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Wakefield, Virginia

Wakefield, Virginia

Wakefield is a town located in Sussex County, Virginia. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 1,038. Popular legend has it that William Mahone (1826-1895), builder of the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad (now Norfolk Southern), and his cultured wife, Otelia Butler Mahone (1837-1911), of Smithfield traveled along the newly completed railroad around 1858 naming stations. Otelia was reading Ivanhoe, a book written by Sir Walter Scott. From his historical Scottish novels, Otelia chose the place names of Wakefield, as well as Windsor and Waverley. She tapped the Scottish Clan "McIvor" for the name of Ivor, a small town in neighboring Southampton County. When they could not agree, it is said that they invented a new name, which is how the tiny community of Disputanta was created. The N&P railroad was completed in 1858. William Mahone became a Major General in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War, and later, a Senator in the United States Congress. A large portion of U.S. Highway 460 between Petersburg and Suffolk is named in his honor.

Geography

Suffolk Wakefield is located at 36°58'13" North, 76°59'18" West (36.970219, -76.988461). According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 3.3 km² (1.3 mi²). 3.2 km² (1.2 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 3.10% water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there are 1,038 people, 423 households, and 285 families residing in the town. The population density is 320.6/km² (833.2/mi²). There are 485 housing units at an average density of 149.8/km² (389.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 47.50% White, 51.25% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.00% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.00% from other races, and 1.06% from two or more races. 0.39% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. There are 423 households out of which 27.2% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.5% are married couples living together, 16.3% have a female householder with no husband present, and 32.6% are non-families. 30.0% of all households are made up of individuals and 17.5% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.45 and the average family size is 3.05. In the town the population is spread out with 24.9% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 18.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 40 years. For every 100 females there are 86.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 79.3 males. The median income for a household in the town is $28,500, and the median income for a family is $34,539. Males have a median income of $26,429 versus $21,595 for females. The per capita income for the town is $15,290. 13.4% of the population and 9.9% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 26.1% of those under the age of 18 and 17.3% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

External links

Category:Sussex County, Virginia Category:Towns in Virginia

Sussex County, Virginia

Sussex County is a county located in the state of Virginia. As of 2000, the population is 12,504. Its county seat is Sussex6.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,276 km² (493 mi²). 1,271 km² (491 mi²) of it is land and 5 km² (2 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.43% water.

Demographics

As of the census2 of 2000, there are 12,504 people, 4,126 households, and 2,809 families residing in the county. The population density is 10/km² (26/mi²). There are 4,653 housing units at an average density of 4/km² (10/mi²). The racial makeup of the county is 36.39% White, 62.13% Black or African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.54% from other races, and 0.67% from two or more races. 0.82% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. There are 4,126 households out of which 28.50% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.00% are married couples living together, 18.90% have a female householder with no husband present, and 31.90% are non-families. 28.20% of all households are made up of individuals and 12.40% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.41 and the average family size is 2.94. In the county, the population is spread out with 19.60% under the age of 18, 9.00% from 18 to 24, 34.40% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 13.40% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 38 years. For every 100 females there are 135.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 142.30 males. The median income for a household in the county is $31,007, and the median income for a family is $36,739. Males have a median income of $29,307 versus $22,001 for females. The per capita income for the county is $14,670. 16.10% of the population and 12.80% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 24.30% of those under the age of 18 and 19.20% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Towns


- Stony Creek
- Wakefield
- Waverly

External links


- [http://photos.historical-markers.org/va-sussex/ Sussex County's Historical Markers] Category:Virginia counties

William Mahone

William Thomas Mahone (December 1, 1826 – October 8, 1895), of Southampton County, Virginia was a civil engineer, teacher, soldier, and a member of the Virginia General Assembly and U.S. Congress. A member of the first graduating class of Virginia Military Institute (VMI), he was trained as a civil engineer. He helped build Virginia's roads and railroads in the antebellum and postbellum (reconstruction) periods. As a Major General of the Confederate Army, Mahone is best known for turning the tide of the Battle of the Crater against the Union advance during the Siege of Petersburg in the US Civil War. Mahone became a political leader in Virginia, led the Readjuster Party and helped obtain funding in 1881 for a teacher's school which later grew to become Virginia State University. Small of stature, he was nicknamed "Little Billy".

Childhood, education

William Mahone was born in Monroe in Southampton County, Virginia on December 1, 1826 to Fielding Jordan Mahone and Martha (née Drew) Mahone. The little town of Monroe was on the banks of the Nottoway River about 8 miles south of Jerusalem (now Courtland), the county seat. Fielding Mahone ran a store at Monroe and owned considerable farmland. In 1840, the family moved to Jerusalem, where Fielding Mahone ran a tavern. There, the freckled-faced youth of Irish-American heritage gained a reputation for gambling and a prolific use of tobacco and profanity. Young Billy Mahone gained his primary education from a country schoolmaster but with special instruction in math from his father. For a short time he transported the U. S. Mail by horseback from his hometown to Hicksford, now Emporia. He was awarded a spot as a state cadet at the newly-opened Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia, and graduated with a degree as a civil engineer in the Class of 1847.

