Virginia,
One of the thirteen original States of the
United States, lies between lat. 36° 30′ and 39° 40′ N., and long.
75° 25′ and 83° 34′ W. It is bounded on the north and west by
Kentucky and
West Virginia, on the north and east by
Maryland,
Chesapeake Bay, and the
Atlantic Ocean, and on the south by
North Carolina and
Tennessee.
It is 425 miles in length east and west and 205 miles in breadth north and south.
Area, 40,125 square miles in 100 counties.
Population in 1890, 1,655,980; 1900, 1,854,154.
Capital,
Richmond.
[
542]
Lucas Vasquez de Ayllon's supposed entry of the
James River......1527
Capt. Philip Amidas and
Arthur Barlow leave the
Thames in two small vessels fitted out by
Sir Walter Raleigh......April 27, 1584
They enter Ocracock Inlet and land on the island of Wocoken in
Albemarle Sound......July 13, 1584
After exploring
Albemarle and
Pamlico sounds and the island of
Roanoke, they take two natives,
Manteo and Wauchese, to
England......September, 1584
[This country lying between 34° and 45° of N. lat., called
Virginia, in honor of Queen Elizabeth.]
Sir Walter Raleigh despatches seven vessels from
Plymouth under
Sir Richard Grenville to plant settlements in the territory......April 9, 1585
Grenville lands on the island of Wocoken......July 26, 1585
Leaving 108 men under Ralph Lane as colonists,
Grenville returns to
England......Aug. 25, 1585
Sir Francis Drake, with twenty-three ships, anchors outside of Roanoke Inlet......June 10, 1586
Drake sails for
England with all the colonists, who had become very despondent, thus ending the first settlement of the
English in
America......June 19, 1586
Another ship of 100 tons, sent by
Sir Walter Raleigh at his own expense with supplies, arrives at
Roanoke a few days later; finding the colonists gone, she returns to
England......June, 1586
Sir Richard Grenville, with three ships, visits
Roanoke about fifteen days after the departure of
Drake and leaves fifteen men plentifully supplied for two years to keep the land......1586
New colony of 150, sent by
Sir Walter Raleigh in charge of
John White, leaves
Plymouth......May 26, 1587
They reach
Roanoke to find that the men left by
Grenville have been murdered by
Indians......July 22, 1587
Eleanor Dare gives birth to the first English child on American soil (named Virginia Dare)......Aug. 18, 1587
John White returns to
England at request of colonists for supplies, leaving behind eighty-nine men, seventeen women, and two children......Aug. 27 1587
John White returns to
Roanoke......Aug. 9, 1590
[He found the settlement deserted.
Its fate is conjectural.]
James I. of
England grants the London company, including
Sir Thomas Gates,
Sir George Somers,
Richard Hakluyt, and
Edward M. Wingfield the exclusive right to occupy the land from lat. 34° to 38° N.......April 10, 1606
Three vessels—
Susan Constant, of 100 tons,
Capt. Christopher Newport;
Goodspeed, of forty tons,
Capt. Bartholomew Gosnold; and
Discovery, twenty tons,
Capt. John Ratcliffe—with 105 emigrants, sail from the
Downs, England, destined for
Virginia......Dec. 19, 1606
They enter
Chesapeake Bay, naming the capes at its entrance Charles and Henry, after the sons of King James......April 26, 1607
They enter the
James River and land at a place they name
Jamestown.
May 13, 1607
Edward M. Wingfield chosen president......1607
Christopher Newport sails to
England for provisions and more settlers......June 15, 1607
Bartholomew Gosnold, the projector of the settlement, dies and is buried at
Jamestown......Aug. 22, 1607
Before autumn fifty more die;
Wingfield is deposed and
John Ratcliffe chosen president, whose incompetence gives the control to
Capt. John Smith during the autumn of......1607
Capt. John Smith, in exploring the
Chickahominy, is attacked by Indians and captured; his companions killed......December, 1607
Condemned to death by Powhatan, he is saved by his daughter
Pocahontas......December, 1607
Captain Newport returns with supplies and 120 immigrants......Jan. 8, 1608
Newport returns to
England with a shipload of worthless earth, supposed to contain gold......April 10, 1608
Capt. John Smith explores the region of the
Chesapeake Bay, nearly 3,000 square miles, as far north as
Wyoming Valley......July 24, 1608
Newport arrives with supplies and about seventy immigrants, among them two women, the first in this colony......September, 1608
[
543]
Smith returns to
Jamestown......Sept. 7, 1608
He is made president of the council......Sept. 10, 1608
Smith compels the colonists to labor six hours each day......1608-9
New charter granted the London Company under the title of “Adventurers and planters of the
City of London,” with ample privileges......May 23, 1609
Nine vessels, with more than 500 emigrants, many swine, and a few horses, sail from
England for
Virginia......June 12, 1609
Capt. John Smith, disabled by an explosion of gunpowder, embarks for
England about......Sept. 29, 1609
Colony reduced from 490 to sixty in six months......1609-10
[This is known in
Virginia history as “the starving time.” ]
Sir Thomas Gates and the passengers wrecked on the Bermudas construct two vessels and reach
Jamestown......May 24, 1610
In their destitution the whole colony leave
Jamestown for
Newfoundland in their few small vessels; near the mouth of the river they meet a boat of Lord Delaware's, whose ships had just arrived with more colonists and supplies, and together they return to
Jamestown......June 8, 1610
Lord Delaware the first executive of
Virginia called governor; owing to illhealth he embarks for
England......March 28, 1611
Sir Thomas Dale reaches
Jamestown from
England with three vessels and ample supplies, and assumes the government......May 12, 1611
Sir Thomas Gates, with his wife and daughters, bringing in six ships 300 settlers, 100 cows and other cattle, and an abundant supply of provisions, arrives at
Jamestown early in......August, 1611
Third charter granted transfers the control from the council or the
King to the London Company......March 12, 1612
Capt. Samuel Argall, in a foraging expedition, entices
Pocahontas, daughter of Powhatan, on his vessel and takes her to
Jamestown......1612
Marriage of
Pocahontas to
John Rolfe by
the Rev. Alexander Whitaker at
Jamestown......April 5, 1613
First establishment of fixed property in the soil; the company granting fifty acres to every freeman in fee-simple......1615
Sir Thomas Dale embarks with
John Rolfe and his wife
Pocahontas, reaching
Plymouth......June 12, 1616
[Pocahontas soon after presented at the Court of James.]
