The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-01-22
3irtmunh 4ispattb.
WEDNESDAY MORNING. JAN. e iss1


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WEDNESDAY MORNING. Jan. = IsSS
~~~r~sss>--
FROM NORFOLK.
Jour OWN CORRESPONDENT
NORFOLK, Jan. 49,.
"Ou the 10th Of May" says that aaven-
turous traveller Captain John Smith. con
the 18th Of May, 1907, they fixed upon a Pc
nfnsula on the North side OF James River
about nifty miles from Its mouth, and then in
the possession Of the Paspaheghs. This was
pronounced very ht place for very great
city; but there was some contention about 1t
between Captain 0osnold and Wingfeld
even after the provisions were landed. Here
they commenced the settlement Of James
town, which was, as It proved, tho small BE-
ginning OF our now great and prosperous
Oonfederacy." Hence the city Of James
town. The subsequent struggles Of the new
colony, its growth, the exploits Of its found
ers, Smith, 0osnold, Newport, Ratcli6, Mar
tin, and others, have become as familiar as
haasshold words throash tAs pages Of his
tory. For the next century the record Of the
Colony was one Of many dinicultiss, but Of
gradual growth. The two ensuing sum
A0eAo WoIo epcut Wy Nuttu auU MS COIupoR"
ions, in exploring the numerous rivers, bays,
inlets, and creeks surrounding the country
by Jamestown, and in conquering them by
arms, or winning them by treaty with the
Indian owners. Slowly as time progressed
the Colonial wilds Of Virginia became in
habited by English emigrants. and one by
one the daring adventurers who first settled
them passed away. Englishmen of wealth
a
lands in the new world, and brought out
tenantry to cultivate them. The culture of
tobacco became source Of wealth,
and hundreds were tempted by the
prospect of gain to leave their Eng
lish homes for the new found Ell Dorado.
For the next twelve years after the settle
ment Of Jamestown the number Of planters
rapidly increased; but still the affairs Of the
colony did not thrive equal to the expecta-
tions Of the peo pie. In 1920, the same year
Miles Standish put his foot on the "blarney
stone OF New England, twelve hundred
and sixty-one additional settlers were in
duced to emigrate, but they soon became
dissat SIZED, and cherished the hope of
/ speedy return to England. Like men who
and 1850, they left the comforts Of civilization
for the sake OF gain, and soon found out the
difference between comfortable home in
Britain and life in the wilderness. But then
there were few women in the country; and
what else could have been expected. In order
| to attach them more closely to the settlement,
and to render the colony more permanent,
ninety young women, OF q reputable charac-
the planters. So good an effect did these
ninety young women, of q reputable charac-
ter, have upon the community in the bush,
that they were soon followed ,n by sixty more,
says no othing,) sent at the expense Of the Eng
lish Colonial Company. Thereafter women
came in every ship, the planters paying the
cost Of their transportation; and so well did
L hos N pnnduct fhou1 Qo1VAS n
the price of q wife rose from one hundred
| and twenty to one hundred and fifty pounds
of tobacco. After this there was very little
discomfort, and the settlements increased
ra pidiy. The next year the London Com
! pany granted their Colony a written consti-
| tu ton, and O local Government was formed
So things went Oh prOsperously until the
reign OF King James was over; then came
Charles l, Cromwell, Charles II, and finally
| the Georges. And through all the years
| through many dificalties-the sett len Is in
Virginia continued to grow in wealth and
| importance.
With the number Of emierants Increased
| the amount of tobacco raised in the Virginia
Colony. and 1t soon became Necessary to form
towns for the purpose OF concentrating trade
| fer facilitating the exportation of tobacco,
] and for the promotion of commerce. In Sc
lecting locations for these towns none seemed
| to offer better advantages than a district
| called by Capt. Smith, Nansamund situated
| on the Elizabeth river, and on the Sth day of
4
six hundred and eighty, seventy. three years
after the settlement of jamestown, the As
| sembly of Virginia passed an act directing
the purchase of fifty acres Of land for the
| ments were offered to lawyers, bricklayers,
| artizans, and mechanics, to take up their resi-
dence within the fifty acres; and they were
exempted from arrest. and their property
| was not liable to seizure for debt. Owing to
the healthfulness OF the location the fine
harbor, its facilities for trade, the place in
creased gradually towards the dimensions OF
town. September 10th, 1875, by a royal
charter from George III, (about whom Mr..
Thackeray tells so many pleasant stories,) it
| was formed into a borough: and that is how
the city OF Norfolk came about.
l From 1876, the date of its chapter, to ITO,
| the town of Norfolk grew rapidly. Its fine
location and its excellent harbor gave an
/ importance few other towns possessed
Trade from all parts OF the State flowed into
its streets, and avenues were opened to com.
| merce with the world. At one time there
was but single rival In the colony. and that,
Dumfries, a Scotch settlement on the Poto.
mac, now a ruined and desolate burg. The
year f'70, saw Norfolk the richest and most
fiourishing city in Virginia. 1t had In.
| creased in size until its fnhabitan is number
| ed six thousand; and had In ncreased in wealth
houses, its wharves, it's churches, and it,
elegant private residences. we've evidence.
When the American Revolution begun
Norfolk was in a very prosperous condition
At that time many of her sons joined The
popular Massachusetts clamor against the
King" and assisted in the overthrow ol
| British Government in the Colonies. When
hostilities actually begun, the city was the
scene of stirring events and suffered severe.
ly before the close of the war. Early in the
| difficulties, the British feet, under Lord
Dunmore, made Norfolk harbor its principal
| rendezvous. The Virginians commenced
making preparations to defend themselves
and threw up fortifications around the town
| The first battle fought was at "Grea1
Bridge" on the north bank Of the Elizabeth
river, a few miles from the city, which tool
place on the morning of December eth, 1878
| Lord Dunnlore dispatched 200 regulars AND
| 300 blacks and tories to capture the bridge
| which was defended by 300 "shirtmen" Al
they called the Virginians, but they act ith
| a severe defeat and returned with loss OF
I02 killed and Wounded. This victory deter
| mined the Virginians to take the city Of Nor.
folk bat, like the Yankees at Portsmouth
the British commanders became alarmed al
| the noise around them, and the fortifica tiona
| were hastily abandoned. Twenty pieces oi
cannon were dismantled and spiked before
the increasing hostility of the people the fleet
could not get pro visions, aud Lord Dunmore
sent word to the Virginia authorities tina,
| unless they furnished him, he would bonn.
bard the town. No attention was paid tC
this, and on the 1st of January, 177s, after a
opened fire. The wooden buildings by the
water weresoon IL flames, and owing to high
| winds the conflagrati0n spread until nine
tenths of the city was destroyed.
Several times after the British fleet cam,
into Hampton Roads, and two or three fimei
Portsmouth, Immediately across the river
was occupied. That town also suffered 80
verely during the war and was frequently
used as places of rendezvous as Annapoli
and Old Point are used by the Yankees. Or