Civil engineer, railroad builder, family

Mahone worked as a teacher at Rappahannock Academy in Caroline County, Virginia beginning in 1848, but was actively seeking an entry into civil engineering. He did some work helping locate the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, an 88 mile line between Gordonsville, Virginia and the City of Alexandria. Having performed well with the new railroad, was hired to build a plank road between Fredericksburg and Gordonsville. In 1853, he was hired by Dr. Francis Mallory of Norfolk, as chief engineer to build the new Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad (N&P). Mahone's innovative 12 mile-long roadbed through the Great Dismal Swamp between South Norfolk and Suffolk employed a log foundation laid at right angles beneath the surface of the swamp. Still in use 150 years later, Mahone's corduroy design withstands immense tonnages of modern coal traffic. He was also responsible for engineering and building the famous 52 mile-long tangent track between Suffolk and Petersburg. With no curves, it is a major artery of modern Norfolk Southern rail traffic. In 1854, Mahone surveyed and laid out with streets and lots of Ocean View City, a new resort town fronting on the Chesapeake Bay in Norfolk County. With the advent of electric streetcars in the late 19th century, an amusement park was developed there and a boardwalk was built along the adjacent beach area. Most of Mahone's street plan is still in use in the 21st century as Ocean View, now a section of the City of Norfolk, is redeveloped. In 1855, Mahone married Otelia Butler (1837-1911), the daughter of the late Dr. Robert Butler from Smithfield. Young Otelia is said to have been a cultured lady. She and William settled in Norfolk, where they lived for most of the years before the Civil War. They had 13 children, but only 3 survived to adulthood, two sons, William T. Jr. and Robert, and a daughter, also named Otelia. The Mahone family escaped the yellow fever epidemic which broke out in the summer of 1855 and killed almost 1 of 3 persons in Norfolk and Portsmouth, Virginia|Portsmouth]] by staying with his mother some distance away in Courtland. However, the decimated citizenry of Norfolk had difficulty in meeting financial obligations, and work on their new railroad to Petersburg almost came to a standstill. Ever frugal, Mahone and his mentor Dr. Mallory nevertheless pushed the project to completion. Popular legend has it that Otelia and William Mahone traveled along the newly completed railroad naming stations from Ivanhoe and other books she was reading written by Sir Walter Scott. From his historical Scottish novels, she chose the place names of Windsor, Waverly, and Wakefield. She tapped the Scottish Clan "McIvor" for the name of Ivor, a small Southampton County town. When they reached a location where they could not agree, it is said that the name Disputanta was created. The Norfolk and Petersburg railroad was completed in 1858, and Mahone was named president a short time later. According to some records, in 1860, Mahone owned 7 slaves, all black: 3 male (ages 13, 4, 2), 4 female (ages 45, 24, 11, 1). Nevertheless, during the Civil War and after, he showed an empathy for African American soldiers and former slaves which was atypical for the times, and worked diligently for their fair treatment and education.

"Little Billy": Hero of the Battle of the Crater

African American As the political differences between northern and southern factions escalated in the second half of the 19th century, Mahone was in favor of secession of the southern states. During the American Civil War, he was active in the actual conflict even before he became an officer in the Confederate Army. Early in the War, in 1861, his Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad was especially valuable to the Confederacy and transported ordnance to the Norfolk area where it was used during the Confederate occupation. By the end of the War, most of what was left of the railroad was in federal hands. After Virginia seceded from the Union in April, 1861, Mahone helped bluff the federal troops into abandoning the Gosport Shipyard in Portsmouth by running a single passenger train into Norfolk with great noise and whistle-blowing, then much more quietly, sending it back west, and then returning the same train again (again with much noise, etc.) creating the illusion of large numbers of arriving troops to the federals listening in Portsmouth across the Elizabeth River (and just barely out of sight). The ruse worked, and not a single Confederate soldier was lost as the Union authorities abandoned the area, and retreated to Fort Monroe across Hampton Roads. After this, Mahone accepted a commission as Lt. Col. and later Colonel of the 6th Virginia Infantry Regiment in the Confederate Army. He commanded the Confederate's Norfolk district until its evacuation. He was promoted to Brigadier General in November, 1861. In May, 1862, after the evacuation of Norfolk by southern forces, during the Peninsula Campaign, he aided in the construction of the defenses of Richmond on the James River around Drewry's Bluff. A short time later, he led his brigade at the Battle of Seven Pines and the Battle of Malvern Hill. He also fought at the Second Battle of Manassas, Battle of Fredericksburg, Battle of Chancellorsville, Battle of Gettysburg, Battle of the Wilderness, and Battle of Spotsylvania Court House. William Mahone was widely regarded as the hero of the Battle of the Crater on July 30, 1864 during the Siege of Petersburg in 1864-1865. Pennsylvania miners with the Union forces tunneled under the Confederate line and blew it up, killing and wounding many Confederates and breaching a key point in the defense line around Petersburg. However, they lost their initial advantage and Mahone rallied the remaining Confederate forces nearby, and repelled the attack. After beginning as an innovative initiative, the Crater scheme turned into a terrible loss for the Union leaders. He was promoted to a Major General as a result, and was with Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia for the surrender at Appomattox Court House in April, 1865. Small of stature, 5 foot 5 or 6 inches, and weighing only 100 lb (45 kg), he was nicknamed "Little Billy". As one of his soldiers put it, "He was every inch a soldier, though there were not many inches of him." Otelia Mahone was working in Richmond as a nurse, when Virginia Governor John Letcher sent word that Mahone had been injured in the Second Battle of Manassas, but had only received a "flesh wound." She is said to have replied "Now I know it is serious for William has no flesh whatsoever." Otelia and their children moved to Petersburg to be near him during the final campaign of the War in 1864-65.

Atlantic, Mississippi, and Ohio Railroad

After the war, Lee advised his generals to go back to work rebuilding. William Mahone did just that, and became the driving force in the linkage of N&P, South Side Railroad and the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad. He was president of all 3 by the end of 1867. He worked diligently lobbying the Virginia General Assembly to gain the legislation necessary to form the Atlantic, Mississippi & Ohio Railroad (AM&O), a new line comprised of the 3 railroads he headed, extending 408 miles from Norfolk to Bristol, Virginia in 1870. The Mahones were colorful characters: the letters A, M & O were said to stand for "All Mine and Otelia's". The Mahones lived in Lynchburg, Virginia during this time, but moved back to Petersburg in or before 1880. The Financial Panic of 1873 put the A,M & O into conflict with its bondholders in England and Scotland. After several years of operating under receiverships, Mahone's role as a railroad builder ended in 1881 when northern U.S. interests purchased the A,M, & O and renamed it Norfolk and Western. However, although he lost control of the railroad, Mahone was able to arrange for a portion of the State's proceeds of the sale to help found a school to prepare teachers to help educate black children and former slaves. The Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute near Petersburg was forerunner of Virginia State College, which expanded to become Virginia State University.