Pocahontas dies at
Gravesend,
Kent, when about to embark for
Virginia, aged twenty-two, leaving one child......March 21, 1617
Capt. Samuel Argall returns to
Virginia as deputy-governor with 100 settlers, and
John Rolfe as secretary......May 15, 1617
First seal (colonial) of
Virginia......1617
Lord Delaware embarks in the
Neptune with 200 settlers and supplies; he dies on the passage......April 18, 1618
Powhatan dies......1618
Deputy-
Governor Argall, convicted of malfeasance and oppressive exaction, escapes......April 9, 1619
Sir George Yeardley succeeds
Lord Delaware as governor, and arrives at
Jamestown......April 19, 1619
First representative legislative assembly ever held in
America meets at
Jamestown......July 30, 1619
Dutch man-of-war sells colonists at
Jamestown twenty negroes......August, 1619
[This is the epoch of the introduction of negro slavery in the
English colonies.]
Earl of
Southampton, the early patron of
Shakespeare, elected treasurer of the London Company......June 28, 1620
Population estimated at 4,000, and 40,000 pounds of tobacco shipped to
England......1620
England claims a monopoly of trade of her plantations......October, 1621
London Company begins to ship respectable young women to supply the colonists with wives......1621
[They were sold for 120 lbs. of tobacco each, or the cost of bringing them over.]
Sir Francis Wyatt chosen governor, and with nine ships, with emigrants and supplies, reaches
Virginia......October, 1621
Cotton-seed planted as an experiment for the first time......1621
Indians rise and massacre the whites at nearly all the plantations, extending 140 miles on both sides of the river; only
Jamestown and the nearest settlements
[
544]
saved, a converted Indian revealing the plot......March 22, 1622
Dissensions arising in the Virginia Company, King James appoints commissioners to investigate it, who advise a dissolution......May, 1623
Charter annulled by the
King's Bench......June 16, 1624
Sir Francis Wyatt succeeded by
Sir George Yeardley as governor......May, 1626
Governor Yeardley dies......Nov. 14, 1627
Council elects
Francis West, a younger brother of
Lord Delaware, governor......Nov. 15, 1627
Governor West goes to
England,
Dr. John Potts succeeds......March 5, 1628
Population, 5,000......1629
George Calvert, Lord Baltimore, arrives in
Virginia in the autumn of......1629
Ministers of the gospel are ordered to conform in all things to the canons of the
Church of
England......1629-30
Governor Potts superseded as governor by
Sir John Harvey......March, 1630
Trouble with
Maryland as to land titles......1632-44
Virginia divided into eight counties or shires, viz.,
Elizabeth City,
Warwick,
James City,
Charles City,
Henrico,
Isle of Wight,
York, and
Accomac......1634
William Clayborne, a Virginian contestant, sent to
England by
Governor Harvey to answer for attempting to establish his claim against
Maryland......1635
Governor Harvey deposed by the Virginia Assembly, and commissioners appointed to impeach him in
England.
He accompanies the commission......1635
John West acting governor during the absence of
Governor Harvey......1635-36
Harvey, reinstated by Charles, returns......1637
Sir Francis Wyatt succeeds
Harvey as governor......November, 1639
Sir William Berkeley appointed governor, and arrives in
Virginia......February, 1642
Massachusetts sends three clergymen to
Virginia at the request of Puritans there......1642
Virginia Assembly enacts that all ministers in the colony shall conform to the order and constitution of the Church of England or depart......1643
Indians, incited by
Opechancanough, sachem of the Powhatans, massacre 300 colonists......April 18, 1644
Indians are quickly overcome, and the aged
Opechancanough is captured and dies in prison......1644
Governor Berkeley sails for
England, and leaves
Richard Kemp as deputy......June, 1644
Virginia in sympathy with the Cavaliers of
England.
