The Lexington advertiser. [volume] (Lexington, Miss.) 1904-1985, 1949-11-03
HISTORIC FIRST CAPITAL
OVERLOOKED BY MOTORISTS

10 the average Speeu-
inr down the "Ol' Man River
Trail" through the Mississippi
Delta, into vicksburs. and on to
Natchez and New Orleans. the
sleepy little Village of Washing
ton, just six miles northeast of
Natchez, is little more than a
junction of two Eighways-U.S
81 and "a.
But to the historian exploring
MississiI pts turbulent and color
full past, Washington offers as ex-
citing and as adventurou a chap
ter in American life as "a be
found in any equally limited set
ting.
For Washington, Il turL Mis-
sissippi's second Territorial and
first state capital. has witnessed
from it's vantage point at the foot
of tn Natchez Trace a procession
of events and people closely tied
to the destinies of Mississippi and
the great Southwest country.
Today a few reminders-a
church, a school. a few granite
markers and two huge oak trees
are about the only evidence of
the Importance of the little town
which was on g the Territorial
Capital, the first state capital and
a community of wealth. culture
and social prestige.
Alth b brstling, nearby
Natchez was consid q. I'd the center
OF wealth, culture and grandiose
living during the glorious later
cotton years. Washington was a
rival of the Older town both in
opulence, and all the higher in
fluences Of life.
Laid out by Andrew Ellicott,
the boundry commissioners for the
United States. Washington in 1902
was selected the capital OF the
Territory, after its acq lisition by
the United States following Span
ish and French rule. The first
session of the new territorial Leg
islature was held in the new Capt.
tai, and the first charter ever
granted by that body incorporated
Jefferson College OF May ID.
1902, the oldest endowed college
in this part of the country. The
institution, which ,aser was merg-
ed with Washington College. es-
tablished in 1907. is still open
today despite noticeable marks OF
time.
Many of the students enrolled
here later became distinguished
in the annals of T.. state Among
ther were Jefferson Davis and
Albert B. Brown. The world-re-
moved naturalist, Audubon. was
one Of the school g drawing mas
tiers, and James Ingraham. the
author OF pirate tales and later
a clergyman. was a member OF
its faculty.
Here in 1915 Andrew Jackson
camped while en- route to the
famous Battle of New Orleans.
and paused again on his return
trip, and in 1925 Lafayette paused
long enough to witness a drill
of cadets.
Another significant educational
advancement which took place at
this historic town vas the estab-
lishment of Elizabeth Female Aca-
DENY. the first school exclusively
for girls and the first girls school
in the United States to have leg
islative recognition of its authority
to confer degrees
In the days of It's prosperity.
when the seat of the Territorial
government, and when the wealth
lest Ind most eminent men had
then residences IN Washington.
there were three large hotels To-
Gated there. The town also boasted
the land office, the surveyor-gen-
erals office, the ,curt of claims
office, and all thu courts
Fort Dearborn. housing a per-
manent cantonment OF U S. troops.
was situated nearby and at one
time or another General Winfield
Scott, E. P. Gaines and Wade
Hampton served tours of duty.
It was here that General Scott
fought his first duel.
The noted historian, Claiborne,
a native of Adams county, had this
to say about Washington in his
day:
'It was a gay and fashionable
place, compactly built for a mile
or more from east to west, every
hill occupied by some gentleman's
chateau. The presence of the mill
tary had it's influence on society,
Punctilio and ceremony, parades
and public entertainments were
the features of the place