The History of the City of Fredericksburg, Virginia Part 16

TELEPHONE COMPANY.

In 1895 the Occoquan Woodbridge Telephone Company was organized in Fredericksburg by a Mr. Abner, of Occoquan, and a telephone line was erected. At first the undertaking did not appear to be popular and the company received very little encouragement. After the construction of the line the company, beginning with a small number of subscribers, grew rapidly in public favor and were soon enjoying a liberal patronage.

In 1897 all the property, rights and franchises were purchased by a few of our enterprising citizens, who organized and changed the name of the company to the Rappahannock, Fredericksburg and Piedmont Telephone Company; but subsequently the Bell Company extended their line through Fredericksburg to the South and the local company sold out to the Bell.

The service, at first defective, was placed in splendid condition, and the service now equals that of the most favored towns and cities. Since the construction of the Bell line the town has become the center of many private country lines, which place the citizens in communication with all contiguous communities as well as with the cities of the country. The present manager of the local office is W. T. Jones.

FIRE DEPARTMENT.

More than a hundred years ago Fredericksburg had an organized fire department, and from reports, which, however, were seldom made, was sufficient in extinguishing fires. In the early part of the eighteenth century, when the town was built up mostly of wooden houses, with wooden chimneys, and the water was scarce and inaccessible, several fires occurred that spread over considerable territory and did great damage, but even in those instances, although the winds were high, the department did much to r.e.t.a.r.d the progress of the fires and finally got them under control.

The first fire company organized in town was known as the Vigilant. It was organized in 1788 and the names of its members were certified to the hustings court and filed with the court papers, but their names were not placed on the record. How long this company remained in existence is not known, but in 1814 the Hope Company was organized, which was soon followed by the formation of the Union. It is not known who commanded these companies when they were first organized, but we are told that long before the middle of the century the Hope was commanded by Charles C. Wellford and afterwards by John Pritchard, and the Union, about the same time, was commanded by Albert G. Lucas, who was succeeded by John M. Whittemore.

These fire companies had suction and force engines and got water from the river, street pumps, and sometimes from the ca.n.a.l west of the town, after it was constructed, using the source most convenient, and did effective work. It is said the rivalry between these organizations was very great, the excitement in times of fires was intense, and often disputes would arise between the members as to which company did the most effective work, which often resulted in blows. When they were in their prime fires were frequent. Scarcely a week pa.s.sed that a fire did not occur, and often two or three would take place inside of a week. Then there was a grand rush to see which company could get the first stream of water on the fire.

The frequent fires soon led to the suspicion that some of the firemen originated and were responsible for many of them, and, strange to say, the disbandment of the companies was encouraged by the property owners of the town, as a means of preventing fires and saving property. They were disbanded before the Civil war, and since that time, until the year 1885, the town was without a fire department, and was without any means of contending with the flames, save the feeble efforts of citizens in what was styled "the bucket brigade." This name was applied to the large number of citizens, who, in times of fire, carried water in buckets to extinguish it, and used "wet blankets" to prevent the flames from spreading to adjoining buildings.

In 1885, after the completion of the present city water works, a new fire department was organized, with thirty-three members, with Captain Terence McCracken as chief. This organization is very efficient, and has on several occasions saved the town from sweeping conflagrations. The department is now under the command of John H. Robinson, as chief, and consists of twenty-two members, all of whom render faithful and efficient service without compensation.

CHAPTER XIII

_Volunteer Militia--The Confederate Cemetery--The National Cemetery--The Confederate Veterans--The Sons of Confederate Veterans--The Schools, Private and Public, &c._

In times of peace and quiet, in free America and even in conservative Virginia, it is necessary that cities should have some military organization that can be called upon to protect the citizens in their persons, rights and property in case of any emergency that might arise. It is true that such cases seldom occur in Virginia, but if they should, it is necessary to have some organized force, under the laws of the State, to meet and put them down. This being true, Fredericksburg has, in all periods of her history, encouraged and financially a.s.sisted volunteer militia companies.

And it can be truthfully stated that, in all the past of the town, the young men have shown a special fondness for military organizations, and, so far as we can gather from records and tradition, Fredericksburg has been well protected in this direction. It is very doubtful if at any time since Major Lawrence Smith seated himself "down at or neare" the falls of the Rappahannock river and manned a fort with one hundred and eleven men, Fredericksburg had not a military organization, either active or dormant, that she could easily call into service in case of need. It is quite certain she has been well represented in every war since the settlement of the country, in which her sons have played conspicuous parts and have been commended for their gallantry and brilliant achievements.

One of the first companies remembered from tradition was commanded by a Capt. Blackford, and is said to have been armed with wooden guns. This company was among the guard of honor to Gen. Lafayette when he was here in 1824. It met the General and his suite at the old Wilderness tavern, escorted him to Fredericksburg, and, when he left, accompanied him as far as Aquia Creek, on the Potomac river. It did not last long as an organization.

