The History Press

Name: Hidden History of Early Richmond
Brand: Maurice J. Robinson
SKU: 9781467143356
Price: 21.99 USD
Availability: InStock

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Hidden History of Early Richmond

$21.99

Legends & Lore of Southwest Virginia

$24.99

The Battle of Waynesboro

$21.99

The Battle of Totopotomoy Creek: Polegreen Church and the Prelude to Cold Harbor

$21.99

Lexington, Virginia and the Civil War

$21.99

The Battle of Fredericksburg

$21.99

Pittsylvania County and the War of 1812

$21.99

Stonewall Jackson and Winchester, Virginia

$21.99

Orange County Chronicles:

$21.99

True Tales of Old Alexandria

$24.99

The Navy Capital of the World:

$24.99

Wicked Northern Virginia

The Battle of First Deep Bottom

$21.99

Fort Harrison and the Battle of Chaffin's Farm

$21.99

Washington County, Virginia, in the Civil War

$21.99

Edgar Allan Poe's Richmond:

$21.99

Blue Ridge Chronicles:

$21.99

Ghosts of Virginia's Tidewater

$21.99

The Enduring Journey of the USS Chesapeake: Navigating the Common History of Three Nations

$21.99

Southside Virginia:

$21.99

Life and Times of the Falls Church News-Press

$24.99

Hampton Roads Chronicles:

$21.99

Greene County, Virginia:

$21.99

Flyboys over Hampton Roads:

Unionists in Virginia:

$24.99

South Norfolk, Virginia, 1661-2005:

$24.99

South Norfolk, Virginia, 1661-2005:

$24.99

Virginia by Stagecoach

$21.99

Old Point Comfort Resort:

$24.99

Murder in Lexington:

$24.99

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Hidden History of Early Richmond

9781467143356

$21.99

Richmond's Civil War history is familiar to every local and visitor, but fewer know the stories of the city's early days. Did you know that some of the area's earliest settlers were Huguenots fleeing religious persecution in France? Major John Clarke designed many of Richmond's first public buildings, but did you know that he was one of the masterminds behind the area's early industry as well? Tredegar Iron Works was the arsenal of the Confederacy, but Richmond-area foundries at Westham and Bellona supplied weapons to the armies of the Revolution as well. Richmond's first penitentiary was designed by Benjamin Latrobe before his term as architect of the Capitol. Local author Maurice Robinson narrates the tales of early Richmond's seven hills and beyond.

The Battle of Waynesboro

9781626190702

$21.99

Join author and Waynesboro native Richard G. Williams Jr. as he expertly traces the harrowing narrative of a prelude to the surrender at Appomattox.

In 1865, Waynesboro played host to the last gasp of the Confederate army in the Shenandoah Valley. Although the Battle of Waynesboro isn't among the most recognizable clashes, such as Gettysburg or Antietam, it still holds a special place in American history. The Union forces, led by General Philip Sheridan, included a young brigadier general named George Armstrong Custer. The battle was also the last major conflict for famed Confederate general Jubal Early, whose defeat during the fight spelled the end of his Civil War service.

The Battle of Totopotomoy Creek: Polegreen Church and the Prelude to Cold Harbor

9781626192515

$21.99

In early summer 1864, the entire region of central Virginia was engulfed in the flames of war. As Grant's Federal army pushed ever south, trading battles and bodies with Lee's Army of Northern Virginia, forces came to a head at the Battle of Totopotomoy Creek. Though overshadowed by the proceeding Battle of Cold Harbor, Totopotomoy Creek exemplified the bloody skirmishes of the entire Overland Campaign. Polegreen Church and its eighteenth-century hero Samuel Davies offer an example of the destruction the war brought to central Virginia. Join author Robert Bluford as he incorporates diaries, regimental histories and other primary sources to detail the heroism of famed Civil War participants Winfield Hancock, Jubal Early, Ulysses S. Grant, Robert E. Lee and many more.

