Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-07-06
Annals of AIexandria-FOurt Series

Annals of Alexandria-FOurth Series.
BY VIM !. CARNE.
Chapter 1A.-Warlike Preparations and Peace.
! able Progress.
| 1851. The town had its birth in time of peace,
but var came to rock it's cradle. The tireless
Indian vas again busy near frontiers that we're
scarcely SO miles distant, and the Frenchman was
alert on the Ohio behind him. The second
year Of the town saw the war cloud gather, and
wondered bow old it would be when the cloud
should over shadow the land. Just at this
season, George Washington, only 20, physically
hardened, and tempered 10 mind, and fast ma
tuliog 10 experience aud observation by bis
three years survey for Lord Fairfax, close to
the scenes of the coming trouble, came back to
the Alexandria neighborhcod, and mingled with
its founders, some of whom were bis near re-
iaives, aud all his personal friends. The Gen
eral Assembly Of Virginia had just divided the
Domlolon into military districts. the centre one
Of which was at Alexandria, Washington Was
commissioned Major. and appointed A6jutant
General OF the Alexandria district. He began
at once his preparations and Initiated the Or
ganization Of the militia from the Potomac to
| the mountains. Comparatively little Versed iu
military science, he avsied himself OF every
opportunity to perfect himself in the art of war;
read books on militsry science, obtained the
instruction Of pco Of all degrees, who had
served in European armies, and learned fenc
iug from Jacob Van Braam, wandering
swordsman, who had served in the Carthagena
regiment under Law. Washington. and came
often to Mount Vernon.
A6jutant Washington made Alexandra the
militia headquarters and was here several tlm;s
q wetk arranging for the musterS, selecting
drill masters. and moulding for the coming ex:
at his command. Oat the limited field Of Alex
sndria be first displayed that mastery of detail
and talent for orgaoiz .lion, which twenty-five
years later avsiled the United Colonies iu OR
ganzog tue crude Continental army on Boston
Heights. He was not yet twenty one.
Meanwhile the affairs of tho town were tor
warded IS much as possible by the trustees.
Six of them met on the 30th Of May sud
declared that it ia thought necessary BY the
trustees present that there be meeting held
10 said town on The second Saturday Of every
month iD order to propose and put 10 execution
such schemes az may BIZ proposed for the beos
fit aud advancement Of said to~n. and that the
CLERK be lrlered 10 Attend They also direct
I'd that advertisements in relation to the town
ots should be pnl up in Fairfax and sent
down the river" Tnere were ooly town resi-
dents present at this meetiog, but 1hc interest
of the country trustees eeens to have been
awakened, Tor at the next meeting Col. YIN.
Fairfax, bis sou, Geo. VIM. Fairfax, and bis
sonic law, Lawrence Washington, attended
and confirmed the former action.
The necessity Of proper thoroughiares had
already became evident. The business OF the
town 10 connection with the river waS 49, $3.50, as
Point We and Point lun''rJ. ~ az tue , ~
| oooi roadway J-pou from the Tobacco W are.
$50 "a tic hill to tho county wharf below,
but at Point Lunley tho descent of the bill,
near Water street to the river, was preclpllous,
and at meeting Fl tie trustees. OF the 81 of
August, it Eas ordered that "MajJr John
Carlyle = appointed 10 have good rosd cleared
dog1 to Point Lumley and to see the atrcets
kept in repair"
This vas the last meeting ever attended by
| Lawrence Washington. His health geemed
| bad then, and it was mentioned that hia ph9.
slcian had declared him oonsumptlvo and Or
dered him to warmer climate, and that bis
brother George. who had been busy daring the
summer arranging militia matters, would 90
with him. Much regret OF the parting was
expressed, aud few weekslater, 10 September,
| both embarked for Barbados.
|, A number Of houses had beep erected before
u :" close of this scar. Most of them we're
small, but the smallest Was st icaat twenty feet
! square.
} 1852. The year 1852 was the first that, in
Alexandria, or in any other part CT Great
Britain, had ever begun on the lst Of January.
On the first of February the soho oner Industry
arrived from The West Indies at Point West. 1t
had brought George Washington back from
rbo5 ~ hot
renee Washington was very i'll, aud had sent
for bis wife to join him % the !.snd. Inenoo,
io oSos ifr maos lays, Mount Vernon wore
The success Of tho project for towa OF
Alexandria led to an imitation on The other side
of the river, aod on the 9th of June, 1851. the
Governor and Houses of Assembly of Mary.
land authorized Capt. Henry Wright Crabb,
Master John Needham and others to lay cut
| Georgetown, ION Potomac river, above the
| mouth of Rock Greek, adj accent to the Inspec.
| ton House Of Frederick county, upon 2ixty
acres Of land" This act was il substance
| identical With the law establishing the town Of
Alexandra. Heuceforth for many years no
| shadow ever followed the substance with more
| exactitude than Georgetown did Alexandra.
Every act by Virginia for the bene6r Of Alex.
andra was at once initiated by Maryland to-.
| the benefit of Georgetown. The building Of
houses on the lots was actively pursued, aud
the state OF the T.arsh north of the town was
an eyeSore to tie community. It vas not then,
as now, on the suburbs, for the m,,in trade OF
the village was concentrated north of Queen
street, so that the marsh was always under the
eyes of the business men and traders. At hrSt
it was proposed to drain the marsh ;H'd make
it public property, aud at meetiD. 3 ct the
trustees. held the 9Th Of February. it was
ordered that John West, jr. survey be marsh
adjoining the town 10 order to be pres snted to
the Assembly to obtain their act to ,olude in
the town bounds that part OF it which IS at this
time without the same, and that Il 70 whole
may DO disposed of to the highest b Idder 10
order to improve it as common for g
pastursge." An effort to do this was made,
and the General Assembly amended the act
establishing the town SO as to include the marsh,
but owing to the difficulty in changing the law
after it had been approved by the kiog, the
! prci faile1 on uo oUe IN {renrOs Il. That