CONTENTS

Chapter I

Captain John Smith Explores the Rappahannock River—The Flight of Pocahontas—Major Lawrence Smith’s Fort—Governor Spotswood’s Miners at Germanna, 11

Chapter II

The Knights of the Golden Horse Shoe—Governor Spotswood’s Expedition over the Blue Ridge Mountains, 27

Chapter III

Fredericksburg Incorporated by the House of Burgesses—Col. Byrd Walks about Town—A Church Building Erected—Rev. Patrick Henry Rector—Augustine Washington a Town Trustee—Stock Fairs Inaugurated—Limits of the Town Extended, 37

Chapter IV

Encouraging Home Industries—Further Extension of the Town—Tobacco Inspectors Appointed—Modes of Punishing Criminals—Prosperity—Military Ardor—Under the United States Government—A New Order of Things, 46

Chapter V

Lease of the Market-House Lots—The First Serious Fire—Fredericksburg an Important Center—An Act Concerning Elections—Half of the Town Destroyed by Fire—Fredericksburg an Important Postal Point—How the Mails were Carried—A Congressional Investigation—Amendatory Acts of 1821—The Great Fire of 1822—The Trade of the Town—Contagious Diseases—The Town in 1841—Acts of Extension, 1851, 1852, 1858, 1861, 57

Chapter VI

The War Clouds Gather—Fredericksburg in the Southern Confederacy—Troops Raised and Equipped—Town Surrendered to Federal Authorities—Citizens Arrested and Held as Hostages—Thrilling Evacuating Scenes—Citizens Flee from their Homes—Bombardment of the Town, 71

Chapter VII

The Great Battle—The Town Sacked by Soldiers—The Federals Recross the River—A Great Revival of Religion—The Battle of Chancellorsville—Gen. Sedgwick Captures the Town—The Wilderness Campaign—Many Noncombatant Citizens Arrested and Imprisoned—A Statement by the Council—The Citizens and Federal Soldiers Released, 90

Chapter VIII

The Armies Transferred to Richmond and Petersburg—Gen. Lee Surrenders his Army—Citizens Return Home—Action of the City Council—Fredericksburg Again Under the Old Flag—The Assassination of President Lincoln Denounced—Reconstruction Commenced—An Election Set Aside by the Military—All Civil Offices Set Aside and Strangers Appointed—The Financial Condition of the Town—The Town Again in the Hands of its Citizens—Splendid Financial Showing, 107

Chapter IX

The Courts of Fredericksburg—The Freedman’s Bureau—Court Orders and Incidents—First Night Watch Appointed—Ministers Qualify to Perform Marriage Ceremony—First Notary Public—Fixing the Value of Bank Notes—Prison Bounds for Debtors—Church Buildings, 123

Chapter X

Public Buildings—Court House—The Jail—Town Hall—Fire Department—School Buildings—Wallace Library—Normal School—Government Building, 136

Chapter XI

and Historical Buildings—Mary Washington Monument—General Mercer’s Statue—Mary Washington’s Will, 148

Chapter XII

Hotels of the Town, old and new—Agricultural Fairs and Toll Bridges—Care of the Dependent Poor—City Water Works—City Gas Works—Electric Light—Telephone Company—Fire Department, 164

Chapter XIII

Volunteer Militia—The Confederate Cemetery—The National Cemetery—The Confederate Veterans—The Sons of Confederate Veterans—The Schools, Private and Public, 182

Chapter XIV

The Churches of Fredericksburg, 202

Chapter XV

Charitable and Benevolent Societies—Mary Washington Hospital—Newspapers and Periodicals—Political Excitement—Strong Resolutions Against the Administration—An Address Approving the President’s Foreign Policy—The Names of Those who Signed the Address, 217

Chapter XVI

Distinguished Men Buried in Fredericksburg—A Remarkable Grave Stone—Three Heroic Fredericksburgers, Wellford, Herndon, Willis—The Old Liberty Bell Passes Through Town—Great Demonstration in its Honor—What a Chinaman Thought of it, 235

Chapter XVII

Visits of Heroes—Gala Days—The Army of the Society of the Potomac Enters the Town, 251

Chapter XVIII

The Society of the Army of the Potomac Continued—Welcome Address—Laying a Corner Stone, 263

Chapter XIX

Doctor Walker’s Expedition—Bacon’s Rebellion, so-called—The Fredericksburg Declaration—The Great Orator—Resolutions of Separation—The Virginia Bill of Rights, 280

Chapter XX

Declaration of Separation—The Declaration of Independence—Washington Commander-in-Chief of the Armies—John Paul Jones Raises the First Flag—First to Throw the Stars and Stripes to the Breeze—Fredericksburg Furnishes the Head of the Army and Navy—The Constitution of the United States, 292

Chapter XXI

The First Proclamation for Public Thanksgiving—Pennsylvania Whiskey Rebellion—John Marshall and the Supreme Court—Religious Liberty—The Monroe Doctrine—Seven Presidents—Clarke Saves the Great Northwest—The Vast Western Territory Explored—The Louisiana Purchase—The Florida Purchase—Texas Acquired—The War with Mexico and its Rich Results—The Oceans Sounded, Measured and Mapped—The Ladies’ Memorial Association—The Mary Washington Monument—General Mercer’s Statue, 306

Chapter XXII

Fredericksburg at Present—The Health of the City—Its Financial Solidity—Its Commercial Prosperity—Its Lines of Transportation—Its Water Power—Its Official Calendar—List of Mayors, 322

Official Calendar—September 1, 1908 333

Mayors of Fredericksburg in Their Chronological Order 336

HISTORY OF THE City of Fredericksburg, Virginia, FROM ITS Settlement to the Present Time