Lexington, Virginia and the Civil War

9781609493912

$21.99

Jubilant at the outbreak of the Civil War and destitute in its aftermath, Lexington, Virginia, ultimately rose from the ashes to rebuild in the shadow of the conflict's legacy. It is the final resting place of two famous Confederate generals, Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson, and the home of two of the South's most important war-era colleges, Washington College and the Virginia Military Institute. Author Richard G. Williams presents the trials and triumphs of Lexington during the war, including harrowing narratives of Union general Hunter's raid through the town, Lee's struggle between Union and state allegiances and Jackson's rise from professor to feared battlefield tactician.

Pittsylvania County and the War of 1812

9781626197503

$21.99

Rural Pittsylvania County and Danville, Virginia, remained far from the fields of conflict during the War of 1812. Yet its sons served valiantly along the Canadian frontier and in the defense of Richmond, Norfolk and Baltimore as British forces plundered villages up and down the Chesapeake Bay. General Andrew Jackson's wife, Rachel, a county native, celebrated the victory at the Battle of New Orleans with him. The homefront endured economic tribulations yet stood faithfully by its soldiers. Author and historian Larry G. Aaron reveals how Pittsylvania County served, suffered and sacrificed during the nation's second war of independence.

Stonewall Jackson and Winchester, Virginia

9781609495305

$21.99

This book deals with Stonewall Jackson and his relationship with the town of Winchester, Virginia, and will cover the period beginning in June, 1861 and end with his death in May, 1863. Many accounts of Jackson's life describe him as peculiar both in his habits and in his religious beliefs. For most Americans, particularly today, those character traits are somewhat strange. But to the people of Winchester, Virginia during the 1860s, they were neither strange nor peculiar because they represented the beliefs of the vast majority of the people of the Shenandoah Valley. This, plus his spectacular successes on the battlefield in the Shenandoah Valley endeared the people of Winchester to Jackson in a way that no other personality ever did (and that includes a 10 year stay in the town by George Washington).

Orange County Chronicles:

9781596299047

$21.99

Nestled in the beautiful rolling hills of Virginia's Piedmont, Orange County has a storied cultural heritage. Local writer Patricia LaLand presents a collection of tales that recounts the fascinating history of this beloved county. Relive the days when the Virginia Central Railway ran through Gordonsville and brought travelers to the Exchange Hotel, a time when hard work in Orange's silk mill supported entire communities and when a humble one-room schoolhouse in Rapidan educated local children. From James Madison's Montpelier home to the remains of statesman John Barbour's residence and all points in between, this one-of-a-kind collection covers the historic reaches of Orange County and paints a vivid portrait of the county's past.

True Tales of Old Alexandria

9781467154765

$24.99

Stories from the beheading of an Englishman to the buried ships of Robinson Landing.

The streets of Alexandria have born witness to singular individuals and stirring events in their long history. In 1623, just across the Potomac River, an English adventurer walked into an Indian village and literally lost his head. In 1654, a notorious woman became the first European to own land in what would become Alexandria. A hundred years later, George Washington and General Braddock marched from Alexandria to a massacre and in 1814 the British looted the city. Read the true history of Robinson Landing, the seedy story of Del Ray and the tale of Major George Patton and the 1930s cavalry at Fort Myer.

Author Ted Pulliam follows his popular Historic Alexandria with a deeper look into the fascinating past of the city on the Potomac.

The Navy Capital of the World:

9781596299733

$24.99

From the famous Civil War ironclads that clashed in its waters to the great battleships that gathered off Norfolk's Sewell's Point as part of President Theodore Roosevelt's Great White Fleet, the Hampton Roads region of Virginia has maintained a proud naval tradition. Into the twenty-first century, the maritime region has remained on the cutting edge of military technology as the nucleus for the birth of naval aviation and the training site for scores of men who stormed the beaches of Europe and the Pacific during World War II. With her fascinating research and incredible array of rare and striking photographs, military historian Amy Waters Yarsinske guides readers through the storied history of the navy in Hampton Roads.

