Historic Fredericksburg Part 13

He began it thus, and into his voice, filled with the sorrows of the "Mary's" who wept down in his Southland, he put the full strength of his expression. The hostile audience was silent as he finished.

"And often in the far-off world, I'll sit and close my eyes, And my heart will travel back again To where my Mary lies.

And I'll think I see the little stile Where we sat, side by side, Mid the young corn on that bright May morn When you were first my bride."

The Irishmen who had fought against the cause which Lacy loved were quiet now, and when he said, "Wouldn't you want a bit of a stone for 'Mary' to remember you," they yelled and rushed to grasp his hand. From his "hostile" audience he collected $14,000.00 that night. In the whole tour he gathered a great sum for Confederate cemeteries.

During his later years, with his wife, who represented the ladies of another era, as he did its men, he lived on Was.h.i.+ngton Avenue, in Fredericksburg. To few did he ever show the deeper side of his character, but those who knew him until he died in 1906, knew how much kindly manliness dwelt therein.

MAJOR GENERAL DANIEL RUGGLES

Although Major General Daniel Ruggles was born in Ma.s.sachusetts, he married Miss Richardetta Mason Hooe, a great granddaughter of George Mason, and the greater part of his life was spent in Fredericksburg, of which he became a citizen and in which he died.

During his life in Fredericksburg he concerned himself with the business of the town, and was known to almost all of its residents.

He was graduated into the army from West Point in 1883 and lead a small band into the west and explored the Fox river the same year.

[Sidenote: _General Ruggles' Career_]

When the Seminole Indian war broke out Lieutenant Ruggles with fifty men penetrated the everglades and was commended for his services. In the Mexican war he stopped the Mexican advance at Palo Alto and was promoted to Captain on the field.

Captain Ruggles and his men reached Chapaultepec, drove into the city, made a determined stand and were the first of the advancing American Army to raise the American flag over the fort. He was breveted Major by President Polk "for gallant and meritorious conduct at Chereubusco" and a little later was made Lieutenant Colonel "for gallant and conspicuous bravery at Chapaultepec." In 1861 he joined the Confederate Army.

[Sidenote: _The Real "First Battle"_]

Placed in command of the most important of the Southern departments at Fredericksburg, the "gateway to the South," he organized and equipped a small army. When the Confederacy found that they had no gun caps, necessary on the old "muzzle loaders," and no copper from which to make caps, General Ruggles invented a cap made from raw hide and dried in the sun (specimens are in the National Museum), which were used by the whole Southern Army during the first three months of the war.

[Ill.u.s.tration: OLD "CHATHAM"

_One of the Most Characteristic of All Virginia Colonial Mansions_]

General Ruggles planted artillery and, using these caps with match heads to explode them, drove off the Union gunboats and a lading force at Aquia Creek May 31, 1861, nine days before "Big Bethel", and weeks after Virginia seceded. He thus fought and won the first battle of the Civil war.

His career during the war won him wide recognition. His movements won the battle of s.h.i.+loh through finding a weak point in the enemy's line. He was made Major General March 25, 1865, and surrendered at Augusta, Ga., after Appomattox. Although he fought in five Indian wars, the Mexican war and the Civil war, from the start to finish, and was recognized as a man who would lead his men anywhere, he never received a wound of any kind in his life.

Many people in Fredericksburg remember him now, with his fine face, his erect figure and his long gray whiskers. In his latter days some people laughed at him, not understanding that there was genius in the man, because of his first experience with "rainmaking." He invented the method which is used now by the United States Government, under his patent. He earned the name of "raincrow" which sometimes reached his ears. He patented the first propeller which was ever used on a steam boat (model in the National Museum). He also invented the first principles of the telephone. He invented in 1858 a system whereby an electric bell on a s.h.i.+p would ring on the approach of the s.h.i.+p to any rock or point on the sh.o.r.e equipped with the same apparatus. This was tested by the navy and proclaimed impractical, but it contained the principles of wireless telegraphy. It is used by the American navy today.