Virginia politics: Readjuster Party, U.S. Senate

William Mahone was active in the economic and political life of Virginia after the Civil War for almost 30 years. He was elected to the Virginia General Assembly as a Delegate from Norfolk in 1863 (during the Civil War). He served as mayor of Petersburg. After his unsuccessful bid for governor in 1877, he became the leader of the Readjuster Party, a coalition of Democrats, Republicans, and African-Americans seeking a reduction in Virginia's prewar debt, and an appropriate allocation made to the former portion of the state which constituted the new State of West Virginia. Mahone led the successful effort to elect the Readjuster candidate William E. Cameron as the next governor, and he himself was elected to served as a Senator in the U.S. Congress from 1881 to 1887, when he lost his seat to Democrat John W. Daniel. Once he was seated in Congress, Mahone became affiliated with the Republican Party, and led Virginia delegations to the Republican national conventions of 1884 and 1888. In 1889, he ran for governor on a Republican ticket, but lost to Democrat Philip W. McKinney. It was to be 80 more years before Virginia sent another non-Democrat to the Governor's Mansion. (Republican A. Linwood Holton Jr. in 1969). Although out of office, the seemingly tireless Mahone continued to stay involved in Virginia-related politics until he suffered a catastrophic stroke on Washington DC in the fall of 1895. He died a week later. Although Mahone was not to live to see the outcome, for several decades, Virginia and West Virginia disputed the new state's share of the Virginian government's debt. The issue was finally settled in 1915, when the United States Supreme Court ruled that West Virginia owed Virginia $12,393,929.50. The final installment of this sum was paid off in 1939.

Heritage

After suffering a stroke, he died on October 8, 1895 in Washington, DC. He is buried Blandford Cemetery in Petersburg, Virginia. His widow, Otelia, lived until 1911, and was buried with him.
- Otelia and William Mahone's former home in Petersburg now serves as part of the Petersburg Public Library. Virginia State University, which he helped found, is a major community presence nearby.
- A large portion of U.S. Highway 460 in eastern Virginia (between Petersburg and Suffolk) parallels the 52-mile tangent railroad tracks Mahone engineered, passing through some of the towns he and Otelia are believed to have named. Several sections of the road are labeled "General Mahone Boulevard" and "General Mahone Highway" in his honor.
- A monument to Mahone's Brigade is located at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
- The site of the Battle of the Crater is a major feature of the National Park Service's Petersburg National Battlefield Park. In 1927, the United Daughters of the Confederacy erected in imposing monument to his memory. It stands on the preserved Crater Battlefield, a short distance from the Crater itself. The monument states: :"To the memory of William Mahone, Major General, CSS, a distinguished Confederate Commander, whose valor and strategy at the Battle of the Crater, July 30, 1864, won for himself and his gallant brigade undying fame."

Trivia


- Mahone's middle name was Thomas. However, in his lifetime, he preferred the simpler "William Mahone" used by his ancestors. Beginning with the Mahone immigration from Ireland, he was the fourth individual to be called simply "William Mahone." Even his adversaries seemed to respect this preference, and it is extremely rare to find written accounts using his middle name or initial.
- Mahone was a civilian, and not yet in the Confederate Army, when he orchestrated the ruse and capture of the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in 1861.
- Mahone suffered from acute dyspepsia all of his life. During the American Civil War, a cow and chickens accompanied him in order to provide dairy products.
- An infant child of Mary and William T. Mahone Jr. died on October 8, 1895, the same day General Mahone died.

References

Books


- Blake, Nelson (1935) William Mahone of Virginia: Soldier and Political Insurgent Richmond, VA: Garrett and Maisie
- Striplin, E. F. Pat. (1981) The Norfolk & Western : a history Roanoke, Va. : Norfolk and Western Railway Co. ISBN 0963325469

Websites


- [http://hometown.aol.com/grc6431/myhomepage/heritage.html Mahones of Virginia: The Mahone Family Heritage]
- [http://www.lva.lib.va.us/whoweare/exhibits/political/william_mahone.htm official site, Library of Virginia, William Mahone page]

See also


- Confederate Military History, Vol. III, biography of William Mahone.

External links


- [http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.gmd/g3701p.rr004910 Map of Norfolk & Petersburg Rail Road, issued by William Mahone]
- [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/ncpsbib:@field(DOCID+@lit(ABQ7578-0149-92_bib)):: The New Method of Voting] by William Mahone, The North American review. Volume 149, Issue 397, December 1889.
- [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=8339&pt=William%20Mahone Photos of William Mahone's tomb] Mahone, William Mahone, William Mahone, William Mahone, William Mahone, William Mahone, William Mahone, William Mahone, William Mahone, William

Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad

The Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad was built between Norfolk and Petersburg, Virginia and was completed by 1858. It played a role on the American Civil War (1861-1865), and became part of the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Railroad (AM&O) in 1870. The AM&O became the Norfolk and Western (N&W) in 1881. About 100 years later, the Norfolk and Western was combined with the Southern Railway, another profitable carrier, to form the Norfolk Southern Railway in 1982. In the 21st century, almost all of the original well-engineered N&P, including the corduroy roadbed through the Great Dismal Swamp and 52-mile tangent alignment is still in service. It forms part of a major coal export route terminating at Lambert's Point near Hampton Roads. In addition to coal, most of the route is in active use in the 20th century for intermodal container and automobile parts and completed vehicle shipments.