Wythe County:

9781596297364

$21.99

Though there are more automobiles than harvesters on the roads these days, folks in Wythe County, Virginia, keep their memories and traditions preserved in these conversations with the local twentieth-century farmers who spent their entire lives working this land. Visit with James Kegley, a fourth-generation farmer discussing his family's cattle and poultry drives to the train in Wytheville, and Agnes Eades as she shares stories about the night before butchering day for the hogs; join Fred Etter as he remembers the first tractor he ever saw and June Huffard as she talks about her dairy farm. Picture the days when starting the plow meant cracking the whip and Wythe County was the "Cabbage Capital of the World."

Shotgun Justice:

9781609497477

$21.99

When Crandal Mackey was elected commonwealth's attorney in 1903, he set his sights on the illegal bars, bordellos and casinos of Alexandria County. The Virginia county--now Arlington County and parts of Alexandria--was plagued by crime in the streets and corruption at City Hall. Armed with a shotgun and accompanied by an axe-wielding posse, Mackey embarked on a crusade, busting up saloons and conducting raids throughout the county. When the dust settled, Mackey had shut down an infamous racetrack in Del Ray and politicians on the take in Alexandria County's political machine. Yet, in 1915 he mysteriously withdrew his bid for another term. Author Michael Lee Pope uncovers the little-known story of one man's battle to rid Alexandria and Arlington of sinister vice and violent crime.

The Battle of First Deep Bottom

9781609495411

$21.99

On July 26, 1864, Union general Winfield Scott Hancock's corps and three cavalry divisions under Philip H. Sheridan crossed to the north side of the James River at the Deep Bottom bridgehead. What was supposed to be a raid on Confederate railroads and possibly even a breakthrough to the Confederate capital of Richmond turned into a bloody skirmish. Richard H. Anderson's Confederate forces prevented a Union victory, but only at a great cost. Robert E. Lee was forced to move half his army from the key fortifications at Petersburg in response. Petersburg was all the more vulnerable for Grant's next move, the infamous Battle of the Crater. Including newly constructed maps from Steven Stanley and a foreword from fellow Civil War scholar Hampton Newsome, this title is the definitive account of an often-overlooked battle. Join author and historian James S. Price as he recounts a pivotal moment in the Petersburg Campaign and the close of the war.

Fort Harrison and the Battle of Chaffin's Farm

9781609495817

$21.99

Fort Harrison and the Battle of Chaffin's Farm features gripping firsthand accounts of the terrors of war.

Early in the morning of September 29, 1864, two Union corps under the command of General Benjamin Butler crossed the James with the goal of overwhelming Robert E. Lee's army and capturing Richmond. The Confederate defenders were vastly outnumbered; many were inexperienced and initially without trusted leadership. Fort Harrison and the other works at Chaffin's Farm held the key to the Confederate defenses. The drama that ensued was a battle between the Confederates' resiliency and the Union's ability to capitalize on one of its greatest opportunities. Join historian Doug Crenshaw as he chronicles the events of an often-forgotten episode of Civil War history. Through gripping firsthand accounts, Crenshaw follows the action through the eyes of the men who fought at Fort Harrison and the Battle of Chaffin's Farm. Experience the terror and heroism displayed on both sides of the battle line in this harrowing tale of war.

Washington County, Virginia, in the Civil War

9781609494957

$21.99

The citizens of Washington County, Virginia gave up their sons and daughters to the Confederate cause of the Civil War. Contributing six Confederate generals as well as Union officers, the region is emblematic of communities throughout the nation that sacrificed during the war. Though the sounds of cannon fire and gunshots were only heard at a distance, Washington County was the breadbasket for Confederate armies. From the fields surrounding Abingdon to the coveted salt works in Saltville, Union Generals were constantly eyeing the region, resulting in the Saltville Massacre and the burning of Abingdon's famous courthouse. Historian Michael Shaffer gives a detailed narrative of Washington County during the Civil War, painting vivid images of heroism on and off the battlefield.