Population consists of 20,000 whites and 300 negroes; average yearly export of tobacco, 1,500,000 lbs.......1648
Dissenters having increased to 118, encounter all the rigor of colonial authority, and are suppressed by imprisonment and banishment......1648
Virginians continue their allegiance to Charles II.
after the execution of Charles I......Jan. 30, 1649
Three hundred and thirty adherents of Charles I. come to
Virginia near the close of......1649
Governor Berkeley sends
Col. Henry Norwood to Breda to invite Charles II.
to
Virginia......1650
King Charles II.
sends a new commission to
Berkeley as governor, dated......June 3, 1650
Capt. Robert Dennis, one of the commissioners of the commonwealth to reduce
Virginia, arrives at
Jamestown......March, 1652 Colony surrenders......March 12, 1652
Provisional government organized,
Richard Bennett governor......April 30, 1652
Richard Bennett succeeded by
Edward Digges as governor......1655
Col. Edward Hill attacks the Indians at the falls of
James River and is repulsed with loss......1656
Samuel Matthews succeeds
Edward Digges as governor......1657
Governor Matthews dies......January, 1659
Sir William Berkeley elected governor......March 23, 1660
Charles II.
monarchy re-established in
England......May 29, 1660
New commission as governor transmitted to
Berkeley by Charles II.......July 31, 1660
Governor Berkeley goes to
England to defend the colony against the navigation act......April 30, 1661
Col. Francis Morrison acting governor......1661-62
[
545]
Quakers and other separatists persecuted by fines and banishment......1662
Virginia assigned for thirty-one years to Lords Arlington and
Culpeper by Charles II., at the yearly rental of forty shillings......1673
Colonists become dissatisfied with their oppressive and unequal taxes......1674-75
Susquehanna Indians, driven from the head of the
Chesapeake, commence depredations on the colonists......1675
These Indians are attacked in their fort, near the present site of
Washington, by 1,000 men from
Virginia and
Maryland, under
Col. John Washington, great-grandfather of
George Washington......1675
Six Indian chiefs, sent out of the fort for a parley, are killed......1675
Indians escape from the fort and spread dismay and havoc upon the plantations along the
James and
Rappahannock......1675
Assembly meets and declares war against them.
Five hundred men gathered under
Sir Henry Chicheley......March, 1676
When about to march,
Governor Berkeley orders the force disbanded......1676
Alarmed colonists choose
Nathaniel Bacon (born in
Suffolk, England) as their leader; he, failing to procure a commission from the governor, marches against the Indians without one and defeats them......May, 1676
Governor Berkeley proclaims
Bacon a rebel......May 29, 1676
Bacon elected a member of the new Assem bly......1676
He is captured on his way to
Jamestown, tried before the governor and council, and released on parole......June, 1676
Bacon before the Assembly asks the governor for pardon, which is granted......June 5, 1676
Bacon leaves
Jamestown......June, 1676
He returns with 600 men and again demands a commission against the Indians.
He is made commander-in-chief and authorized by the Assembly to raise 1,000 men, and this is ratified by the governor......June, 1676
Bacon, while engaged in a successful campaign against the Indians, is again proclaimed a rebel and a traitor by
Governor Berkeley......July 29, 1676
Governor, unable to resist
Bacon, is compelled to retreat to
Accomac......August, 1676
Gathering some vessels and about 1,000 men, the governor returns to
Jamestown......Sept. 7, 1676
Bacon marches to
Jamestown and drives out the governor and his followers......Sept. 18, 1676
He burns
Jamestown......Sept. 19, 1676
Governor Berkeley retires again to
Accomac, while
Bacon suddenly sickens of a malignant fever, a result of exposure and anxiety, and dies......Oct. 28, 1676
News of this rebellion in
England prevents the issue of the promised liberal charter, just ready to pass the seals......October, 1676
Three commissioners despatched to
Virginia and one regiment of soldiers arrive......Feb. 29, 1677
Governor Berkeley, being recalled by the
King, sails for
England......April 27, 1677
Governor Berkeley succeeded by
Sir Herbert Jeffreys, who dies......December, 1678
William Byrd builds a mill and tradinghouse upon the present site of
Richmond, the place known as “
Byrd's warehouse” ......1679
Sir Henry Chicheley governor until......May 10, 1680
[Succeeded by Lord Culpeper.]
John Buckner brings a
printing-press to
Virginia and prints the session laws, but is obliged to give bonds to print nothing more till the
King's pleasure be known; all printing forbidden in the colony......1682
Lord Culpeper succeeded by Lord Howard, of
Effingham......1684
Governor Effingham visits
Governor Dongan, of New York, and at
Albany concludes a treaty with the
Iroquois chiefs......July, 1684
Many persons engaged in the rebellion of the
Duke of
Monmouth transported to
Virginia......1685
Governor Effingham embarks for
England, and the Assembly sends
Colonel Ludwell to lay the grievances of the colony before the
English government......1688
Huguenots of
France first come to
Virginia......1690
Francis Nicholson, formerly governor of New York, appointed governor of
Virginia......June 3, 1690
First Assembly under William and Mary at
Jamestown......April, 1691
Rev. James Blair obtains from William
[
546]
and Mary a charter for William and Mary College at
Williamsburg......February, 1692
Sir Edmund Andros, formerly governor of New York and
New England, succeeds
Nicholson as governor of
Virginia......February, 1692
Francis Nicholson again governor of
Virginia......November, 1698
Williamsburg settled......1699
First commencement at William and Mary College......1700
Williamsburg made the capital......1700
Edward Nott appointed lieutenant-governor......Aug. 13, 1704
Governor Nicholson recalled......1705
George Hamilton,
Earl of Orkney, appointed governor of
Virginia......1705
[From this time the office became a pensionary sinecure, the governor residing in
England, and out of a salary of £ 2,000 paid his deputy, the actual governor, £ 800.]
Affairs of the colony managed by the council,
Edward Jennings president......1705-10
Edward Nott dies in office......August, 1706
Robert Hunter appointed lieutenantgovernor, but is captured on the voyage by the
French......1708
Col. Alexander Spotswood arrives in
Virginia as lieutenant-governor......June, 1710
Governor Spotswood explores the country west as far as the Shenandoah Valley, crossing the
Blue Ridge; the expedition occupies six weeks......August–September, 1716
Governor Spotswood sends
Lieutenant Maynard of the
British navy with two small vessels into Pamlico Bay in pursuit of the pirate John Teach, or “Blackbeard” ......Nov. 21, 1718
[Maynard sailed back with the head of the pirate chief as a trophy.