History

Although railroads emerged as a new transport technology in the 1830s, Norfolk was to wait 20 more years for a railroad line. In 1851, the authority to build the line was finally obtained followed many years of lobbying by Norfolk area politicians who were attempting to overcome opposition in the Virginia General Assembly. The representatives of inland port cities such as Richmond and Petersburg correctly foresaw that building the new railroad would lessen their role in export shipping trade. Dr. Francis Mallory (1807-1860) a former Representative in the United States Congress and later a member of the Virginia General Assembly was named the railroad's first president. In 1853, the new Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad hired as its chief engineer 26-year old William Mahone (1826-1895), of Southampton County, and construction began. A civil engineer and graduate of Virginia Military Institute, he is credited with the design and implementation of an innovative roadbed through the Great Dismal Swamp near Norfolk, Virginia, employed a log foundation laid at right angles beneath the surface of the swamp. Still in use today, Mahone's design withstands immense tonnages of coal traffic. He is also responsible for engineering and building the famous 52 mile-long tangent track between Suffolk and Petersburg which is a major artery of modern Norfolk Southern rail traffic. In 1855, Mahone married Otelia Butler (1837-1911). She was the daughter of the late Dr. Robert Butler from Smithfield, Virginia, who had been Treasurer of the State of Virginia. Otelia, who was said to have been a "cultured" lady, and William Mahone settled in Norfolk. A Yellow Fever Epidemic swept through Norfolk in 1855 and killed 2,000 of its 6,000 citizens. However, the Mahones went to stay with his mother in Southampton County until the epidemic passed. Construction of the new railroad was delayed for more than a year due to the many deaths and resulting financial hardships. Otelia Mahone became a well-known character of sorts in her own right. Popular legend has it that Otelia and William Mahone traveled along the newly completed railroad naming stations from Ivanhoe a book she was reading written by Sir Walter Scott. From his historical Scottish novels, she chose the place names of Windsor, Waverly and Wakefield. She tapped the Scottish Clan "McIvor" for the name of Ivor, a small Southampton County town. When they reached a location in Prince George County not far from the end of the line in Petersburg, they could not agree. It is said that they invented a name based upon their "dispute", and that is how Disputanta was named. In 1858, the railroad was completed and William Mahone was named its president.

Civil War

By the time the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad was completed, the clouds of conflict which would become the American Civil War were already forming. In 1861, the railroad had 85.5 miles of track, 13 stations, 6 wood-burning steam locomotives, and 98 freight and passenger cars. William Mahone became a prominent officer in the Confederate Army, and Otelia worked as a nurse in Richmond. Early in the War, the N&P was valuable to the Confederacy and transported ordnance to the Norfolk area where it was used in during the Confederate occupation. In 1861, Mahone helped bluff the federal troops to abandon the Gosport Shipyard in Portsmouth by running a single passenger train into Norfolk with great noise and whistle-blowing, then much more quietly sending it back west, and then returning the same train again (again with much noise, etc.) creating the illusion in Portsmouth across the Elizabeth River just out of sight of large numbers of arriving troops. The ruse worked, and not a single Confederate soldier was lost as the Union authorities abandoned the are, and retreated to Fort Monroe across Hampton Roads. Later in the War, Union forces controlled most of the N&P and the City Point Railroad (which also ran east from Petersburg). Brigadier General Mahone became the hero of the Battle of the Crater during the Siege of Petersburg in 1864, and was with Confederate General Robert E. Lee at the surrender at Appomattox Court House in April, 1865.

Atlantic, Mississippi, and Ohio Railroad

After the war, Mahone led the rebuilding of the N&P, and soon became involved in the South Side Railroad, which ran from Petersburg to Lynchburg, becoming its president as well. He was the driving force in the linkage of N&P, South Side Railroad and the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad to form the Atlantic, Mississippi & Ohio Railroad (AM&O), a new line extending from Norfolk to Bristol, Virginia which was formed in 1870 after several years of lobbying of the Virginia General Assembly by Mahone and his political allies. William and Otelia Mahone moved to Lynchburg, where headquarters were established. The letters A,M & O were said to stand for "All Mine and Otelia's." The A,M,& O operated successfully for several years, but fell behind in bond payments during the financial panic of 1873. The bondholders worked well with Mahone until 1976, when they had other receivers appointed. After several years of operating under receiverships, Mahone's role as a railroad builder ended in 1881 when northern interests purchased the A,M, & O and renamed it Norfolk and Western. Mahone was able to arrange for the proceeds of the sale of the AM&O (including the former N&P) to help found 2 schools for teachers. The Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute near Petersburg was forerunner of Virginia State College, which expanded to become Virginia State University. The other school he helped fund became Norfolk State College, which expanded to become Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Virginia. The former South Side Railroad was originally one of 3 A,M & O divisions, and was later consolidated with the former N&P into a single division. The A,M & O did well for several years, but fell on hard times in the financial panic of 1873 which negatively impacted almost all of the railroads. After several years of operating under receiverships, Mahone's role as a railroad builder ended in 1881 when northern interests purchased the A,M, & O and renamed it Norfolk and Western. Mahone was able to arrange for a portion of the State's proceeds of the sale to help found a school to prepare teachers to help educate black children and former slaves. The Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute near Petersburg was forerunner of Virginia State College, which expanded to become Virginia State University.

Norfolk and Western, Norfolk Southern

The Norfolk and Western itself grew into a great system, and the former Norfolk and Petersbburg Railroad formed a major piece of the line used to transport bituminous coal from the mines in southwestern Virginia and southern West Virginia to port at Norfolk, where a huge transloading facility was built at Lambert's Point. The N&W merged with the smaller but also highly efficient Virginian Railway in 1959, facilitating a more favorable route for eastbound coal than offered by the former South Side Railroad west of Burkeville. However, from that point east, the combination brought an increase to the South Side Railroad alignment as former VGN traffic was rerouted through Crewe to connect with the former N & P on its way to Lambert's Point. Norfolk & Western Railway was combined with the Southern Railway, another profitable carrier, to form Norfolk Southern Railway (NS) in 1982. Over 150 years after completion, much of the former Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad route is still in active use and is a vital portion of Norfolk Southern Railway, a Class I railroad which has its headquarters in Norfolk, only a short distance from the coal piers at Lambert's Point.