Edgar Allan Poe's Richmond:

9781609496074

$21.99

Acclaimed as one of America's most innovative authors and the inventor of the detective story, Edgar Allan Poe and his works are celebrated around the world. Yet the true story of Poe's time in Richmond, Virginia, is every bit as strange and exciting as his fiction.
Poe spent nearly a third of his life in Richmond. It was here that he matched wits with a chess-playing robot, set the record for swimming against the current in the James River, challenged a rival editor to a duel and first revealed his talent for practical jokes. Join Christopher P. Semtner, curator of the Edgar Allan Poe Museum, as he reveals previously unpublished photographs and little-known source material to shed new light on how the mystery, madness and tragedy that Poe encountered during his Richmond years forever shaped his renowned fiction.

Blue Ridge Chronicles:

9781596294547

$21.99

Many of the highlanders in Virginia's western mountains live in small communities with names such as Stonebruise, Novelty, and Wangle Junction, and here their stories are chronicled by one of their own, Floyd County native and Pulitzer-nominated journalist Rex Bowman, roving reporter for the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Colorful characters abound, from folks in Independence who have a decades-old tradition of racing outhouses, to the brawlers in St. Paul who once gave the town a reputation for world-class wickedness, to the purveyors of Roanoke's Texas Tavern who have never in seventy years put ketchup on their hamburgers. Blue Ridge Chronicles is a delightful look at how the lively have lived in Southwest Virginia's backcountry.

Ghosts of Virginia's Tidewater

9781609492267

$21.99

The putrid estuaries of the Great Dismal Swamp and the colonial mansions of Tidewater Virginia provide a chilling setting for tales of the mysterious and strange. From the ghost of Jefferson Davis's iron-willed widow who walks the dank corridors of Fort Monroe to the restless presence of Cornwallis's soldiers killed at the Battle of Yorktown, the region is rife with eerie tales of the tragic and unexplained. Paranormal expert and author L.B. Taylor Jr. revisits classic ghost stories from his collection and introduces readers to thirteen terrifying new tales. Join Taylor as he travels forgotten country lanes and dark waterways in search of the spirits of Virginia's haunted shores.

The Enduring Journey of the USS Chesapeake: Navigating the Common History of Three Nations

9781596292987

$21.99

"Fight "til she sinks, boys. Don't give up the ship! Burn her."
James Lawrence's command, spoken as his final fighting words in the historic 1813 battle between the USS Chesapeake and the HMS Shannon, would endure as the motto of the U.S. Navy. He lost the battle, however, and a large portion of the Chesapeake was recycled by the ship breakers of Portsmouth, England, until her timbers gave form and size to a new water mill in the village of Wickham. Almost two hundred years later, the old mill sat derelict, an eyesore. What was it made of ? Where had it come from? Why should it be preserved? It was then that the sails of a long-forgotten fighting ship were seemingly unfurled along the Meon River in the County of Hampshire, and the old navy frigate--having crossed the waters of America, Canada and England--set off on the third century of her enduring journey.

Southside Virginia:

9781596291379

$21.99

A rich, fascinating history permeates Southside Virginia, a grouping of seven picturesque counties nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains. In this compelling new book, author and historian Herman Melton offers a collection of historical vignettes that explore past of this beautiful Virginian landscape, revealing an exciting array of intriguing characters and fascinating stories.

As Melton delves into the world of Southside Virginia's inhabitants, we meet Carson Davenport, an artist who paints a mural as part of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's relief program for unemployed artists during the Great Depression. We learn about the workings of a gristmill, an essential element of the region's economy, built by Thomas Jefferson's uncle, George, in the year Pittsylvania County was founded. On a more sinister side, Melton also exposes the saga of a Civilian Conservation Corp camp that was converted into a prisoner of war camp for World War II German naval personnel.

