The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-02-07
Ashland.

This pretty little village, sixteen miles nortn
OF Richmond, on the Fredericksburg and Poto
mac railroad, has come out of the war with
very little damage. The origin of Ashland is
not hidden in the mists of antiquity. 1t is yet
but youth not quite twenty -one, but has
arrived, nevertheless, ut years of discretion,
and has an old head, several of them, on its
young shoulders. That enterprisiug and genial
gentleman, EDWIN ROBINSON, Esq, then Pre-
sident of ethe Fredericksburg railroad, con-
ceived the plan of establishing n pretty little
village on the company's grounds in the Slashes
Of Hanover. The Fredericksburg Company
owned the land on which the town is situated
and laid it out in lots, suitable for building
purposes, inducement being held out to n resi-
dence there by the offer of free ticket to and
from Richmond for the head of every family
sometimes woman, sometimes man. Mr.
ROBINSON designed the handsome hotel and
cottages, and the adornment of their grounds:
and the architectural taste exhibited in these
edifices was initiated by those who put up other
residences, SO that Ashland became one of the
prettiest rural retreats in Virginia. There
was q race-course established, and q club
house built; and what with races, eXcur
sions, balls, and pic-nics, Ashland bloOmed
amidsts the slashes like q gay little exotic in
4 big flower-pot. But the exotic took kindly
hold of the marshes, and it has fiourished, and
is fourishing as if TO the manor born. The
resident society has always been agreea-
BILE and intelligent. The former British CON
sul, &. p. r. JAMES, and his equally popular
successor, the amiable and excellent Mr.
MOORE, showed their appreciation Of Ashland
and its society by making il their home when
in this country. During the war, many refu
gees resorted 10 Ashland on account of the
greater economy of living and the facilities
of reaching their place Of business in this city.
Whilst that long contest was going on, both
the Union and Confederate forces showed
their Appreciation of Ashland by repeated
visits The citizens were entertained by q
succession of equestrian exhibitions, gotten
up without regard to expense. There must
have been eight or nine raids through the
little place, including two sharp fights, but no
injury to persons, nor any worth speaking Of to
their residences. STOEEwALL JACKSON passed
the night in Ashland before commencing his
famous movement on the Chickahominy.
Notwithstanding the marshy soil, Ashland is
remarkably healthy. 1t is recovering again
from the dilapidation of the war; and its we'll
kept hotel is once more afavorite resort. ira
yelIers upon the railroad would be glad if the
old arrangement of getting breakfast and din
ner at that well-furnished table could he
restored and more leisure permitted TO eMa-
mine the significance of those "horns of the
dilemma which still protrude over the
bar-room door The counterfeit present
ments" of PATRICK Henry and HENRY
CLAY, both natives of that region, are
vet swinging in front of the hotel, and il
speaks we'll for the reverence of art among
the raiders, that not one Of them mani
tested the least desire 10 disturb or carry away
those antediluvian prodigies. The mill TO
which the " Milboy of the Slashes - resorted
in his youth, about three miles from Ashland,
is still standing. Ashland has several
churches, Baptist, Methodist, and Episcopal ;
male and female schools a literary club, which
meets weekly and occasional lectures, the last
of which, the famous lecture OF DR.. BAGBY,
was received there, as everywhere, with great
satisfaction. 1t would be q very judicious
enterprise, in the present demand for houses,
If gentlemen having capital would build tene-
ment houses in Ashland. As many as can be
built could be readily rented 10 citizens OF
Richmond, who can reach their places of bust
ness here and return by the accommodation
train, with almost as little loss of time as il
they resided in the suburbs of the city.