References

Books


- Blake, Nelson Morehouse, Phd. (1935) William Mahone of Virginia; Soldier and Political Insurgent, Garrett and Massie Publishers; Richmond, VA
- Dixon, Thomas W, Jr., (1994) Appalachian Coal Mines & Railroads. Lynchburg, Virginia: TLC Publishing Inc. ISBN 1-883089-08-5
- Huddleston, Eugene L, Ph.D. (2002) Appalachian Conquest, Lynchburg, Virginia: TLC Publishing Inc. ISBN 1-883089-79-4
- Lambie, Joseph T. (1954) From Mine to Market: The History of Coal Transportation on the Norfolk and Western Railway New York: New York University Press
- Lewis, Lloyd D. (1992) The Virginian Era. Lynchburg, Virginia: TLC Publishing Inc.
- Lewis, Lloyd D. (1994) Norfolk & Western and Virginian Railways in Color by H. Reid. Lynchburg, Virginia: TLC Publishing Inc. ISBN 1-883089-09-3
- Prince, Richard E. (1980) Norfolk & Western Railway, Pocahontas Coal Carrier, R.E. Prince; Millard, NE
- Reid, H. (1961). The Virginian Railway (1st ed.). Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Kalmbach Publishing Co.
- Reisweber, Kurt (1995) Virginian Rails 1953-1993 (1st ed.) Old Line Graphics. ISBN 1-879314-11-8
- Striplin, E. F. Pat. (1981) The Norfolk & Western : a history Roanoke, Va. : Norfolk and Western Railway Co. ISBN 0963325469
- Traser, Donald R. (1998) Virginia Railway Depots. Old Dominion Chapter, National Railway Historical Society. ISBN 0-9669906-0-9
- Wiley, Aubrey and Wallace, Conley (1985

Otelia Butler Mahone

Otelia Voinard Butler Mahone (August 1, 1837-February 21, 1911) was a nurse and the wife of Confederate Major General William Mahone, who was a civil engineer, teacher, railroad builder, and Senator in the United States Congress. A "character" in her own right, strong-willed Otelia Butler Mahone became almost as well-known in Virginia as her famous husband.

Parents and childhood

Otelia Voinard Butler was the daughter of the late Dr. Robert Butler (1784-1853) of the town of Smithfield in Isle of Wight County, Virginia and the former Otelia Voinard (1803-1855), originally from Petersburg, Virginia. The Butler family was prominent, and Dr. Butler had been Treasurer of the State of Virginia when he died in 1853. She has been described in published accounts as a "lady of rare beauty with a strong, forceful personality." It was also said that young Otelia Butler came from "cultured" background.

William Mahone: young railroad builder

In the pre-Civil War era, William Mahone was hired in 1853 to build the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad (N&P) through Isle of Wight County near her home. She married 29-year old Mahone on February 8, 1855. The couple settled in Norfolk, Virginia.

Naming stations together

Popular legend has it that Otelia and William Mahone traveled along the newly completed Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad naming stations from Ivanhoe, a book she was reading written by Sir Walter Scott. From his historical Scottish novels, Otelia chose the place names of Windsor, Waverly and Wakefield. She tapped the Scottish Clan "McIvor" for the name of Ivor, a small Southampton County town. When they reached a point in Prince George County not far from the end of the line at Petersburg, the two could not agree. It is said that they invented a new word in honor of their "dispute", which is how the tiny community of Disputanta was named. The N&P railroad was completed in 1858, and William was named its president.

American Civil War: the Mahones serve the Confederacy

When he became an officer in the Confederate Army, Otelia served the cause in Richmond as a nurse. Small of stature (5 ft 5 in tall and weighing only 100 lb (45 kg) her husband was nicknamed "Little Billy". When Otelia was notified by Governor John Letcher that her husband had been injured in the Second Battle of Manassas, but had only received a "flesh wound", she replied "Now I know it is serious for William has no flesh whatsoever." Late in the War, during the Siege of Petersburg, Otelia and the children moved to Petersburg to be near him. Mahone himself became the hero of the Battle of the Crater in July, 1864, and was promoted to Major General.

Children and family Life

Otelia and William Mahone had 13 children. Only 3 of their children survived to adulthood, two sons, William and Robert, and a daughter, also named Otelia. :William Thomas Mahone Jr. (1856-1927) attended school at Hanover Academy. He was engaged in the tobacco trade for a time and later served as collector of customs at Petersburg. :Robert Butler Mahone (1859-1914) was assigned to his father as private secretary for a number of years and afterward was in the government service. In 1898, he was appointed by U.S. President William McKinley as Consul of the United States at Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, across the U.S. border at Laredo, Texas. :Otelia (née Mahone) McGill traveled extensively in Europe and in 1895 married William L. McGill, from a prominent Petersburg, Virginia family. The Mahones lived in Norfolk after their marriage. Late in the Civil War, they relocated to Petersburg. They moved to Lynchburg for several years from 1868 to 1872, returning to Petersburg where they lived the rest of their lives. Their former home in Petersburg became part of the Petersburg Public Library.

Post-war, building the A,M & O

In a meeting at Appomattox about the time of the surrender, defeated Confederate General Robert E. Lee urged his generals to go home and start rebuilding. In the post-war period, William Mahone redirected his attention to railroading, quickly rebuilding the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad. He became president of the South Side Railroad in late 1865, and was instrumental in combining the N&P and South Side Railroad with the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad to form the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Railroad in 1870. Otelia and William moved to Lynchburg, Virginia, headquarters of the A,M & O, whose initials were said to stand for "All Mine and Otelia's". After the financial panic of 1873, the A,M & O fell behind on its bonds, and Mohone lost control in 1881 to northern financial interests who renamed it the Norfolk and Western Railway.

Politics

Willaim Mahone was also active in Virginia politics for almost 30 years. He was elected to the Virginia General Assembly in 1864 while still serving in the Confederate Army. After he failed in a bid to become governor in 1877, he organized Readjuster Party the following year. His chosen candidate William E. Cameron was elected as governor, serving from 1882-1886. Mahone himself served as one of Virginia's two Senators from 1881-1887 in the United States Congress.