Thirteen captured pirates hanged at
Williamsburg.]
Governor Spotswood effects a treaty with the
Iroquois......1722
Governor Spotswood succeeded by
Hugh Drysdale......1722
Governor Drysdale succeeded by
William Gooch......1727
Boundary established between
Virginia and
North Carolina......1728
Alexander Spotswood appointed deputy postmaster-general of the colony, and through him
Benjamin Franklin is appointed postmaster of
Pennsylvania......1730
First settler in the Shenandoah Valley, Joist
Hite, who takes up 40,000 acres and enters upon possession with a party from
Pennsylvania......1732
Richard Henry Lee, born at
Stratford, on the
Potomac......Jan. 20, 1732
George Washington, born at
Westmoreland county......Feb. 22, 1732
Patrick Henry, born at
Studley,
Hanover county......May 29, 1736
First newspaper in
Virginia, the Virginia
Gazette, published by
William Parks, appears at
Williamsburg......August, 1736
Richmond settled by
William Byrd......1739
Virginia raises a regiment to assist in the reduction of
Carthagena,
West Indies.
Lawrence Washington, half-brother of
George Washington, is a captain in it, embarking......1740
Mount Vernon, named by
Lawrence Washington after
Admiral Vernon, who commanded the fleet against
Carthagena......1740
George Whitefield comes to
Virginia......1740
Richmond incorporated......1742
Augustine Washington, father of
George Washington, dies......April, 1743
Thomas Jefferson born in
Albemarle county......April 2, 1743
Dr. Thomas Walker, of the council of
Virginia, crosses and names the
Cumberland Mountains......1747
Harper's Ferry, named after
Robert Harper, an English millwright, who obtains a grant of it from Lord Fairfax......1748
Thomas Lee, of the council, proposes to form the Ohio Company, consisting of himself and twelve others, among them
Lawrence and
Augustine Washington......1748
They obtain a grant of 600,000 acres west of the mountains and south of the
Ohio River between the
Monongahela and the
Kanawha......March, 1749
William Gooch, governor of
Virginia for twenty-two years, retires to
England......August, 1749
Christopher Gist is sent to explore the
Ohio country as far as the falls of the
Ohio by the Ohio Company......1750-51
John Robinson, president of the council,
[
547]
acting governor, dying, is succeeded first by
Thomas Lee, then by
Lewis Burwell......1750-51
Robert Dinwiddie appointed lieutenantgovernor, and arrives in
Virginia early in......1752
By treaty the western
Indians at Logstown, a trading-post about 17 miles northwest from
Pittsburg, agree not to molest any settlement on the south side of the
Ohio......June 13, 1752
Governor Dinwiddie sends
Washington (then twenty-one years old) as a commissioner to investigate the proceedings of the
French on the
Ohio;
Washington leaves
Williamsburg with a few attendants......Oct. 30, 1753
Christopher Gist meets
Washington at
Cumberland and accompanies him......Nov. 14, 1753
They arrive at Logstown......Nov. 24, 1753
They reach
Fort Le Boeuf on
French Creek, Pa., about 15 miles south of
Lake Erie......Dec. 11, 1753
Deliver
Governor Dinwiddie's letter to St. Pierre, commandant at Le Boeuf, receive a written reply, and return......Dec. 16, 1753
Reach
Williamsburg in eleven weeks, after a journey of 1,500 miles through an almost trackless wilderness......Jan. 16, 1754
[The answer of the
French was evasive and unsatisfactory.]
Assembly vote £ 10,000 for an expedition to protect the Ohio Company in settling the territory on the
Ohio and building fortifications......February, 1754
Gen. Edward Braddock arrives in
Virginia as commander-in-chief of all the forces in
America......February, 1754
Washington, with two companies, sent by
Governor Dinwiddie to the Great Meadows......April, 1754
Washington attacks a small party of French near the Great Meadows......May 28, 1754
General Braddock starts from
Fort Cumberland for
Fort Duquesne with 2,150 men......June 7-8-10, 1754
Washington surrenders
Fort Necessity, a rude stockade at the Great Meadows, to the
French after a spirited defence, and with military honors leads out its garrison......July 3, 1754
Fort Cumberland, about 55 miles northwest of
Winchester, built......1754
Consternation on the western frontier of
Virginia in consequence of
Braddock's defeat......1754
Virginia Assembly votes £ 40,000 for the public service; calls out 1,500 men for active duty, and appoints
Washington commander-in-chief......August, 1754
Assembly allows
Washington £ 300 as a compensation for his losses at the
battle of Monongahela......August, 1754
Washington visits
Governor Shirley at
Boston to deliver to him a memorial from the officers of the
Virginia regiment asking
King's commissions, and also to acquaint himself with the governor's military plans......February-March, 1756
Winchester, incorporated 1752, the only settlement not deserted west of the
Blue Ridge......1756
Gov. Robert Dinwiddie retires......January, 1758
[
John Blair, president of the council, acting governor.]
Francis'
Fauquier, appointed governor, arrives......June 7, 1758
Gen. John Forbes's expedition against
Fort Duquesne......July, 1758
Washington commands a regiment, and from it garrisons
Fort Pitt, then considered within the jurisdiction of
Virginia.