Southside Virginia's long history is at once dark and dazzling. From the suffocating blanket of slavery to the welcome changes of the Industrial Revolution, this area east of the Blue Ridge Mountains offers a story that spans the gamut of the American experience. Using precise details and beautiful illustrations, Herman Melton weaves a story that will strike a chord with Southside residents both old and new.

Life and Times of the Falls Church News-Press

9781467155328

$24.99

Since 1991, the Falls Church News-Press has delivered a must-read chronicle of doings in the leafy, sophisticated, practical-minded Northern Virginia community nicknamed "The Little City." Nodding to the rich history of the three-hundred-year-old village named for a church where George Washington and George Mason were vestrymen, the weekly paper captures clashes over development, fights over school quality, political races, holiday celebrations and even scandals. Author Charlie Clark spins the unlikely tale of a unique editor, Nicholas Benton, who founded the free newspaper and kept it going at a time when local news is imperiled.

Hampton Roads Chronicles:

9781596296640

$21.99

Just like the tide, history flows through every corner of Old Dominion's Hampton Roads region, and for decades it has been chronicled in the Virginian-Pilot's column, "Our Stories." These stories are now told by local historian and longtime columnist Paul Clancy, who offers up this unparalleled and uninhibited collection of articles and stunning historical images. Rediscover the history behind landmarks such as Fort Monroe, Sewell's Point and Cape Henry and take in the view from the vantage point of those who witnessed history being made before their eyes: stories about the hurricane of '33, the old fairgrounds on the bay, the trolleys that ran to Ocean View, the semipro baseball teams that battled for glory, the harrowing and courageous struggle for racial equality and the soldiers and sailors who went off to war. This is the real stuff of Hampton Roads history.

Flyboys over Hampton Roads:

9781596299726

$21.99

The story begins in the fall of 1915, on the cusp of America's entry into World War I. Aviation giant Glenn Curtiss sought a location where pilots could train and aircraft could be tested year-round, and he found it in the warm winds and waters of Newport News, Virginia. There, daring young men and women in their flying machines flew on to fame and into history with their record-breaking flights and the tragic losses that were inevitable in early flight. Join military historian Amy Waters Yarsinske as she uses rare vintage photographs and a deft hand to narrate this astounding and often forgotten period in aviation history.

Lost Norfolk

9781596298507

$21.99

With over three centuries of rich history, Norfolk is truly an Old Dominion original. With a bustling port and the world's largest navy base, Norfolk has served as a center for agriculture, transportation, manufacturing, and defense. Wars, epidemics, fires, economic depression, and suburbanization greatly reduced the development of the city over the centuries, and sadly, many of the relics and vestiges from Norfolk's past have been lost to time, but they are forever preserved in this remarkable collection of photographs from renowned local historian Amy Waters Yarsinske. Enjoy nearly two hundred stunning and rare images from the bygone days when Norfolk's downtown waterfront was lined with thriving storefronts, magnificent homes, striking architecture, and sailors in crisp white uniforms. From the remains of the great Jamestown Exposition to the
culturally diverse sidewalks of Ghent, take a walk down the streetscapes and riverbanks that interpret the life and sense of place of this old port city.

The Elizabeth River

9781596292079

$29.99

This history traces three centuries of the Elizabeth River's journey through Virginia. Rich in biodiversity, she is a living body of water that has shaped the geography of the territory and the lives of its people.

Those who named her also opened a chapter in human history, one this enduring, beautiful princess has enriched each day since. There is today much to be gleaned from the river's strength. As you read through The Elizabeth River, remember that this remarkable river is your river. From the Great Bridge Lock to the Norfolk Naval Station the importance of the Elizabeth River is ever present in our everyday lives. Since man came to live on her shores, she is a river with a story.

