_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 assisted 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.
[Illustration: 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)]
[Illustration: 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 participants and enjoyed them. But many of those who took part in
those pleasant scenes have since then passed 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 noble 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, reëntered 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 basement of the
Presbyterian church on the 10th day of May, 1865, one month after the
surrender of Gen. Lee, and organized the Ladies' Memorial Association of
Fredericksburg, elected officers, appointed a board of directors, an
executive committee and an advisory board. This was the first ladies'
memorial association 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 association
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 association numbered about fifteen hundred.
The circular sent out had, in addition to the organization of the
association 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 bloody 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 Association 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 coöperation 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 noble 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 pass 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 nobler 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 gratitude 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 coöperation required in order to accomplish our holy work
will be as universal?
"An act of the Legislature of Virginia will be obtained, incorporating
our Association, 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 Association will proceed to purchase and improve grounds
appropriate for a cemetery, and remove thither the remains of the
honored dead.
"Our Association, although its organization is but recent, has been
enabled to rescue from oblivion the names and places of burial of many
of the noble dead, who fell upon the fields of Fredericksburg,
Chancellorsville, the Wilderness, and all the objects of the
Association 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 Association; 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.
Ford, Mrs. A. F. T. Fitzhugh, Mrs. Fannie S. White.
_Board of Directors_--Miss Mary G. Browne, Miss S. Freaner, Mrs. W. K.
Howard,[64] Mrs. S. J. Jarvis, Mrs. E. A. Fitzgerald, Mrs. L. J.
Huffman, Mrs. J. H. Bradley, Mrs. Magruder Maury, Mrs. Joseph Alsop,
Mrs. Monroe Kelly, Miss Ellen P. Chew, Miss Lizzie Braxton.
_Treasurer_--Dr. F. P. Wellford.
_Recording Secretaries_--Miss L. G. Wellford, Mrs. Lucy Herndon.[64]
_Corresponding Secretary_--Miss Ann J. Carter.
_Assistant Secretaries_--Miss V. S. Knox,[64] Miss Mary Thom, Miss
Bettie L. Scott,[64] Miss Lizzie Alsop, Miss N. S. Wellford, Miss Mary
G. Browne, Mrs. L. T. Kearsley, Miss Helen G. Beale, Miss Nannie
Taylor, Miss Virginia Goolrick, Miss S. Freaner, Miss Lizzie Braxton.
_Executive Committee_--Major J. H. Kelly, Thomas F. Knox, George Aler,
J. W. Slaughter, Edwin Carter, Joseph W. Sener, Dr. L. B. Rose.
_Advisory Committee_--Gen. D. H. Maury, Gen. Daniel Ruggles, Gen. C.
L. Stevenson, Col. R. S. Chew, Col. C. M. Braxton, Col. W. W.
Fontaine, Major George Freaner, Major Chas. S. Green,[65] Capt. C. T.
Goolrick, Capt. W. R. Mason,[65] Rev. M. Maury, Rev. T. W. Gilmer,
Rev. Patrick Donelan, Rev. W. H. Williams, Rev. F. C. Tebbs, Mayor M.
Slaughter, Judge R. C. L. Moncure,[66] A. A. Little, J. H. Kelly,
Judge R. H. Coleman, John L. Marye, Jr., John E. Tackett, D. H.
Gordon, W. P. Conway, J. L. Stansbury, Ab. P. Rowe, James B. Sener, W.
K. Howard."
In response to the appeal of the Association, liberal contributions were
received from all the Southern States, with which the ground was
purchased, the present, cemetery laid out and the remains of all the
Confederate dead, who were killed and buried throughout this community,
gathered together, transferred to the cemetery and the graves marked with
cedar posts. These posts were removed a few years afterwards and marble
headstones took their places. The next work of the Association was to
raise money for a monument to be placed in the center of the cemetery,
and, as in their other patriotic work, the appeal was not in vain. The
necessary amount was raised and the monument was erected and dedicated.
Mr. Leyburn, of Lexington, Va., contractor; Mr. Cassell, of Baltimore,
architect. The stone used is gray granite and was taken from the farm of
Mrs. Mary Downman, in Spotsylvania county. The monument contains
inscriptions as follows:
On the east side--S. Carolina, Virginia, N. Carolina.