He marches back to
Winchester and takes his seat in the Assembly, resigning his commission after more than five years continuous service......December, 1758
He marries Martha, widow of
John Parke Custis......Jan. 6, 1759
Patrick Henry's speech in the “
Parsons' case” ......Dec. 1, 1763
Stamp Act approved by the
King......March 22, 1765
Patrick Henry introduces in the Virginia Assembly five resolutions against the Stamp Act......May 30, 1765
Virginia prevented by
Governor Fauquier from sending delegates to the congress in New York to oppose the Stamp Act......October, 1765
George Mercer appointed distributer of stamps, but not permitted to serve......October, 1765
Repeal of the Stamp Act......March, 1766
Governor Fauquier dies......1768
Norborne Berkeley,
Baron de Boutetourt, arrives in
Virginia as governor......November, 1768
[
548]
Governor Boutetourt dies......October, 1770
[
William Nelson, president of the council, acting governor.]
John Murray,
Earl of
Dunmore, governor, arrives at
Williamsburg......1772
Virginia House of Assembly appoints a “committee of correspondence,” and recommends similar appointments to the other colonies to promote union......March, 1773
Governor Dunmore dissolves the
House of Burgesses for setting apart June 1 as a day of fasting and prayer, in sympathy with the people of
Boston......May 25, 1774
First Continental Congress meets at
Philadelphia;
Peyton Randolph, of
Virginia, president......Sept. 5, 1774
Indian War......1774
Battle of Point Pleasant, at the junction of the
Great Kanawha and
Ohio, opposite the present town of
Gallipolis, O.......Oct. 10, 1774
Speech of
Patrick Henry before the convention in the old church at
Richmond, urging resistance to
England......March 20, 1775
Governor Dunmore removes the gunpowder at
Williamsburg to a British manof-war in the
James River......April 20, 1775
Governor Dunmore leaves
Williamsburg, taking refuge on board the
Fowey, a British ship, at
Yorktown......June 8, 1775
George Washington appointed commander-in-chief of the
American forces by Congress......June 15, 1775
Virginia convention appoints a committee of safety, with
Edmund Pendleton president......July, 1775
This convention appoints
Patrick Henry commander-in-chief of the
Virginian forces......1775
Battle of Great Bridge, near the
Dismal Swamp, 12 miles from
Norfolk......Dec. 9, 1775
Lord Dunmore burns
Norfolk......Jan. 1, 1776
Patrick Henry, feeling slighted, resigns as commander-in-chief......February, 1776
Patrick Henry elected a delegate to the convention......April, 1776
Convention instructs her delegates to Congress to advocate independence......May 15, 1776
Declaration of rights by
George Mason adopted by the convention......June 12, 1776
Patrick Henry elected governor of
Virginia......June, 177（
State constitution adopted, and colonial government ceases in
Virginia......June 29, 1776
Kentucky made a county of Virginia......1776
Henry Clay born in “The Slashes,”
Hanover county......April 12, 1777
Maj. George Rogers Clarke sent by
Governor Henry with an expedition against the
British fort at
Kaskaskia (now in
Illinois), and captures it......July 4, 1778
He also occupies
Vincennes......August, 1778
All territory northwest of the
Ohio River occupied by
Clarke is made by the Virginia Assembly into the county of
Illinois......October, 1778
Col. John Todd appointed its county lieutenant......Dec. 12, 1778
Richmond becomes the capital of the
State......1779
Virginia tenders to Congress the entire region beyond the
Ohio......1780
Virginia charters the town of
Louisville, Ky......1780
Virginia issues $30,000,000, and makes it legal tender at $40 for $1......1780
Benedict Arnold, with 1,600 men, enters the
James River by order of
Sir Henry Clinton......Jan. 2, 1781
He plunders
Richmond and destroys stores......Jan. 5-6, 1781
He fixes headquarters at
Portsmouth......March 20, 1781
General Phillips, with 2,000 men, reinforces him......March 27, 1781
Phillips and
Arnold leave
Portsmouth April 18 and occupy
Petersburg, driving out
Baron Steuben and
General Nelson......April 24, 1781
General Lafayette approaches
Petersburg......May 11, 1781
General Phillips dies at
Petersburg......May 13, 1781
Lord Cornwallis reaches
Petersburg......May 19, 1781
Cornwallis sends
Arnold to New York......May, 1781
Cornwallis starts in pursuit of
Lafayette......May, 1781
Lafayette and
Wayne unite their forces......June 7, 1781
Cornwallis retires to
Williamsburg......June 25, 1781
[
549]
Lafayette attacks Cornwallis near
Green Springs, and is repulsed......July 6, 1781
Cornwallis crosses the
James and reaches
Portsmouth......July 9, 1781
Cornwallis retires with his army to
Yorktown......Aug. 4, 1781
General Lafayette at the forks of the
Pamunky and
Mattaponey......Aug. 13, 1781
American and French army starts for
Yorktown, Va., from the
Hudson River......Aug. 25, 1781
Count de Grasse arrives in the
Chesapeake with twenty-six French ships of the line......Aug. 30, 1781
Combined army passes
Philadelphia on the way to
Yorktown......Sept. 2, 1781
Count de St. Simon lands 3,200 French at
Jamestown Island, and
Lafayette joins him at
Green Spring......Sept. 3, 1781
They occupy
Williamsburg, about 15 miles from
Yorktown......Sept. 5, 1781
British fleet under
Admiral Graves appears off the