[Ill.u.s.tration: The Home of Dr. Charles Mortimer, first Mayor. To her physician here was the last visit made by Mary Washington. Residence now of Gen. D. D. Wheeler. (See page 151)]

[Ill.u.s.tration: The Eagle Hotel, now the Eagle Flats. (See page 166)]

The first company remembered by the oldest inhabitants, which lasted any length of time, was the Fredericksburg Guards, which was organized many years before the Civil war. It is not known exactly when it was formed or who was its first commander, but it is remembered that at different periods it was commanded by Captains Wm. A. Jackson, Wm. M.

Blackford, Robert Smith, John Pritchard and John S. Porter, the order in which they served being in doubt.

A company, known as the Mercer Rifles, was also organized and commanded by Capt. D. Lee Powell some years before the war, but in a year or so it was disbanded in consequence of the commander changing his residence to Richmond.

In the early part of 1859 the Washington Guards was organized, with Capt.

Joseph W. Sener as commander. It was well equipped and elegantly uniformed and drilled. When John Brown and his party were captured at Harper's Ferry in the Fall of 1859 by Colonel, afterwards Gen. Robert E. Lee, and turned over to the State authorities, this company was ordered to Charlestown, by Governor Wise, to guard the prisoners, and remained there in that capacity until the last of the party was executed, when they were ordered home.

In the same year, 1859, the Fredericksburg Grays was organized, with Captain Wm. S. Barton as commander. It is said this company was called into existence because of the excited condition of the country and a determination on the part of the young men of the town to be ready for any emergency. On the return of the Washington Guards from Charlestown they were met at the railroad depot by the Grays, who extended them a warm welcome home, escorted them to the Shakespeare House, where a grand banquet was given them, which was followed by speeches and a good time.

These two companies, before the war and preparatory thereto, were formed into a battalion, of which Captain Barton was made major, Robert S. Chew becoming captain of the Grays. Many pleasant excursions and picnics were given by this battalion, which are well remembered by many, now living, who were partic.i.p.ants and enjoyed them. But many of those who took part in those pleasant scenes have since then pa.s.sed to the Great Beyond, and those now with us show the marks of Time upon them and are patiently waiting for the last call that shall transfer them to the great army above. The battalion had a drum corps, consisting of eleven drums, which was presided over by Mr. Pipenbrick, of Falmouth, who was appointed drum major.

A boy company, known as the Coleman Guards, commanded by Captain W. F.

Gordon, was also organized just prior to the war. In 1860 great excitement was caused on the arrival of Robinson's circus here, the charge having been made that some of the employees or attaches had murdered a man by the name of Boulware at Port Royal the day before. Warrants were sworn out for the arrest of the supposed parties, and the three companies, with the civil authorities, arrested the entire circus and had the suspected parties before the Mayor. A two days' investigation disclosed no probable guilt and the circus was discharged from custody.

Another military company was organized in the town in 1861, known as the Gordon Rifles, with Captain Robert H. Alexander as its commander. These three companies, at the outbreak of the war, were placed in the Thirtieth Virginia regiment of infantry, that did such n.o.ble service during the Civil war. The Washington Guards, which became Company A, was commanded by Capt. Joseph W. Sener. He was succeeded by Capt. George H. Peyton and Captain John K. Anderson. The Fredericksburg Grays became Company B and was commanded by Capt. Robert S. Chew, and, on his promotion to Colonel, by Capt. H. S. Doggett. Capt. Doggett was on detached duty the most of his official term as captain and the company was commanded by Lieutenant James S. Knox in his absence, who was promoted to captain, but his commission never reached him. The Gordon Rifles became Company C and was commanded by Captain Robert H. Alexander and afterwards by Captain C. Wistar Wallace.

After the war the Fredericksburg Grays was reorganized, with Samuel S.

Brooke, now of Roanoke, as captain. He was succeeded in command by Captain Maurice B. Rowe, and he by the following commanders in the order named: Captain Terence McCracken, Captain Robert B. Berrey, Captain George A.

Walker and Captain Frank H. Revere.

When war was declared between the United States and Spain, and volunteers were called for by the government, the Washington Guards, which had been reorganized by Captain Maurice B. Rowe, promptly responded and was mustered into the United States service as Company K of the Third Virginia regiment of infantry. It went into camp at Richmond, Virginia, and was soon transferred to Camp Alger, named in honor of the then Secretary of War, near Washington city. Before these troops were ordered to the scene of action peace was declared and they were ordered back to Richmond and mustered out of service, having been in the service of the United States seven months. The company then returned to Fredericksburg.

The Guards numbered one hundred and twelve men on the rolls, was a splendid body of patriotic young men and reflected credit upon the town.

Soon after being discharged from the United States army the company was reorganized, reentered the service of the State and now numbers sixty-two men, under the command of Captain Thomas M. Larkin. They have often been called upon to discharge important and delicate service, and have responded with alacrity.

In 1883 a colored volunteer company was organized in town, called the Garfield Light Infantry Blues. It was organized by Benjamin Scott, of Richmond, who was its first captain. Captain Scott soon returned to his home in Richmond and was succeeded in command by Captain Lucien G. Gilmer.