On the north side--Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas.
On the west side--Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas.
On the south side--Georgia, Florida, Alabama.
The monument stands on a mound about five feet high, and is five feet and
six inches high without the statue. With the statue it is twenty feet in
height. On the west side, cut in the granite, are muskets; on the south
side, a castle with battlements; on the north side, sabres; on the east
side, cannon and the inscription "To the Confederate Dead." On each corner
of the monument is a column of red granite, with gray granite plynth and
base. The corner-stone was laid on the 4th of June, 1874, by
Fredericksburg Lodge, No. 4, A. F. & A. M., Grand Master Wm. H. Lambert
presiding, and was completed and unveiled on Memorial Day, June 9, 1884.
The statue of a Confederate soldier, at dress parade, which crowns the
apex, is of bronze, and was manufactured by the Monumental Bridge Company,
of Bridgeport, Conn. It was ordered through Mr. George T. Downing and
placed in position by him.
THE NATIONAL CEMETERY.
The National Cemetery, in which were gathered and interred the Union
soldiers who died in camp and were killed in the various battles in and
around Fredericksburg, was commenced in 1865, soon after the close of the
war. It is located on Willis's Hill, about half a mile south of the town.
It is on the range of hills known in the war histories and correspondents
as Marye's Heights, which overlooks the beautiful valley of the
Rappahannock and affords a fine view of Fredericksburg and the surrounding
country. It afforded a splendid location for the Confederate artillery at
both battles of Fredericksburg, which did such fearful execution as the
Union troops were advancing on General Lee's position.
The remains of the Union soldiers were taken from their temporary graves
and conveyed to the cemetery by a "burial corps," consisting of a large
detail of Federal soldiers and a few veterans employed by the
superintendent. The work was continued for three or four years, and it was
thought that all the dead had been cared for, but even now remains of
soldiers are sometimes found in different places and turned over to the
superintendent for interment. The Fredericksburg cemetery is not the
largest in area in the United States, but it has a larger number of
interments in it than any other in the country. Up to the present time the
interments number 15,294, of these 2,496 are known and their names,
regiments and State are registered in a book in the superintendent's
office, and 12,798 are unknown. The superintendent of the cemetery is
Major M. M. Jefferys, and under his management it is kept in good
condition.
The superintendent has a "lodge" or residence near the cemetery gate,
constructed of stone. It is made of the stone taken from the historical
stone wall, behind which the Confederates were stationed when they
successfully resisted the many gallant charges of General Hancock's men on
the 13th of December, 1862. Several years ago the government constructed a
Macadamized road from the railroad depot to the cemetery, making it a
pleasant drive to that "city of the dead," and it is visited by numbers of
persons, both citizens and strangers. In 1901 Gen. Daniel Butterfield
erected a beautiful monument in the cemetery to the valor of the Fifth
Army Corps, which he commanded, at a cost of $11,000.
MAURY CAMP OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS.
The Confederate veterans of Fredericksburg and surrounding country
organized themselves into a camp in 1883. It was one of the first camps of
the kind organized in the State and had quite a large membership. It was
called Maury Camp in honor of General Dabney Herndon Maury, a native of
Fredericksburg, who rose to the rank of major-general in the Confederate
army, and distinguished himself as a skillful commander as well as for
conspicuous gallantry on many fields of battle during the Civil war.
Maury Camp flourished for several years, having at one time in the
neighborhood of one hundred and fifty members. At first it was independent
and separate from any other camp, but upon the organization of R. E. Lee
Camp, of Richmond, which obtained a charter from the General Assembly of
Virginia, thereby giving it authority over other camps, Maury Camp
obtained a charter from that organization, and holds its authority under
that charter at present.
For some cause in late years the camp has not been prosperous; on the
contrary, it has merely maintained its organization. Many of the members
withdrew their membership or allowed their names to be dropped from the
rolls, while those who still retain their membership, with a few
exceptions, exhibit but little interest in the affairs of the camp.