Chesapeake, and skirmishes with the French fleet......Sept. 7, 1781
Washington reaches
Williamsburg......Sept. 14, 1781
He visits
Count de Grasse to plan the siege......Sept. 18, 1781
French and American army (about 16,000) advances within 2 miles of the
British outposts......Sept. 28, 1781
First parallel of the
American army opened on
Yorktown......Oct. 5-6, 1781
Storming parties (American under
Col. Alexander Hamilton and French under
Baron de Viomenil) carry two British redoubts......Oct. 14, 1781
Lieutenant-Colonel Abercrombie vainly assaults the
French batteries on the morning of......Oct. 16, 1781
Cornwallis attempts to escape across the river to
Gloucester Point on the night of......Oct. 16, 1781
Negotiations for capitulation begin......Oct. 17, 1781
Cornwallis surrenders 7,247 men, seventy-five brass guns, sixty-nine iron guns......Oct. 19, 1781
Admiral Digby appears off the capes of the
Chesapeake with twenty-five ships of the line, two 50-gun ships, and eight frigates, carrying
Sir Henry Clinton and 7,000 troops......Oct. 24, 1781
Learning of the surrender, he returns to New York......Oct. 29, 1781
Thomas Fairfax, sixth
Lord and
Baron of
Cameron, dies at his lodge, Greenway Court,
Frederick county, aged ninety years......Dec. 12, 1781
Northwestern Territory, ceded by
Virginia to the
United States, accepted by Congress......1784
Religious freedom act passed......1785
It is made treason to erect a new State in the
territory of Virginia without permission from the Assembly......October, 1785
Legislature authorizes the five counties of
Kentucky to elect five delegates each to consider an independent government......November, 1785
James Rumsey moves a boat by steam on the
Potomac......March, 1786
Lynchburg, on the
James River, laid out......1786
Kentucky favors separation at a convention held at
Danville....... Sept. 7, 1787
Convention at
Richmond on the federal Constitution......June 2, 1788
Patrick Henry,
James Monroe,
George Mason, etc., oppose it;
James Madison,
Edmund Pendleton,
John Marshall, etc., advocate it. It is ratified, 89 to 79......June 25, 1788
Virginia cedes 40 square miles south of the
Potomac to the
United States for a federal district......1790
[This land was restored to
Virginia by Congress in July, 1846.]
Government armory and manufactory located at
Harper's Ferry ......March 4, 1798
Patrick Henry dies......June 6, 1799
George Washington dies ......Dec. 14, 1799
Insurrection of the negroes under one Gabriel, slave of a planter near
Richmond......1800
John Marshall, of
Virginia, appointed chief-justice of the Supreme Court......Jan. 31, 1801
Richmond
Enquirer appears at
Richmond......March 9, 1804
Trial of
Aaron Burr for high treason at
Richmond......Sept. 1, 1807
Verdict, not proven......Sept. 9, 1807
Theatre at
Richmond burned......Dec. 26, 1811
[Seventy perished, among them the governor,
George W. Smith.]
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company chartered......Jan. 27, 1824
University of Virginia opened......March 25, 1825
[It was chartered 1819.]
[
550]
the
Whig, newspaper, appears in
Richmond......1826
Assembly condemns the tariff as unconstitutional......Feb. 21, 1829
Geological survey of
Virginia ordered (completed in six years)......1836
Sixty gold-mines or “diggings” worked in
Virginia (twenty-six in
Spottsylvania and fifteen in
Orange county)......1839
John Brown, with several men, rents a small farm near
Harper's Ferry......June, 1859
Brown, with sixteen whites and six blacks, captures the United States armory building at
Harper's Ferry on the night of......Oct. 16, 1859
Attacked by United States troops under
Col. Robert E. Lee, he is captured with the survivors......Oct. 18, 1859
He is hung at
Charleston, Va.......Dec. 2, 1859
Governor Letcher calls an extra session of the legislature, which orders a convention......Jan. 13, 1861
Convention rejects an ordinance of secession, 89 to 45......April 4, 1861
It chooses three commissioners to ask of the
President his policy towards the
Confederate States......April 4, 1861
First shot at
Fort Sumter from Stevens's battery, fired by
Edmund Ruffin, of
Virginia, at his earnest request......April 12, 1861
Virginian commissioners present their credentials to the
President......April 13, 1861
President answers the commissioners, refusing to acknowledge the
Confederate States......April 15, 1861
Governor Letcher refuses to furnish troops at the call of the
President......April 16, 1861
Virginia State convention passes a secession ordinance, 88 to 55, subject to a vote of the people......April 17, 1861
Governor Letcher by proclamation recognizes the
Confederacy......April 17, 1861
Norfolk Harbor obstructed by sinking vessels, by order of
Governor Letcher......April 17, 1861
Gen. W. B. Talieferro assigned to the command of the
Virginia troops at
Norfolk......April 18, 1861
Harper's Ferry, threatened by
Virginia militia, is evacuated by
Lieutenant Jones and forty-five regulars, after destroying public property......April 18, 1861
Norfolk navy-yard evacuated and property destroyed......April 20, 1861
Robert E. Lee nominated by the governor and confirmed by the convention as commander of the
State forces......April 21, 1861
Virginia convention sends commissioners to
Alexander H. Stephens,
Vice-President of the
Confederacy, to treat for the annexation of