Heritage

William Mahone died in 1895 in Washington DC. Otelia lived for 11 more years, and died in Petersburg, Virginia on February 20, 1911 at the age of 74. They are buried in Blandford Cemetery in Petersburg. A large portion of U.S. Highway 460 between Petersburg and Suffolk, parallels the 52 mile tangent line of the railroad William engineered. As the road passes through the towns he and Otelia are thought to have named, it is locally-known as General Mahone Boulevard and General Mahone Highway.

References

Books


- Blake, Nelson (1935) William Mahone of Virginia: Soldier and Political Insurgent Richmond, VA: Garrett and Massie
- Striplin, E. F. Pat. (1981) The Norfolk & Western : a history Roanoke, Va. : Norfolk and Western Railway Co. ISBN 0963325469

Websites


- [http://hometown.aol.com/grc6431/myhomepage/heritage.html Mahones of Virginia: The Mahone Family Heritage]
- [http://www.lva.lib.va.us/whoweare/exhibits/political/william_mahone.htm official site, Library of Virginia, William Mahone page] Mahone, Otelia B. Mahone, Otelia B. Mahone, Otelia B.

Smithfield, Virginia

Smithfield is a town located in Isle of Wight County, in the South Hampton Roads region of Virginia in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 6,324. The town, originally founded in the 17th century as a seaport, is most famous for the curing and production of ham. The Virginia General Assembly passed a statute defining Smithfield ham by law in 1926. Today, Smithfield Foods, a Fortune 500 Company, is the world’s largest pork processor and hog producer. The company, based in Smithfield, processes 20 million hogs and raises 12 million annually. Smithfield also attracts tourists with its historic inn/tavern, antique shops, boutiques, and Bed & Breakfast establishments. Smithfield is also the location of the old Isle of Wight County courthouse, which was recently restored and opened to the public as a town visitor's center.

Geography

Smithfield is located at 36°58'44" North, 76°37'7" West (36.978767, -76.618578). According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 27.1 km² (10.4 mi²). 24.7 km² (9.5 mi²) of it is land and 2.4 km² (0.9 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 8.80% water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there are 6,324 people, 2,438 households, and 1,830 families residing in the town. The population density is 256.2/km² (663.8/mi²). There are 2,552 housing units at an average density of 103.4/km² (267.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 67.22% White, 30.87% African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. 0.93% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. There are 2,438 households out of which 37.1% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% are married couples living together, 17.8% have a female householder with no husband present, and 24.9% are non-families. 21.5% of all households are made up of individuals and 9.7% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.55 and the average family size is 2.95. In the town the population is spread out with 27.0% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 38 years. For every 100 females there are 89.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 82.4 males. The median income for a household in the town is $43,224, and the median income for a family is $53,906. Males have a median income of $40,845 versus $24,419 for females. The per capita income for the town is $19,301. 12.0% of the population and 11.8% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 12.7% of those under the age of 18 and 15.6% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

External links


- [http://www.smithfieldfoods.com/Understand/Industry/ Smithfield Foods, official website] Category:Isle of Wight County, Virginia Category:Towns in Virginia

Walter Scott

:For the first Premier of Saskatchewan see Thomas Walter Scott :For the first Lord Scott of Buccleuch see Walter Scott, 1st Lord Scott of Buccleuch :For the Australian rules footballer with Norwood, see Walter Scott (footballer). Walter Scott (footballer)]] Sir Walter Scott, Bart (August 14, 1771 – September 21, 1832) was a prolific Scottish historical novelist and poet popular throughout Europe during his time. In some ways Scott was the first author to have a truly international career in his lifetime, with many contemporary readers all over Great Britain, Ireland, Europe, Australia, and North America. His novels and (to a lesser extent) his poetry are still read, but he is far less popular nowadays than he was at the height of his fame. Nevertheless many of his works remain classics of English literature. Famous titles include Ivanhoe, Rob Roy, Lady of the Lake, Waverley and The Heart of Midlothian.

Early days

Born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1771, the son of a Scottish solicitor of limited means, the young Walter Scott survived a childhood bout of polio that would leave him lame in his right leg for the rest of his life. To restore his health he was sent to live for some years in the rural Scottish Borders region at his grandparents' farm at Sandyknowe. Here he learned the speech patterns and many of the tales and legends which characterized much of his work. Also, for his health, he spent a year in Bath, England. He also learned by heart James Macpherson's Ossian poems, which it was claimed at the time were translations dating back to the Middle Ages, but later discredited when this was found to be untrue. After studying law at Edinburgh University, he followed in his father's footsteps and became a lawyer in Edinburgh. As a lawyer's clerk he made his first visit to the Scottish Highlands directing an eviction. He was admitted advocate in 1792. He had an unsuccessful love suit with Williamina Belsches of Fettercairn, who married Sir William Forbes.

Literary career launched

At the age of 25 he began dabbling in writing, translating works from German, his first publication being rhymed versions of ballads by Bürger in 1796. He then published a three-volume set of collected Scottish ballads, The Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border. This was the first sign of his interest in Scotland and history from a literary standpoint. Scott then became an ardent volunteer in the yeomanry and on one of his "raids" he met at Gilsland Spa Margaret Charlotte Charpentier (or Charpenter), daughter of Jean Charpentier of Lyon in France who he married in 1797. They had five children. In 1799 he was appointed sheriff deputy of the county of Selkirkshire, based in the town of Selkirk. In his earlier married days, Scott had a decent living from the monies he earned at the law, his salary as deputy sheriff, his wife's income, some revenue from his writing, and his share of his father's rather meagre estate. After Scott had founded a printing press, his poetry, beginning with The Lay of the Last Minstrel in 1805, brought him fame. He published a number of other poems over the next ten years, including in 1810 the popular Lady of the Lake set in the Trossachs, portions of which (translated into German) were set to music by Franz Schubert. One of these songs, Ellens dritter Gesang, is popularly called "Schubert's Ave Maria". Another work from this time period, Marmion, produced some of his most quoted (and most often mis-attributed) lines. Canto VI. Stanza 17 reads: :Yet Clare's sharp questions must I shun, :Must separate Constance from the nun :Oh! what a tangled web we weave :When first we practise to deceive! :A Palmer too! No wonder why :I felt rebuked beneath his eye; In 1809 his Tory sympathies led him to become a co-founder of the Quarterly Review, a review journal to which he made several anonymous contributions.