Notwithstanding its decline, however, it has done much good in the past in
assisting needy Confederate veterans, besides they have relieved the
necessities of the widows and orphans of veterans, and have decently
buried their old comrades who have died in destitution. The camp has had
for commanders at different periods Colonel Robert S. Chew, Judge John T.
Goolrick, Capt. Daniel M. Lee, Thomas F. Proctor, Geo. Shepherd and Capt.
S. J. Quinn. At present Prof. A. B. Bowering is the commander and the camp
seems to be taking on new life.
SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS.
The organization of Maury Camp of Confederate Veterans was followed in a
few years by the organization of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. This
camp came into existence on the 10th day of May, 1890. It was organized,
mainly, if not entirely, through the efforts of Mr. James A. Turner, who
was its first commander, and, by annual reëlections, without opposition,
he was continued until he retired and Mr. Wm. H. Hurkamp was elected and
is commander at this time.
This camp of the Sons of Confederate Veterans was named in honor of
Colonel Robert S. Chew, who was, at the close of the war, Colonel of the
Thirtieth Virginia regiment of infantry, a native of Fredericksburg and
was honored and beloved by all who knew him. The camp has done a noble
work in the way of looking after the comfort and supplying the needs of
the destitute Confederate veterans, who are rapidly passing "over the
river to rest under the shade of the trees," and providing for them a
decent Christian burial when they shall have "answered the last roll
call."
As an organization the R. S. Chew Camp has attended nearly all the
reunions of Confederate veterans in the State, and has taken as much
interest in them as if they had been veterans instead of the sons of
veterans. In all of these visitations the camp, by the discipline and
military bearing of its members soon won for itself a position in the
front rank of Sons of Confederate Veterans in the South. About thirty of
its members volunteered in the United States army in the War with Spain,
some of whom are now in the regular army, holding important
commissions. The camp has flourished from its organization, and has now
nearly one hundred members on its rolls, who are earnest in their work and
faithful to the memories of their fathers.
[Illustration: "Stevens House," on "Sunken Road"; the Confederate line of
battle, 1862 and 1863, in front of fence. Gen. Thos. R. R. Cobb killed
where gate swings to right. (See page 91)]
[Illustration: City Hall, in which are Mayor's Office, Council Chamber,
etc., and where a ball was given in honor of Gen. Lafayette on his visit
here in 1824. (See page 144)]
THE SCHOOLS OF FREDERICKSBURG.
Fredericksburg, from its earliest days, possessed educational advantages,
greatly in advance of many larger towns of the colonies. Soon after its
establishment by the House of Burgesses, schools of a high order were
established here by the best of educators and it is highly probable that
the leading men of the State--those who conducted public affairs in
colonial times, and who were the first to oppose and resist British
tyranny and who inaugurated and conducted the movement for separation and
independence--were educated in those schools. And it can be safely said
that from that time to the present Fredericksburg has not been without
schools that would be creditable to any town.
In 1796 a lottery scheme--which was a popular method of raising money in
those days for such purposes--was chartered by the Legislature of the
State for the purpose of raising money to erect a school building on what
was known as the "old poor-house grounds," at present the property of
Alexander Lang's estate near Gunnery Spring. Whether or not this scheme
was successful is not known, but it is a fact that a male academy was
established by some French refugees, gentlemen of education and
refinement, who, having lost their fortunes, adopted teaching as a means
of support. Many distinguished Statesmen and jurists, in after years, were
educated at this school, among them was Judge John Tayloe Lomax, who, in
his old age, when president of the Young Men's Christian Association of
Fredericksburg, referred to his connection with this school by contrasting
the teaching of the school of French philosophy of that day with the
instruction of Christian teachers of a later period, showing the
advantages of the latter.
In a letter from Dr. John Brockenburg to Rev. Philip Slaughter, D. D., in
1846, about another matter, he said: "I had been entered as a student at
the Fredericksburg Academy, then (1790) in high repute, under the Rev.
Mr. Ryan, an eminent classical scholar and a graduate of Trinity College,
Dublin." Dr. Brockenburg finished his education in this school,
preparatory to entering a medical college in Edinburg, and speaks highly
of it.[67]
It is also claimed that Washington, Madison, Monroe, and others who made
their mark as soldiers, statesmen, and in the various professions, were
educated in the schools of Fredericksburg.