This organization continued in existence several years, but was finally disbanded, having fallen below the minimum number required by law.

THE CONFEDERATE CEMETERY.

Soon after the citizens of Fredericksburg returned to their desolated homes at the close of the Civil war, and had gotten their dwellings in a condition to be occupied, the thoughts of the patriotic ladies were at once turned to the Confederate soldiers who had fallen and were buried in Fredericksburg and on the several adjacent battle-fields. They were anxious that the remains of these brave men should be gathered up and interred in some place where their dust would be preserved and the names of the known saved from oblivion.

As a result of a consultation, and a call published in the newspapers of Fredericksburg, the ladies of the town met in the bas.e.m.e.nt of the Presbyterian church on the 10th day of May, 1865, one month after the surrender of Gen. Lee, and organized the Ladies' Memorial a.s.sociation of Fredericksburg, elected officers, appointed a board of directors, an executive committee and an advisory board. This was the first ladies'

memorial a.s.sociation chartered in the South and among the first to decorate the soldiers' graves with flowers.

The best methods for accomplishing the patriotic work of the a.s.sociation were discussed and adopted at this early date. The plan was to raise as much money in town and in Virginia as possible and then issue an appeal to be sent all through the Southern States for funds, because every Southern State was represented on the battle-fields in and around the town by their heroic dead. These appeals were sent out as soon as they could be gotten ready and had the desired effect. Funds soon began to flow into the treasury and a suitable site was selected, west of and adjoining the city cemetery, which was purchased, and the work of gathering up the dead commenced. The number gotten from the different battlefields and buried in the ground purchased by the a.s.sociation numbered about fifteen hundred.

The circular sent out had, in addition to the organization of the a.s.sociation and the list of officers in full, an appeal, which was as follows:

"To all true hearted women and men, who would rescue from oblivion the memory of the brave, who died in defence of home and country, we present this appeal: The stern pressure of military necessity made it impossible, properly, to care for the remains of the gallant dead who fell on the b.l.o.o.d.y fields of Fredericksburg, Wilderness, Chancellorsville, Spotsylvania Courthouse and in scores of skirmishes which, in a war less terrible, would have been reckoned as battles.

"Our a.s.sociation proposes to preserve a record, and, as far as possible, mark the spot where every Confederate soldier is buried in this vicinity, whether he fell on these memorable fields or otherwise died in the service. To the bereaved throughout our suffering South we pledge ourselves to spare no exertion to accomplish this work.

"In a land stripped of enclosures and forests, desolated and impoverished as ours, we cannot, without aid, guard these graves from exposure and possible desecration; we can only cover them with our native soil. And, with pious care, garland them with the wild flowers from the fields. But, with the generous aid and cordial cooperation of those who have suffered less, but who feel as deeply as we do on this subject, we confidently hope to accomplish far more--to purchase and adorn a cemetery, to remove thither the sacred dust scattered all over this region, and to erect some enduring tribute to the memory of our gallant dead.

"Shall that n.o.ble army of martyrs, who, for years of toil and suffering, bore, in triumph, the 'Conquered Banner' from Chattanooga to Gettysburg, sleep on the fields of their fame unnoticed and unknown? Shall their names pa.s.s from the knowledge of the living to be treasured only in the mind of Him 'to whom the memory of the just is precious?'

"What spot so appropriate for the last resting place of these heroes, as some commanding eminence overlooking the memorable plain of Fredericksburg? And what n.o.bler work for the hearts and hands of Southern women, than upon its summit to rear a monument to the unrecorded Confederate dead, which, through all time shall testify to the grat.i.tude of the people for whom they so gloriously died? As no State, and scarcely a town or county throughout the limits of the late Confederacy, is unrepresented on these battle-fields, may we not hope that the cooperation required in order to accomplish our holy work will be as universal?

"An act of the Legislature of Virginia will be obtained, incorporating our a.s.sociation, so that the property may be held perpetually dedicated to its sacred uses. We solicit such contributions as the appreciative sympathy of friends in all parts of our country, and of the world, will extend us. As soon as sufficient means are obtained our a.s.sociation will proceed to purchase and improve grounds appropriate for a cemetery, and remove thither the remains of the honored dead.

"Our a.s.sociation, although its organization is but recent, has been enabled to rescue from oblivion the names and places of burial of many of the n.o.ble dead, who fell upon the fields of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, the Wilderness, and all the objects of the a.s.sociation will be pressed as rapidly forward as the requisite means are procured. All auxiliary societies, which may be formed, are requested to correspond with our a.s.sociation; and, should they desire their contributions to be specially appropriated to the graves of any individuals, or of any particular State or section, the trust will be sacredly discharged.

MRS. JOHN H. WALLACE, _President_.

MISS ANN J. CARTER, _Corresponding Secretary_.

_President_--Mrs. John H. Wallace.

_Vice-Presidents_--Mrs. J. H. Lacy, Mrs. Jane Ficklin, Mrs. James W.