The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-11-03
,cov-er,onsenee Of the Richmond D,spa,ch.l

eide of James river against the Indians.
In l646 ask hundred acres Of land ada
cent to Fort Henry, together with all the
<bouses and edifces' appurtenant thereto,
were granted to Captain Abraham WOOD 10
fee ssmple"; but some years previous the
land On which the fort stood had peeh
granted TO Thomas Pitt, who may De con.
sidered the earliest proprietor OF the slte OF
petersburg, The town derived It's name
from Peter Jones, who established near inc
present juncture Of Sycamore ana Oia
streets o trading.post with the lneians'
which was called "Peter's Point. ana aller-
wards Petersburg. This Peter Jones was
friend and travelling companion OF tae ceie-
brated Colonel Byrd, of Westover, whom
he accompanied, in 1888, on journey 10
Roanoke, during which the plan OF estaD-
fishing both Richmond and petersburg was
discussed and decided upon. >,
In l749 the towns Of Petersburg ana
Blantlford were established by law, and four
wears later q charter for building the nrst
bridge across the Appomattox was obtained.
In 1884 Petersburg, which had become
place of considerable trade, was incorpora-
ted, and Bandford, PCcahontaS, and Ravens
crofts united with it.
During the war Of the Revolution peters-
burg was twice occupied by the brlti>h.
In 17S1 General Phillips and the traitor
Arnold with 4 force Of 1900 men captured
the town after most gallant resistance by
I O0) Virginia militia under Baron Sleuhen.
Amer eyacuating the town and proceeding
down the river as far as Hog island the Bri-
fish commander was ordered back, and du.
ring the second occupation the town was
bombarded by Lafay cite from Archer's Hill,
and during the attack General Phillips ION
the 18th Of Msy) died from bilious fever. 1t
was Of him that jefferson said: she Is tho
proutlest man of the pro-dest nation on
EARTH"
In the war OF 1872 corps of 1O5 young
men from Petersburg, called the "Pcters-
burg Volunteers" won the highest distinc-
ton, and were publicly complimented III
general orders from headquarters for gal
lantry on the field and good conduct IN
camp. Descended from such ancestors, 1t is
not surprising that the militia Of Petersburg
won ,mperishable honor by the ealIantry
with which, in 1864, they saved their fair
city from the grasp of an overwhelming
Federal force, and that the Petersburg vol
unteers proved themselves rs gallant ana
steady soldiers as ever kept step to the mu-
sic of Dixie-no higher praise could be given
them.
And thus am led from the olden times to
the siege of Petersburg in 1864, OF which
am wildly reminded as walk these streets.
Especially have recalled the brave conduct
of the noble women whom saw minister
ing to our sick and wounded, feeding our
half-starved soldiers, attending church, or
going about the streets while shot and she'll
were falling all around. was reminded by
passing the spot OF an incident, OF which
felt rather ashamed ut the time.
Riding down the street one day
! found myself involun'ariy duckinS my
head as the shell would whiz by, when,
looking some distance ahead, | saw shell
burst few feet behind Il young lady who
was quietly walking along as if nothing un.
usual was occurring. AS the shell exploded
she turned her bead for moment, gave
it's scattering pieces look OF supreme con-
tempt, and resumed her walk as calmly as
before. An old veteran near by remarked,
"Well! We men must stop lodging when
the women treat them things with such in
difference"
A history of the war that does not give
chapter to the heroism Of the women of Pc
tersburg will lose some of its brightest pages.
Our brave boys must have caught inspira-
ton from their example, for certain 1t is that
than in the battles around Petersburg, nor
more GOODNESS under Calling fire than
during those wearisome days in the trenches.
/ can wildly recall now some of those
scenes when, under constant fire from the
mortars, and in momentary danger Of being
picked off by the enemy's sharpshooters
concealed 10 their trenches only few yards
of, cur boys would cheerlully perform
their arduous duties, or merrily crack their
jokes at the expense of every conner. As |
the huge shell would come over, parties Of
the Gray-IackeiS might be seen eagerly |
watching them, with the exclamation Thai |!
is nv shell ! that is my she'll" and they /
would scarcely wait for the smoke and dust |
from the explosion 10 clear away before |
rushing eagerly to the spot to dig up the frag-
ments to sell for the few cents q pound offered /
by the Ordnance Department, and thus exc
out their scanty rations. l remember one |
day walking along the trenches and amusing |
"the boys" good deal by lodging the Mi
ME ballS which would frequently whistle
over the parapet and uncomfortably near my
head, when came to point where one of /
them was frying his bit OF musty bacon at a
sort Of fireplace scooped out in the side OF
the bank. The MINES were frequently
striking near him, but be went on seemingly
unconscously Of his danger, until presently
one struck in the fire and made the ashes fly
in every direction. Coolly changing his po-
sition little, rs if to avoid the smoke, he de-
liberately went Gu with his culinary opera
ton, dryly remmking, "Plague take those
fellows; expect they will Spite my grease
yet"
just then gallant officer at my side sug-
gested that We had better 90 into one of the
bomb-proofs. readily as>ented to propo-
sition which ! had wanted to hear for half |
an hour before, and We found party there
engaged in one Of those delightful prayer
meeting which were.so common among our
noble men.
remember one day, while looking through |
portfolio on the line {near the Appomat-
tox), then held by that grand old regiment
the Thirteenth Virginia, my hat blew OF and
fell between the two lines. Now, although
hats ,oere hots in those days, and this was
new one, considered the danger Of attempt.
ing to recover my SLOUGH so great that would
not have undertaken 1t, or had another 90
so, for all Of the hats in the Confederacy.|
But George Haner, OF the Louisa Court
house company, may give ms name'
as be now nlis am honored soldiers grave,
after winning by his gaiiantry on mary
q hardfought field q place pesioe the
brave Color Sergeant Uranium, of whom
YOU published an incident the other day,
stepped forward and said, 81 win get your
hat directly p II begged him not to attempt
1t. as It was in full view Of, and only fewiI
wards from, the enemy's pickets, but he ranil
of. and I'D Is few minutes returned with thet|
prize, How did you manage to get it?'ii
] asked. ooh! crawled down the trench
leading to our picket hne and fished it insl
NTH n DoleD .fTlid net tlp Yankees saelI