The establishment of a female college at "Federal Hill," in the year 1789,
and which was kept up by different teachers for half a century or more,
was an important event in the history of the town, and, in connection with
the male academy, gave to Fredericksburg great distinction as an
educational center.
On the 27th of September, 1795, a fund was created by the sale of lands,
which were devised for the purpose by Mr. Archibald McPherson, which fund
was held in trust by the Mayor and Common Council of the town for the time
being, and afterwards, by an act of the Legislature, by six trustees,
annually appointed for the benefit of the Charity School of
Fredericksburg. These trustees organized into a board, the first president
being Major Benjamin Day, who continued as such to the day of his death.
The school was kept in the brick building on the north side of Hanover
street, just below the Masonic hall, now used by Miss Willie F. Schooler
for her Hanover school. The funds derived by the sale of some of the
McPherson property were afterwards supplemented by a legacy from Mr.
Thomas Colson in 1805.
In the back part of the room in which this male charity school was kept
are to be found three tablets of marble let into the brick wall, in good
preservation, with these inscriptions:
"In memory of Mr. Archibald McPherson. He bequeathed his property to
the trustees of this town for the education of the poor. By an act of
the Legislature the funds were transferred to this institution as best
fulfilling the testator's charitable design. Died A. D. 1754; age 49."
"In memory of Thomas Colson, Esq., who, by his last will and
testament, contributed largely to the permanent funds of this school.
His benevolence claims the gratitude of the poor, and the respect of
all. Died A. D. 1805."
"In memory of Major Benjamin Day, one of the founders of this
institution and its first president. This office he filled for
twenty-six years with zeal and fidelity. As an humble tribute to his
philanthropic services this simple monument is erected. Died A. D.
1821; age 69."
On Major Day's tombstone, in the burial ground of Fredericksburg Masonic
Lodge, in reference to this school, is found these words: "The Male
Charity School of Fredericksburg is chiefly indebted to him for its origin
in 1795, and for its prosperity to his unremitted attention in the
principal management of its concerns, over which he presided until the
time of his death."
These tablets and tombstones furnish a history of this school that can be
had nowhere else, and their transcription here will, it is hoped, enshrine
the memories of these charitable men for their munificence to the poor of
the town in the hearts of the present generation and indelibly impress
upon their minds the solemn, but oft unheeded, words of the Master, "ye
have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them
good." Mr. George W. Rothrock conducted this male school as teacher for
many years, but upon his death, before the Civil war, it was closed and
has never been resumed.
A reference to other schools of Fredericksburg, some contemporary with the
Male Charity School and the Federal Hill Female College, and others of a
later date, will no doubt be of interest to the numerous descendants of
those who were educated in them, and will recall to many of our older
citizens pleasant memories of their youthful days, as well as the labor
over "tare and tret, which made them mad and sweat."
Among these was the excellent female school taught by Rev. Samuel Wilson,
in which many of the most accomplished ladies in Fredericksburg received
their early education. Mr. Wilson was succeeded by Miss Mary Ralls, who
was assisted by Mr. Herard, whom she afterwards married.[68] Mr. Herard
was a Frenchman, and although he could not speak English, taught writing
and French in the school. Here commenced the education of a large number
of girls and boys, who were afterwards well known in the social circle and
business pursuits of Fredericksburg and of many other parts of the
country, and some of them are to-day honored citizens of the town.
The school kept by Mr. John Goolrick, in the small, brick building on the
lower end of Main street, now occupied by Mr. W. Snowden Hitt, was famous
in its day, and in that school were educated some of our substantial
business men and accomplished women. He was assisted in his school by his
son, George, who was an accomplished teacher and cultured gentleman.
George Goolrick succeeded his father in the conduct of the school and
continued it for many years.