JOHN ROGER CLARK, EXPLORER

Though a monument has just been erected in another city which claims him as a citizen, there is excellent evidence of the fact that John Roger Clarke, reclaimer of the great Northwest, and also his brother, William Clarke, who with Merriweather Lewis, explored the Mississippi, were born in Spotsylvania County and lived near Fredericksburg. According to Quinn's History of Fredericksburg, Maury's History of Virginia and letters from descendents, the two famous Clarke brothers were sons of Jonathan Clarke, who lived at Newmarket, Spotsylvania County, where John Roger Clarke was born. Jonathan Clarke was clerk of the County Court of Spotsylvania and afterwards moved to Fredericksburg, where it may be probable, the younger son was born. Later they moved to Albemarle County, near Charlottesville, where the two sons grew to manhood.

The history of the two Clarkes' is so well known, even by school children, that it is needless to go into it here, the purpose of this reference being to establish their connection with the town.

MAJOR ELLIOTT MUSE BRAXTON

Major Elliott Muse Braxton is widely known, as he was once Congressman from this district. He was born in the County of Middles.e.x, October 2, 1823, was a grandson of Carter Braxton, one of Virginia's signers of the Declaration of Independence. His father was also Carter Braxton, a successful lawyer in Richmond.

In 1851 he was elected to the Senate of Virginia. So ably and efficiently did Major Braxton represent his const.i.tuents that he won another election without any opposition.

In 1854 he married Anna Marie Marshall, a granddaughter of the great expounder of the Const.i.tution, Chief Justice Marshall. In 1859 he adopted Fredericksburg as his home, where he was when "war's dread alarm," came.

He organized a company of infantry, of which he was unanimously elected captain, from which position he was soon promoted to that of major, and a.s.signed to the staff of General John R. Cooke. On the conclusion of hostilities he again engaged in the practice of law, forming a co-partners.h.i.+p with the late C. Wistar Wallace, Esq. In 1870 he was nominated at Alexandria by the Democrats for Congress, the City of Fredericksburg being then a const.i.tuent of the Eighth District.

He continued to practice his profession of law until failing health admonished him to lay its burdens down.

On October 2, 1891, he died in his home at Fredericksburg, and Virginia mourned a son who was always true, loyal and faithful. Elliott Muse Braxton was a Virginia gentleman and in saying that a good deal is comprehended. Courteous in manner, considerate in tone and temper, clean in character, loyal to State and to Church, cheris.h.i.+ng with ardor as the years went by, the obligations and the responsibilities of old Virginia, he fell asleep.

DR. FRANCIS P. WELLFORD

"But a certain Samaritan as he journeyed came where he was and when he saw him, he had compa.s.sion on him--and went to him and bound up his wounds."

In this way we are told the tender story of the Good Samaritan.

In 1877 Dr. Francis Preston Wellford, of Fredericksburg, was living in Jacksonville, Florida, when a scourge of yellow fever invaded Fernandina.

Almost all of its physicians were victims of the disease, or worn out with work. Dr. Wellford volunteered for service, which was almost certain death, fell a victim, and died, on the same day and in the next cot to his fellow-townsman, Dr. Herndon.

"For whether on the scaffold high, Or in the battle's van, The n.o.blest death that man can die; Is when he dies for man."

Over his grave in the cemetery at Fredericksburg, there is an imposing monument, with this simple inscription:

"Francis Preston Wellford, Born in Fredericksburg, Virginia, September 12, 1839."

On the beautiful memorial window in St. Peter's Church, Fernandina, Florida, erected by Dr. J. H. Upham, of Boston, who felt that their memory should not be neglected, one reads:

"Francis Preston Wellford, M. D.

Born in Fredericksburg, Virginia, Sept. 12, 1839,

James Carmicheal Herndon, M. D.

Born in Fredericksburg, Virginia, Sept. 22, 1821, Died in the faithful discharge of their duties at Fernandina, Florida, Oct. 18, 1877."

DR. JAMES C. HERNDON

When surgeons were needed for the Confederate Army, the Dr. Herndon above mentioned left his practice and went, although exempted by law. He served through four years of war, and when peace was declared, made his home in Florida.

He was state physician there, when Fernandina was stricken by the dread yellow fever, and the population was almost helpless.

Deeming it his duty, Herndon voluntarily went into the city of the dying.

He had worked but a few days when he was stricken, and death followed.

He died as bravely as a man may die, and few have died for so good a cause. He sleeps in the silent cemetery in Fredericksburg, his home.

HON. A. WELLINGTON WALLACE

Among the men whose writings have added to Fredericksburg's fame is Hon.