The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-09-25
Virginia Revisited After Thirty
Years--.NO. 2.
BY c. b. PUTNAM, MONTPELIER, VT.

OF the James river, not far distant. 1t
was built, evidently, more for the pur-
pose of securing the shortest possible
route than for the pleasuretf the sight
seeing tourist, for it pr Yes through
about the most dreary a, desolate re-
gion within my recolled bn-the Will
derness always excepted. The scenery
is tame and uninteresting in the ex-
treme. Woods, swamps, corn-felds
Gll titled and the crop scanty), negro
cabins, and other like objects, are all
that greet the eye, except in the vicin-
ity of Williamsburg and of Richmond.
A few small, but neat, railway stations
are scattered along the line, for what
purpose is not apparent. As, however,
tourists occasionally leave the train at
these stations, there are, probably, set
Elements or objects of interest near by.
Yet this whole region teens with his
toric associations of nearly three centu-
ries ago-of Captain John Smith, Pow
hatan, Pocahontas, Newport, Clay
borne,i Berkeley, Nat Bacon, Dale,
Lord de la War, Opechancanough, To-
topotomy, Necotowance. How the his
toric names crowd and jostle each
otherl For century-1600 to 100
practically all there was of Virginia
was compressed into that narrow PENN.
sula between the James on the south,
and the York, the Chickahominy and
the Pamunky on the north. 1t was the
country of the Cavalier-very few Pu-
ritans there, and those few were frozen
out by the Church of England people
intensely loyal to the English king, who
ever he may happen to be. Yet, loyal
as they were, they were, first and fore
most, Virginians = Virginia first, the
king next, in their hearts. Did the
king attempt to exercise his royal pre-
rogative too harshly, they were quick to
resent it by mutterings of discomfort
and even open rebellion. They went
80 far as to "thrust out" as their his
torians quantity express it, bag and
baggage, one royal governor, Sir John
Harvey.
Of the original capital of the Planta-
ton and the Colony,
JAMESTOWN,
| hObhlDS lOhlhlho Dub IuC IuluS VI u
church tower, covered with ivy, and
some old tombstones. The tower
is crumbling year by year, and the
roots of trees have cracked the
slabs. The place is desoate, with its
washing waves and fitting sea-fowl.
Every distinctive feature of the spot is
slowly disappearing. The river en-
croaches year by year, and the ground
occupied by the original huts is al
ready submerged. The next capital was
WILLIAMSBURG,
named for the then reigning sovereign
of England, William of Orange. That
the queen consort might also be held in
remembrance and duly honored, the
original plan contemplated the laying
out of the streets 80 as to form the cap.
ital letters w and M. This plan, how
ever, was but partially carried out. The
fame of this old town chiefly rests upon
the fact that here was founded the
second university in America, Harvard
being first,
WILLIAM AND MARY.
The plan of the original building was
drawn by the famous Sir christopher
Wren, and the first commencement ex
ercises were held therein in 100. In
stroyed by fire. The many building:
since erected have also been burned,
the last time, in 1862, by Union sol
diers-an act for which they deserve
and have, the execratons of Virgin
ians. This university has sent out fol-
their work in the world twenty-sever
soldiers of the Revolution, two attor
ney-generals, nearly twenty members O.
congress, fifteen senators, seventeen
governors, thirty-seven judges, lieu
tenant.general and other officers, TIVE
commodores, twelve professors, fou
signers of the Declaration of Indepen
dence, seven cabinet officers, chic
justice, and three presidents.
To the soldier of the Rebellion, tn
chief interest in this locality centers il
the fact that, mile east, was fought tn
BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURG,
in 1924 small affair in the light o
subsequent events, but at the time tn
most serious conflict of the war. Tn
number of troops actually engaged wa
comparatively small, but those engaged
particularly Hooker's division, pei
formed prodigies of valor. Here, toe
was where Hancock, then only brig
ade commander, won the appellation o
" the superb" the charge of his brig
ade near Fort Magruder being mos
brilliant one. The Vermont brigade
though maneuverng for position, di
not become seriously engaged, if
rightly remember the history of the al
fair. The breastworks thrown up Their
by the Confederates were but sligt
and temporary, and but a mere trace c
them remains at this day. The fe'
deliberately reconstructed forts, like Mt
gruder, still remain, though leveled i
places and covered with brambles an
: underbrush.
As the train approaches Richmon
we enter more open country, dotte
with hills and scanned with ravine
Here were the outer lines of the d,
Tense of Richmond, and Lees engiI
eer officers, always astute, made th
most of the natural means of defens,
The train than antpra tho outskirte I