Mr. Thomas H. Hanson, who came to Fredericksburg from Georgetown, D. C.,
was principal of the Fredericksburg Male Academy. He was a fine classical
scholar and his school enjoyed a wide-spread reputation as a classical
school. He taught in the north wing of the City Hall, and for several
years on Prince Edward street, above Amelia, in a brick building, where
the residences of Misses Hay and Misses Wissner now stand. The building
was torn down several years ago, when residences were built. Some few of
his pupils are now living. One died a short time ago, at a ripe old age,
with the honorary LL. D. attached to his name.
Rev. George W. McPhail conducted a school for some years on the west side
of Main street, just above Commerce. The house was a large, frame
building, with a store on the ground floor and school-room above. It was
destroyed at the shelling of the town in December, 1862. Mr. McPhail's
first school-room was located on George street west of the Presbyterian
church, but, it being too small to accommodate his pupils, he moved to
Main street.
Messrs. Powell and Morrison, for many years, conducted a school for girls
in Citizens' Hall, which stood on Princess Ann street where the Catholic
parsonage now stands. It was known as the Fredericksburg Institute, and
was one of the best schools of that day. It was moved to Richmond and is
now conducted by members of Mr. Powell's family.
Professor Richard Sterling conducted a school for boys in the old
Colonnade building on Princess Ann street, opposite the courthouse, long
before the war. He was succeeded by Mr. J. J. Halsey. The building was
partially destroyed by fire during the Civil war, and finally, in 1880,
was removed to give place to the Presbyterian Memorial chapel.
For a number of years a school for girls was conducted by Mrs. John P.
Little, first at her residence, on Princess Ann street, and then for some
time at Federal Hill and at the Union House, which is now used for the
public schools. She was assisted in her school by an accomplished French
teacher by the name of Guillet.
More than half a century ago Misses Ann and Mary Drinnan conducted a
flourishing school for girls on Charles street, above Lewis, where the
Misses Goodwin now live, and Mrs. Mary Hackley conducted a large boarding
school over the store now occupied by Mr. Thomas N. Brent. For several
years before the war Rev. Wm. F. Broaddus, D. D., taught a school for
young ladies in the basement of the Baptist church. These schools were all
of a high order and fully sustained the reputation of Fredericksburg as a
town possessing the most enlarged educational advantages. Besides the
schools above referred to, schools for boys were taught by Richard Stern,
Mr. Hudson, Mr. Jamison, Stephen A. Boardman, James G. Read, Edward Henry,
Mr. Tchudi, Buckner & Henry, Buckner & Temple, Chas. E. Tackett, Thomas
Moncure, H. W. Rhinehart, Mrs. Judith Anstice, Mrs. A. L. Magrath, Maria
Woodruff, Miss Willie Schooler and others.
After the war Judge Richard H. Coleman taught a high school for boys at
Kenmore, and Colonel W. Winston Fontaine taught a high school for girls on
the south corner of Main and Frederick streets, and Professor Volley M.
Johnson conducted a similar school at the Union House. When Judge Coleman
moved his school to Guiney's in Caroline county, Messrs. Cuthbert Buckner
and Charles W. Temple opened a school of the same grade. They were
succeeded by Messrs. Cuthbert Buckner and Wm. Caruthers, and they by
Messrs. Charles E. Tackett, James W. Ford and Wm. B. Marye, who added a
military feature to the school, which made it quite popular. These schools
were located on Prince Edward street in a one-story brick house, known as
the Academy, where the Misses Hay have recently erected a modern
residence.
After Colonel Fontaine moved South a high school for young ladies was
opened by Mr. Wm. Caruthers in the Presbyterian Asylum, known now as
Smithsonia, assisted by his sisters, Mrs. Davis and Miss Caruthers. He was
succeeded by Mrs. Wm. A. Campbell and daughter, two excellent teachers,
but the school did not appear to prosper and was finally closed. In
addition to these schools of high grade there were many excellent primary
schools for girls and boys, which succeeded well until the public free
schools were opened, which became popular because of their graded system
and the thoroughness of their instruction. Since then most of the private
schools have been abandoned, yet some few are yet conducted and are doing
well.
THE ASSEMBLY'S HOME AND SCHOOL.