The novels

When the press became embroiled in pecuniary difficulties, Scott set out, in 1814, to write a cash-cow. The result was Waverley, a novel which did not name its author. It was a tale of the "Forty-Five" Jacobite rising in the United Kingdom with its English protagonist Edward Waverley, by his Tory upbringing sympathetic to Jacobitism, becoming enmeshed in events but eventually choosing Hanoverian respectability. The novel met with considerable success. There followed a large set of novels in next five years, each the same general vein. Mindful of his reputation as a poet, he maintained the anonymous habit he had begun with Waverley, always publishing the novels under the name "Author of Waverley" or attributed as "Tales of..." with no author. Even when it was clear that there would be no harm in coming out into the open he maintained the façade, apparently out of a sense of fun. During this time the nickname "The Wizard of the North" was popularly applied to the mysterious best-selling writer. His identity as the author of the novels was widely rumoured, and in 1815 Scott was given the honour of dining with George, Prince Regent, who wanted to meet "the author of Waverley". George, Prince Regent
Alternate View]] In 1820 he broke away from writing about Scotland with Ivanhoe, a historical romance set in 12th-century England. It too was a runaway success and, as he did with his first novel, he unleashed a slew of books along the same lines. As his fame grew during this phase of his career, he was granted the title of baronet, becoming Sir Walter Scott. At this time he organised the visit of King George IV to Scotland, and when the King visited Edinburgh in 1822 the spectacular pageantry Scott had concocted to portray George as a rather tubby reincarnation of Bonnie Prince Charlie made tartans and kilts fashionable and turned them into symbols of national identity.

Financial woes

Beginning in 1825 he went into dire financial straits again, as his company nearly collapsed. That he was the author of his novels became general knowledge at this time as well. Rather than declare bankruptcy he placed his home, Abbotsford House, and income into a trust belonging to his creditors, and proceeded to write his way out of debt. He kept up his prodigious output of fiction (as well as producing a non-fiction biography of Napoleon Bonaparte) until 1831. By then his health was failing, and he died at Abbotsford in 1832. Though not in the clear by then, his novels continued to sell, and he made good his debts from beyond the grave. He was buried in Dryburgh Abbey where nearby, fittingly, a large statue can be found of William Wallace—one of Scotland's most romantic historical figures.

Assessment

From being one of the most popular novelists of the 19th century, Scott suffered from a disastrous decline in popularity after the First World War. The tone was set early on in E.M. Forster's classic "Aspects of the Novel" (1927), where Scott was savaged as being a clumsy writer who wrote clumsy, badly plotted novels. Scott also suffered from the rising star of Jane Austen. Considered merely an entertaining "woman's novelist" in the 19th century, in the 20th Austen began to be seen as perhaps the major English novelist of the first few decades of the 19th century. As Austen's star rose, Scott's sank. Scott's many flaws (ponderousness, prolixity, lack of humour) were fundamentally out of step with Modernist sensibilities. Nevertheless, Scott was responsible for two major trends that carry on to this day. First, he essentially invented the modern historical novel; an enormous number of imitators (and imitators of imitators) would appear in the 19th century. It is a measure of Scott's influence that Edinburgh's central railway station, opened in 1854 for the North British Railway, is called the Waverley station, and two noted Rose Street pubs are the Waverley and the Ivanhoe bars, both named after his English characters. Second, his Scottish novels followed on from James Macpherson's Ossian cycle in rehabilitating the public perception of Highland culture after years in the shadows following southern distrust of hill bandits and the Jacobite rebellions. As enthusiastic chairman of the Celtic Society of Edinburgh he contributed to the reinvention of Scottish culture. It is worth noting, however, that Scott was a Lowland Scot, and that his re-creations of the Highlands were more than a little fanciful. His organisation of the visit of King George IV to Scotland in 1822 was a pivotal event, leading Edinburgh tailors to invent many "clan tartans" out of whole cloth, so to speak. After being essentially unread for many decades, a small revival of interest in Scott's work began in the 1970s and 1980s. Ironically, postmodern tastes (which favoured discontinuous narratives, and the introduction of the 'first person' into works of fiction) were more favourable to Scott's work than Modernist tastes. Despite all the flaws, Scott is now seen as an important innovator, and a key figure in the development of Scottish literature. Scott was also responsible, through a series of pseudonymous letters published in the Edinburgh Weekly News in 1826, for retaining the right of Scottish banks to issue their own banknotes, which is reflected to this day by his continued appearance on the front of all notes issued by the Bank of Scotland. Many of his works have been illustrated by his friend, William Allan.