Virginia......April 24, 1861
Governor's proclamation that
Virginia is a member of the
Confederacy (subject to popular vote in May)......April 25, 1861
Richmond becomes the capital of the
Confederacy and general rendezvous of Southern troops......May, 1861
Virginia incorporated with the
Confederacy, and
Gen. Robert E. Lee in command of the
Virginia Confederate forces......May 6, 1861
Gen. Benjamin F. Butler takes command at
Fortress Monroe......May 22, 1861
People confirm the secession ordinance......May 23, 1861
First advance of the
Federals into
Virginia......May 24, 1861
Col. E. E. Ellsworth enters
Alexandria in command of the
New York Fire Zouaves, and is shot by
Jackson, a hotelkeeper at
Alexandria, while taking down a Confederate flag......May 24, 1861
Slaves around
Fortress Monroe entering the
Federal lines are declared “contrabrand” by
Gen. B. F. Butler......May 27, 1861
Occupation of Newport News by the
Federals......May 27-29, 1861
Federal troops cross the
Ohio at
Wheeling and at
Parkersburg.......May 27, 1861
Occupy
Grafton,
W. Va......May 30, 1861
Affair at
Philippi, Confederates retreat to
Beverly......June 3, 1861
Gen. P. G. T. Beauregard proclaims to the people of
Loudoun,
Fairfax, and
Prince William counties that the
Federals are warring for “beauty and booty” ......June 5, 1861
Virginia troops transferred to the Confederate government by the governor......June 8, 1861
Affair at Big Bethel, near
Fortress Monroe......June 10, 1861
General Patterson crosses the
Potomac at
Williamsport......July 2, 1861
Affair at
Rich Mountain, W. Va.; the
Confederates under
Col. George H. Pegram
[
551]
defeated by the
Federals under
General Rosecrans......July 11, 1861
Battle at Carricksford,
W. Va.; Confederates defeated, with the loss of their general,
Robert S. Garnett......July 14, 1861
Battle of Bull Run......July 21, 1861
General Patterson relieves
Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks in command of the Department of the Shenandoah......July 25, 1861
Maj.-Gen. George B. McClellan appointed to the Army of the Potomac......July 27, 1861
Holding or accepting office under the federal government declared treason by the
State......Aug. 1, 1861
Battle of Ball's Bluff......Oct. 21, 1861
West Virginia votes for a separation from
Virginia; vote substantially unanimous......Oct. 24, 1861
Confederate armies in
Virginia reorganized under
Gen. Joseph E. Johnston......Nov. 9, 1861
Union troops occupy Big Bethel......Jan. 3, 1862
At
Hampton Roads the Confederate ram
Merrimac,
Capt. Franklin Buchanan, sinks the
Federal ship
Cumberland, captures the
Congress, and forces the
Minnesota aground......March 8, 1862
Battle between the
Merrimac and
Monitor,
Lieutenant Worden commander;
Merrimac retires......March 9, 1862
Manassas Junction evacuated by the
Confederates......March 10, 1862
Battle of Winchester, or
Kernstown,
Gen. James Shields commanding Federal forces;
Gen. “
Stonewall”
Jackson, Confederates; Confederates retire......March 23, 1862
Peninsular campaign in
Virginia begun......March 23, 1862
Norfolk reoccupied by Union troops......May 11, 1862
Confederates under “
Stonewall”
Jackson drive
General Banks from
Winchester......May 25, 1862
Gen. Robert E. Lee assumes command of the Confederate forces in
Virginia......June 3, 1862
Battle of Cross-Keys;
General Fremont attacks a part of
Jackson's command under
General Ewell, but retires......June 8, 1862
Battle of Port Republic; the
Federals with two brigades (3,000) defeated by “
Stonewall”
Jackson (8,000)......June 9, 1862
Maj.-Gen. John Pope appointed to the Army of Virginia......June 26, 1862
Lee advances into
Maryland; “
Stonewall”
Jackson crosses the
Potomac at
White's Ford, near
Leesburg......Sept. 5, 1862
“
Stonewall”
Jackson captures
Harper's Ferry......Sept. 15, 1862
Battle of Fredericksburg......Dec. 13, 1862
Battle of Chancellorsville......May 2-4, 1863
Federals under
Millroy driven out of
Winchester by the
Confederate General Ewell......June 15, 1863
Grant's campaign in
Virginia begins......May 4, 1864
Gen. B. F. Butler forbids civil government in
Norfolk by
F. H. Pierpont as loyal governor of
Virginia.......June 30, 1864
Maj.-Gen. Philip H. Sheridan appointed to the Army of the Shenandoah......Aug. 7, 1864
Battle of Winchester......Sept. 19, 1864
Battle of
Fisher's Hill......Sept. 22, 1864
Battle of Cedar Creek......Oct. 19, 1864
Confederates abandon and partly burn
Richmond......April 2, 1865
Surrender of
Lee at
Appomattox......April 9, 1865
Francis H. Pierpont recognized as governor of
Virginia by a proclamation of
President Johnson......May 9, 1865
Governor Pierpont assumes office......May 26, 1865
Fourteenth Amendment rejected by
Virginia......1866
By act of Congress the federal government assumes the government of
Virginia......March 2, 1867
General Schofield assigned to the 1st Military District......March 13, 1867
General Schofield prescribes regulations for registering voters for a State convention......May 13, 1867
Election for a convention to frame a constitution......Oct. 22, 1867
[Vote for, 107,342; against, 61,887.]
Convention meets Dec. 3, adjourns Dec. 20, 1867, to......Jan. 2, 1868
Convention reassembles......Jan. 2, 1868
Convention adopts a constitution by 51 to 36......April 17, 1868
General Schofield relieved, and Gen.