The Assembly's Home and School was founded by Rev. A. P. Saunders, D. D.,
then pastor of the Presbyterian church in Fredericksburg, in 1893. It was
incorporated by an act of the Virginia Legislature December 16, 1893. It
consisted originally of a home designed for the maintenance and education
of the orphans of deceased Presbyterian ministers and missionaries, and
also of a college. The latter was intended as a place for the education of
these orphans and also for the youth of other denominations.
The General Assembly of the Presbyterian church, each year, commended the
institution to the confidence of the churches within its bounds, and by
their contributions the Home was maintained. The college for some time was
supported partly by contributions from the churches, but more largely by
the pay students attending the school from home and abroad.
In the year 1897 the General Assembly of the church separated the college
from the Home and ordered the sale of the college and all the property
belonging to it. The city of Fredericksburg recognizing the value of such
an institution in its midst, had subscribed ten thousand dollars of bonds,
the interest on which was to pay for ten annual scholarships in the
college, the scholars being selected from the highest grade of the public
schools of the town.
This arrangement continued until 1898, when the college and property were
sold and the ten thousand dollars of bonds were returned to the city
authorities and cancelled. The property was purchased by Rev. F. P.
Ramsay, who conducted the college for two years, the city continuing its
patronage of ten scholarships, paying the tuition in money.
In the year 1900 Mr. Ramsay sold the college and property to Rev. John W.
Rosebro, who had just become pastor of the Presbyterian church in
Fredericksburg. He is a gentleman of rare ability, and, with his corps of
able assistants, is making the college worthy of the confidence and
support of the public. A bright and prosperous future is predicted for the
institution under the management of this scholarly gentleman.
The Assembly Home is still in operation, supported by the denomination,
and holds a strong place in the affections of the Presbyterian church. It
is now under the management of Professor Samuel W. Somerville.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The public schools were established in Fredericksburg, under what is known
as the Underwood Constitution, in 1870. For several years they were not
well patronized, principally from the fact that the system was not popular
with the people. When the system was first put in operation in town the
schools were kept at private houses, because the city had no public school
houses and was then unable to build them, and as the appropriations for
school purposes were small the sessions were held only for five or six
months in the year. The teachers, in a majority of cases, were selected
more because of their need of the salary than because of their ability and
fitness to teach.
In the year 1876 the schools were graded, and the funds received from the
city and State were largely supplemented from the Peabody fund, which
enabled the school board to adopt a ten months' session. By this
arrangement the efficiency of the schools was greatly promoted; they grew
in public favor, the citizens patronized them, and soon they became so
large and popular the town was compelled to provide larger buildings for
the accommodation of the pupils. To accommodate this large increase of
attendance a commodious two-story brick building was erected on the north
corner of Princess Ann and Wolfe streets for the colored schools,
sufficiently large to accommodate four schools, and the Union House, a
three-story brick building on the north corner of Main and Lewis streets,
was purchased for the white schools and converted into a building capable
of accommodating six schools.
In addition to the schools held at the Union House there are two schools
for the first primary grades, one held in the forenoon and the other in
the afternoon, under one teacher, and were kept in the south wing of the
courthouse until two years ago, when they were moved to the Union House
and other grades removed to the courthouse. The grammar grade of the
colored schools is taught at Samaritan Hall, on Douglas street. These
schools have an efficient corps of teachers and the instruction is as
thorough as is found in any of the schools of the State.
There are ten grades in the white schools--seven in the primary department
and three in the grammar department. There are six grades in the colored
schools--five in the primary department and one in the grammar department.
The town is divided into two school districts, the Upper and the Lower,
George street being the dividing line. There are three trustees from each
school district, the six members constituting the school board of the
town.
There have been four superintendents of schools since the inauguration of
the free school system in 1870, who have served in the following order:
Mr. John Howison, General Daniel Ruggles, Mr. Edgar M. Crutchfield and Mr.
Benjamin P. Willis. All of these gentlemen have passed away except Mr.
Willis, who is now serving as superintendent. The school board has had but
four presidents since its organization, thirty-eight years ago, who
served in the following order: John James Young, Captain Joseph W. Sener,
Wm. H. Cunningham and Andrew B. Bowering. Only one is now living--A. B.
Bowering, who is serving at present.