great
creeks, one running into James and the other
into York River, which are each navigablo for
sloops (and gunboats y within mile of the
town at the head of which creek are good
buildings, and lots laid out, and dwelling
houses and warehouses built; so that this
town most conveniently situated, in the mid
die of the lower part Of Virginia, command
ing two noble rivers, not above four hours
from either From this time until 1899,
when the seat of Government was removed to
Richmond, the town was the centre of the
fashion, wealth and learning Of the "Old Do
minion.' Being then the residence of the
Governor-the royal State in which he lived
the polite and brilliant circle which he al
ways had about him dffused their influence
through the city, and filled Wiliamsburgh
with taste and aristocracy. During the ses-
sion Of the House Of Burgesses, too, these
stately moods Of life assumed their form; the
town was filled with visitors and citizens at
tired in their gayest colors the streets ex-
hbited continual scene Of animated and gilt
tering tumult. The descriptions of Williams
burgh published 1870 years ago, resemble it
in many respects at the present time. Many
of the old hui diugs are standings but now
Il csc monuments of the past bid fair to be all
swept away by the storm Of war. To write
the history of Williamsburgh is to write the
history Of early Virginia.
This place was the scene of several Of the
Revolutionary contests. Two minor actions
were fought here-one in 1881 and the other
in l782--but all these will be forgotten in
view of present events, of which it is the the
atre