Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-02-18
THE NELSON HOUSE.
HISTORIC LANDMARK WHICH HAS SUR
vIvED TWO GREAT WARS.
Building and Sketch Of the Nelson FAM
ily-The House to He Bought.
written for the Dlspatch.)

(written for the Dispatch.)
Congressman Tyler has introduced
bill into the House Of Representatives au-
thorizing the appropriation Of so'0o by
Congress for the purchase OF the old Mel
son house, at Yorktown, Va
This is the house which frequently. AL
though mistakenly, has been called the
headquarters OF CORVALLIS during the
siege Of Yorktown. 1t, however played
very prominent part In that decisive re-
evolutionary year OF 1881, and Is one OF
the few historic landmarks left in America
! which has survived both the destroying
| force OF time and the march OF new I'M
provements. The indentatons OF numer'
Gus cannon-balls are still visible on the
| old walls, plainly attesting TO the severe
/ bombardment 10 which II was subjected.
The house was owned by General
| Thomas Nelson. Jr. n slgner OF the De
ciaration Of Independence. and one OF
the noblest and most self-sacrificing pa
/ triois Of the Revolution. Previous to the
war he was quite wealthy. the estate left
/ him by his father being nearly quarter
Of n million Of dollars a great deal OF
money In those days. All OF lis fortune,
! however, was freely given for the Ameri-
can cause, and when ho died, in 1883, he
/ was poor man.
LAID THE CORNERSTONE.
General Nelson's father laid the corner
stone OF the house which bears the family
name in i7i2. lie was then a baby. only
II months old. His black. good-Ratured
nanny was "ery important assistant
/ on that occasion, and held the baby g
! chubby little hands while the big, coarse
brick for the cornerstone was passed
/ through his tiny fingers Had General
/ Nelson done nothing else TO render him
worthy Of the name OF patriot, his act
during tho siege Of Yorktown would have
/ been sufficient He personally took charge
OF the first battery which opened upon the
/ beleaguered town, ana. 1t is said, aimed
Z the first gun at his own residence. He
offered the gunner n reward Of five guineas
for every shot fired into the house. From
the appearance Of the place at the present
day that gunner evidently did his work
wei. and was the possessor OF a pocket
ful Of guineas after the surrender OF the
British general. The house. owing to the
fact Of its being the finest one in York
/ town, and occupying n commanding posi-
ton. was naturally supposed TO be the
p headquarters, either OF CORVALLIS or
some OF his chief officers. Hence the
furious bombardment made upon It. But
/ CORVALLIS had his headquarters In an
1 other Nelson house. occupied by William
4 Nelson, General Nelson's uncle. William
Nelson was too old TO engage actively IN
the stirring events Of the time, and had
retired 10 live quietly in his own home
which stood not far from the original
Nelson residence. When the English ar
rived he was suffering severely from
tho nd xrac al In To i,,
General CORVALLIS treated the aged owner
with marked consideration. But the guns
~ the besegcrs were trained with uner-
/ ring aim upon this house, as well, and
I during the first day Of the bombardment
/ one OF the old mans negro slaves was
Killed by shell
a FLAG OF TRUCE.
Besides his nephew, General Nelson,
the old man had two sons in the Ameri-
can army. and their anxiety FOR the
safety OF their father. according TO one
who was present at the time. was pain
ful TO witness. The sons finally persuaded
General Washington to send n flag OF
truce within the British lines with a
request that their father be allowed 10
leave the town. CheValicr de Chastelux,
Il enlargement under Count de Eocham-
beau. was in the American lines during
the siege, and in speaking OF this oc-
Currencc, says:
Lord CORVALLIS had too much human
lily 20 refuse a request 50 just nor can
I recollect without emotion the moment
IN which l saw this old gentleman alight
at General WashlngtOns. He was seated.
tho fit Of the govt not having left him,
and whilst we stood around him he re-
lated TO US. with Il serene countenance,
what had been the effect OF our batter
ies end how much his house had suffered
from the first shot"
LARGE SUMS OF MONEY.
General Nelson did great deal for
Virginia during the revolutionary period.
lie advanced large sums OF money TO
pay the troops when the congressional
treasury was empty. Through his infu-
ence. and largely on his own personal
security. he succeeded in raising the
greater part OF a 5000 600 loan called for
10y Virginia I'm 1850. For many years he
was member OF the Virginia Convention
and also OF Congress. He was one OF the
committee which drew up the Declare
ton OF INDEPENDENCE and he signed that
memorable document July 5, l716. During
the war ne was for a time Governor or
Virginia.
In 1872 an effort was made in the Fir-
Gnia Assembly to repay 10 the heirs Oh
| General Nelson n part of the moneys he
had advanced during the revolution. Al
thouef favorably received, the matter lay
dormant until 1851. when the Stale audi
tors reported against Il. a petition 10
} Congress met with no better success, and
I IN 1899 Philip Nelson, the patriots grand
son, made another vain attempt before
/ the Virginia Assembly.
NAMED IN HIS HONOR.
General Nelson was buried in York.
town beside his father. Nelson county
IN Virginia, is named In his honor and
his statue In bronze IL one OF the six which
adorn the Washington monument at Rich
mond, Va.
In 1924 General Lafayette, during his last
and triumphal visit to this country, oc-
cup,od the old Nelson house during the
time that n grand celebration was given
at Yorktown in his honor.
Early in the civil war II
was occupied for time by the Contede-
rate soldiers. and after the battle Of
Bethel. June 10. 1861. the house was used
"a a hospital for the wounded Yankees
who fell into the hands OF the Confede-
rates.
IN GOOD CONDITION.
The Nelson house. although $50 years
Old, is still in "A first-class condition, and
unless overtakcn by some Unforeseen acct
dent. win easily survive long into the
twentieth century. 1t is now occupied by
Mss Kate Nelson, the owner OF the pro
perry. She Is the granddaughter OF tn.
Revolutionary patriot, General Thoma,
Nelson. Jr The house was not built will
view 10 exterior beauty. IL is large
and plain two-storied brick structure witt
corners Of hewn stone. built on the ole
English plan. Mr.. Tyler's bill provides tina
the Secretary Of War shall purchase III,
house. after the sanction OF Congress
His bill is now in the hands OF the Ii
I brary Committee.