[
552]
George Stoneman assigned to the command......June 1, 1868
Gen. George Stoneman relieved, and
Gen. E. R. S. Canby assumes command......April 20, 1869
Virginia adopts new constitution by a majority of 39,957......July 6, 1869
[
Gilbert C. Walker elected governor.]
Legislature assembles at
Richmond......Oct. 5, 1869
Fourteenth and Fifteenth amendments ratified......Oct. 8, 1869
Act admitting
Virginia into the
Union without further conditions, approved......Jan. 26, 1870
General Canby turns the
State over to the civil authorities......Jan. 27, 1870
Governor Walker proclaims the final reconstruction of the
State......Feb. 8, 1870
Capitol at Richmond falls, the galleries giving way; about sixty persons killed and 120 injured......April 27, 1870
Freshets in the
James and
Shenandoah valleys; $5,000,000 worth of property destroyed......September, 1870
Burning of the
Spotswood Hotel at
Richmond......Dec. 25, 1870
State board of health organized in
Virginia......1872
General Grant has a majority for
President of 1,975 over
Horace Greeley......1872
State board of immigration established......1873
Completion of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad between
Richmond and
Huntington on the
Ohio, length 421 miles......1873
Richmond and Atlantic “
Air line” Railroad opened......1873
James River free bridge at
Richmond completed......1873
Constitutional amendment abolishing the township system ratified......1874
Educational convention (colored) meets at
Richmond......Aug. 24, 1875
Statue of
Gen. Thomas ( “
Stonewall” )
Jackson unveiled on Capitol Square at
Richmond......Oct. 26, 1875
Violent earthquake shock at
Richmond......Dec. 22, 1875
Readjusters, formerly Democrats, organize as a party......Feb. 25, 1879
Readjusters hold a State convention at
Richmond......July 7, 1880
One hundredth anniversary of the surrender of Cornwallis celebrated at
Yorktown......Oct. 19, 1881
Act passed making receivable for taxes only
gold,
silver, United States treasury notes, national bank notes, and currency (excluding coupons on State bonds)......Jan. 26, 1882
Riddleberger act passed, offering terms of settlement with State bond-holders......Feb. 14, 1882
All acts for punishment by stripes repealed, and other punishment substituted......1882
Legislature meets in extra session......March 7–April 22, 1882
Amendment to State constitution abrogating capitation tax as a condition of voting ratified by vote, 107,303 to 66,131, at election......November, 1882
Extra session of the legislature......August–December, 1884
United States Supreme Court decides that coupons are a good tender in payment of taxes in
Virginia......April 20, 1885
Act to establish an agricultural experiment station at the
Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College at
Blacksburg; one appointing a commission to fix the boundary-line with
North Carolina, and a local option act passed by legislature, which adjourns......March 5, 1886
Legislature convenes in extra session, March 16, 1887; among other acts passes one to punish persons fraudulently using coupons, and adjourns......May 24, 1887
Board of agriculture established by legislature, which adjourns......March 5, 1888
College of William and Mary becomes State Male Normal College by act approved......March 5, 1888
Jan. 19 (
Gen. Robert E. Lee's birthday) made a legal holiday by legislature at session ending......March 1, 1890
Mercie's equestrian statue of
Gen. Robert E. Lee unveiled at
Richmond......May 29, 1890
Monument to the
Confederate dead unveiled at
Fredericksburg......June 10, 1891
Statue of
Gen. “
Stonewall”
Jackson unveiled at
Lexington; 15,000 Confederate veterans present; oration by
General Early......July 21, 1891
Thomas W. Bocock, born in 1815, for fourteen years a Congressman and for four years speaker of the Confederate congress, dies in
Appomattox county......Aug. 5, 1891
Appomattox Court-house building destroyed by fire......Feb. 3, 1892
[
553]
Legislature ratifies a final settlement of the
State debt with the bond-holders.
Nineteen million dollars in bonds, to run 100 years, at 2 per cent. for ten years and 3 per cent. for ninety years, to be issued for the $28,000,000 outstanding......February, 1892
Senator John S. Barbour dies suddenly in
Washington......May 14, 1892
Eppa Hunton, of
Warrenton, under executive appointment, May 28, qualifies as
United States Senator......June 1, 1892
Convention of Southern governors meet at
Richmond in the interest of the
South......April 12, 1893
Remains of
Jefferson Davis, brought from New Orleans, buried in Hollywood cemetery,
Richmond......May 31, 1893
Monument to Confederate dead unveiled at
Portsmouth......June 15, 1893
Riot at
Roanoke, eighteen killed, twenty-seven wounded......Sept. 20, 1893
Jubal A. Early, Confederate general, dies at
Lynchburg......March 2, 1894
Monument at
Fredericksburg, erected to the memory of the mother of
Washington, unveiled......May 10, 1894
University of Virginia partly destroyed by fire......Oct. 27, 1895
Confederate States' Museum at
Richmond dedicated......Feb. 22, 1896
Monument to Confederate dead unveiled at
Charlottesville......June 7, 1897
Winnie Davis, the “Daughter of the
Confederacy,” dies at Narraganset Pier......Sept. 18, 1898
The
Dismal Swamp opened......Oct. 14, 1899
Memorial to
Winnie Davis, the “Daughter of the
Confederacy,” unveiled at
Richmond, Va.......Nov. 8, 1899
The fence law declared constitutional......February, 1900
Ex-Gov. Henry H. Wells dies at
Palmyra, N. Y.......Feb. 12, 1900
Monument to the
Confederate dead unveiled at
Charles City......Nov. 21, 1900
William Wirt Henry, historian, dies at
Richmond......Dec. 5, 1900
Washington 