Herndon:

9781596290266

$24.99

Set in western Fairfax County, Herndon, Virginia, is a vibrant town, firmly in touch with the present, planning for its future yet embracing its small town heritage. In Herndon: A Town and its History, Charles V. Mauro, noted local historian, author and president of the Herndon Historical Society, traces Herndon's history from the Paleo-Indians through the coming of the railroad that helped build and support the dairy industry that was Herndon's back-bone, to its growth as a Washington, DC, suburb and the urban expansion due to the building of Dulles International Airport. Herndon contains numerous archival images and illustrations and is complete with endnotes, a full bibliography and a full index.

Unionists in Virginia:

9781626197459

$24.99

Whether the Civil War was preventable is a debate that began shortly after Appomattox and continues today. But even earlier, in 1861, a group of Union-loyal Virginians--led by George Summers, John Brown Baldwin, John Janney and Jubal Early--felt war was avoidable. In the statewide election for delegates to the Secession Convention that same spring, the Unionists defeated the Southern Rights Democrats with a huge majority of the votes across the state. These heroic men unsuccessfully negotiated with Secretary of State William Henry Seward to prevent the national tragedy that would ensue. Author and historian Lawrence M. Denton traces this remarkable story of Virginians working against all odds in a failed attempt to save a nation from war.

South Norfolk, Virginia, 1661-2005:

9781596290662

$24.99

From its founding in 1661, South Norfolk, Virginia, has grown from a rural village to a city of the first-class. This quintessential American town has endured and prospered through generations and has been a community marked by change and peopled with extraordinary characters. In the second volume of this definitive history, lifelong resident and local historian Raymond Harper continues to chronicle the rise of South Norfolk in careful detail. With extended material and numerous historical images, Harper examines the influences of South Norfolk's founding fathers, sports in the community and development of the business district. The result is an accessible and entertaining narrative that not only recounts the community history, but also the topical histories of many civic organizations, the local government and leading businesses.

Virginia by Stagecoach

9781467141017

$21.99

Travel in old Virginia was many things, but it was never dull. Stagecoaches were the primary means of transport, carrying mail as well as passengers. Trips that now take hours lasted for days. Coach trips could be dangerous, and all-hands situations arose quickly. A traveler might need to apply horsemanship, carpentry, leather-mending or the sheer brawny effort of shoving the coach out of a muddy ditch. Inns across the state catered to stagecoach riders and acted as community gathering places. Some still stand, like the Rising Sun Tavern in Fredericksburg and Michie Tavern in Charlottesville. Author Virginia Johnson relates tales of those wild early days on the road.

Old Point Comfort Resort:

9781596294851

$24.99

The Chamberlin Hotel still stands today as a dominant landmark along the Hampton Roads Harbor. This restored hotel symbolizes the days when Old Point Comfort was the premiere health and holiday resort in the South. The Hygeia and Chamberlin were grand hotels that lavishly catered to invalids, travelers and vacationers seeking relief from the summer's heat during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Steamships and trains brought hundreds daily to enjoy Old Point Comfort. These elegant buildings combined a luxurious health resort and waterfront atmosphere with military bands, parades, promenades, historic sites, fresh breezes and the promise of courtship. Longtime Fort Monroe resident and Hampton historian John Quarstein has woven together tales and images, recipes and artifacts to tell the wonderful story of the Old Point Comfort Resort.

Murder in Lexington:

9781609498962

$24.99

In 1853 Lexington, Virginia, Mary Evelyn Anderson, one of the most beautiful women in the Commonwealth, spurned the advances of a young law student named Charles Burks Christian. Humiliated and heartbroken, Christian confronted, stabbed and killed the man he believed responsible for Anderson's decision. The man was her cousin, Thomas Blackburn, a VMI cadet and student of Stonewall Jackson. What followed was a circus of inept and brilliant lawyers dragging members of the most prominent families in antebellum Virginia through and all-too-public discussion of seduction, courtship, honor and self-defense. Author and historian Daniel S. Morrow chronicles the history of the events that led to Blackburn's death, the trials that followed and the impact on Lexington, its two colleges and the men and women who would soon find themselves engaged in a great Civil War.