Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-02-05
THE OLD DOMINION.
IHE CLASSIC GROUND THAT LIES IN THE
FAR-FAMED VIRGINIA PENINSULA.
Ground Whose Every Foot Has a History,
Every Inch Has Fell a Patriot Step.
ECHOES FROM THE CAVALIERS
HOME
rfRANK ALFRIEND. in the Louisville Cour
fe,. IotfruaI

i0-J0HfhdL
WILLIAMSBURG, VA, Jan. r.
In no similar quarter OF America -
similar in territorial expanse-can
he gathered more ofsuggestion as TO
the romance and philosophy of
American history than in the mar
row stretch Of land covering ninety
miles between Richmond and
Hampton Roads. Virginians low
ingly call it the Peninsula. They
proudly consider that not to know
all about the Peninsula argues hope
less ignorance Of the history of ones
country. And thus, not merely be-
cause, little moro than a score OF
wears ago, the hosts Of Grant aud
Lee were struggling over this re-
giOn for the possession OF the Don
federate capital. Mcclellan sought
entrance TO Richmond from the sea
along thenarrow peninsulaOfJames
and York rivers; and Arnold, a
century ago, under orders from Sir
Henry Clinton, at New York,
marched along the dusty roads Of
Charles City and HenricO counties
to seize the "rebel colonial capital"
and to disgrace British arms by
acts of arson and rapine committed
there under the British flag. IN
military associations the Peninsula
was opulent long before the war OF
1861. When Arnold retreated
down James river, he was followed
in eager pursuit, for Washington
had much desire to capture the
traitor. When CORVALLIS entered
Virginia after his victorious cam
paigns in the CarOlinas, he marched
down the Peninsula followed warlly
by Lafayette, whom Wayne snbse-
quently REINFORCED, and it was only
five miles from this ancient capital
that w ayne unintentiO1ally
brought OH all engagement That
came near being a serious disaster
to the American army. Instead OF
finding only the rear guard of Corn.
wallis protecting the crossing OF
James river by the main British
army, which Lafayette and Wayne
supposed to be going to Ports.
mouth, "Mad Anthony" found
himself confronted by a formidable
array of British battaliOns. Corn
wallis was tho StOnewall Jackson Of
the Revolution on the British side,
and it was only a clever ruse he was
practicing on Wayne, like that he
pracuced on Washington at Bran
DIVINE several years before. From
Richmond to the sea there is scarce
~ "a mile of ground but knew lts
battle or its skirmish during the
Revolution, and this experience was
repeated in the war between North
and South.
CLASSIC VIRGINIA.
1t is not to be wondered at that
antiquarians and students Of the
philosophy Of history should 10
found in greaternumber as tourists
in this classic region siuco the Ches-
apeake and Ohio railroad opened
to the world a section hitherto not
easily accessible to travellers. Yet
tourists used to visit the Peninsula
years before the war, and | recall
when student at Old William and
Mary, a quarter Of a century ago,
the visit of a descendant Of the
Scotchman John Murray, Earl of
DunmOre, last Of the royal Govern
Ors, whom the patriots, headed by
Patrick Henry, drove from the vice
regal palace in Williamsburg to
refuge on n British man-of.war IN
York river. The royalist descend
ant had reasonably good opinion
OF the descendants OF the " rebels
whom his ancestor had so vigorous
ly denounced to His Majesty King
George the Third. Aud the feel.
lug was reciprocatcd, evidently, as
the Ioyallst was cordially received
and entertained by the high-spirlt-
ed and easy going gentry who made
Williamsburg twenty-five yearsago
the best type left on American soil
of the cavalier civilization of old
England planted at jamestown
nearly three hundred years ago. In
this picturesque village and the re-
giOn in winch it lies, the historian
and antiquarian and the mere sight
seer are all bewlldered with the
riches of material available and
visible at every step. Lovers OF
Thackeray have read about it years
ago in the " VirgiDians," which tells
of Madame Esmond's periodical
drives from Richmond to Williams.
burg with her semi-royal equipage
of liveried footmen, positions, out.
riders and lackeys OF all grades and
distinctions. Williamsburg was
then the capital of the colOny-the
favored colony Of the throne and
English rOyalists. Richmond was
not much more than struggling
founded a hundred years
later than Williamsburg, and of
chief value as marking the progress
of civilization from the sea line to.
ward the mountains, and thence to
the West-that unknown West
no part of it more unknown to the |
1evil-may-care, registering young
cavaliers of Williamsburg and its
than Kentucky. But time |
has altered all this, and Richmond |
is now the capital (and has been
since Jeiierson's influence procured |
It's removal 107 years ago., while |
is "A village IN which |
historic memorials survive abund-
antly; in which an air Of refined
repose, charming hospitality, gen.
in women and manliness
among men abide. The star of en-
Dire has moved far westward from
.he seats Of power planted by the
Raleighs and SpottswOods-nOt on
" from Williamsburg and James
iown and Yorktown but largely
from Old Virginia herself. Yet 1t
should not be forgotten that in this
region was the womb of English
civilization in America. Plymouth
Rock may fairly contest with James
Town the distinction of having fur
lished the fucrum by which the
. leverage of ideas was to move
continent Of mind" to use the fine