Works


- The Chase (translator) (1796)
- William and Helen, Two Ballads from the German (translator) (1796)
- Goetz of Berlichingen (translator) (1799)
- The Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border (1802-1803)
- The Lay of the Last Minstrel (1805)
- Ballads and Lyrical Pieces (1806)
- Marmion (1808)
- The Lady of the Lake (1810)
- The Vision of Don Roderick (1811)
- The Bridal of Triermain (1813)
- Rokeby (1813)
- Introductory Essay to The Border Antiquities of England and Scotland (1814-1817)
- Waverley (1814)
- The Field of Waterloo (1815)
- Guy Mannering (1815)
- The Lord of the Isles (1815)
- The Antiquary (1816)
- Paul's Letters to his Kinsfolk (1816)
- Tales of my Landlord, 1st series, The Black Dwarf and Old Mortality (1816)
- Harold the Dauntless (1817)
- Rob Roy (1818)
- Tales of my Landlord, 2nd series, The Heart of Midlothian (1818)
- Provincial Antiquities of Scotland (1819-1826)
- Tales of my Landlord, 3rd series, The Bride of Lammermoor and A Legend of Montrose (1819)
- Ivanhoe (1819)
- Tales from Benedictine Sources, consisting of The Abbot and The Monastery (1820)
- Kenilworth (1821)
- Lives of the Novelists (1821-1824)
- The Fortunes of Nigel (1822)
- Halidon Hall (1822)
- Peveril of the Peak (1822)
- The Pirate (1822)
- Quentin Durward (1823)
- Redgauntlet (1824)
- St. Ronan's Well (1824)
- Tales of the Crusaders, consisting of The Betrothed and The Talisman (1825)
- Woodstock (1826)
- Chronicles of the Canongate, 1st series, The Highland Widow, The Two Drovers and The Surgeon's Daughter (1827)
- The Life of Napoleon Buonaparte (1827)
- Chronicles of the Canongate, 2nd series, The Fair Maid of Perth (1828)
- Religious Discourses (1828)
- Tales of a Grandfather, 1st series (1828)
- Anne of Geierstein (1829)
- History of Scotland, 2 vols. (1829-1830)
- Tales of a Grandfather, 2nd series (1829)
- The Doom of Devorgoil (1830)
- Essays on Ballad Poetry (1830)
- Tales of a Grandfather, 3rd series (1830)
- Letters on Demonology and Witchcraft (1831)
- Tales of my Landlord, 4th series, Count Robert of Paris and Castle Dangerous (1832)
- Young Lockinvar
- The Bishop of Tyre

Quote

Breathes there a man, with soul so dead, Who never to himself hath said, This is my own, my native land! from The Lay of the Last Minstrel by Walter Scott

Reference


- Sir Walter Scott, John Buchan, Coward-McCann Inc., New York, 1932

See also


- Alexandre Dumas
- Karl May
- Baroness Orczy
- Rafael Sabatini
- Emilio Salgari
- Samuel Shellabarger
- Lawrence Schoonover
- Jules Verne
- Frank Yerby

External links


- [http://www.eswsc.com The Edinburgh Sir Walter Scott Club]
- University of Pennsylvania [http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/book/search?amode=start&author=Scott%2c%20Walter e-texts of some of Walter Scott's works]
-
- University of Edinburgh library's [http://www.walterscott.lib.ed.ac.uk/works/index.html digital archive of Scott's works and memorabilia] Scott, Walter Scott, Walter Scott, Walter Scott, Walter Scott, Walter Scott, Walter Scott, Walter Scott, Walter Scott, Walter Scott, Walter ja:ウォルター・スコット

Waverly, Virginia

Waverly is a town located in Sussex County, Virginia. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 2,309. Popular legend has it that William Mahone (1826-1895), builder of the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad (now Norfolk Southern), and his cultured wife, Otelia Butler Mahone (1837-1911), traveled along the newly completed Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad naming stations. Otelia was reading Ivanhoe a book written by Sir Walter Scott. From his historical Scottish novels, Otelia chose the place names of Waverly, as well as Windsor and Wakefield. She tapped the Scottish Clan "McIvor" for the name of Ivor, a small town in neighboring Southampton County. When they could not agree, it is said that they invented a new name, which is how the tiny community of Disputanta was created. The N&P railroad was completed in 1858. William Mahone became a Major General in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War, and later, a Senator in the United States Congress. A large portion of U.S. Highway 460 between Petersburg and Suffolk is named in his honor.

Geography

Suffolk Waverly is located at 37°2'2" North, 77°5'43" West (37.033914, -77.095355). According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 8.0 km² (3.1 mi²). 8.0 km² (3.1 mi²) of it is land and none of the area is covered with water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there are 2,309 people, 880 households, and 570 families residing in the town. The population density is 290.4/km² (752.6/mi²). There are 960 housing units at an average density of 120.7/km² (312.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 36.73% White, 61.76% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.04% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.48% from other races, and 0.87% from two or more races. 1.17% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. There are 880 households out of which 29.8% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.1% are married couples living together, 20.7% have a female householder with no husband present, and 35.2% are non-families. 31.0% of all households are made up of individuals and 12.7% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.47 and the average family size is 3.09. In the town the population is spread out with 25.4% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 18.6% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 40 years. For every 100 females there are 88.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 80.4 males. The median income for a household in the town is $33,698, and the median income for a family is $39,792. Males have a median income of $27,414 versus $21,279 for females. The per capita income for the town is $14,848. 15.7% of the population and 11.7% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 21.4% of those under the age of 18 and 17.7% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

External links

Category:Towns in Virginia Category:Sussex County, Virginia

Ivor, Virginia

Ivor is a town located in Southampton County, Virginia. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 320. Popular legend has it that William Mahone (1826-1895), builder of the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad (now Norfolk Southern), and his cultured wife, Otelia Butler Mahone (1837-1911), who had been raised in Smithfield, traveled along the newly completed Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad naming stations. Otelia was reading Ivanhoe a book written by Sir Walter Scott. From his historical Scottish novels, Otelia chose the place names of Windsor, Waverly and Wakefield. Otelia Mahone is said to have tapped the Scottish Clan "McIvor" for the name of Ivor. Later, when they could not agree, it is said that they became even more creative, and invented a new word in honor of their "dispute", which is how the tiny community of Disputanta was named. The N&P railroad was completed in 1858. William Mahone was born in Southampton County, in the tiny community of Monroe, which was located on the Nottoway River about 8 miles south of present-day Courtland. He attended Virginia Military Institute (VMI) and trained as a civil engineer. After building the N&P railroad, became a Major General in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War, while his wife Otelia served as a nurse in Richmond. Mahone headed the state's Readjuster Party after the War and later was elected as a Senator in the United States Congress. A large portion of U.S. Highway 460 between Petersburg and Suffolk is named in honor of William Mahone.

Geography

Suffolk Ivor is located at 36°54'24" North, 76°53'52" West (36.906577, -76.897860). According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.8 km² (1.1 mi²). 2.8 km² (1.1 mi²) of it is land and none of the area is covered with water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there are 320 people, 135 households, and 100 families residing in the town. The population density is 113.4/km² (293.6/mi²). There are 152 housing units at an average density of 53.8/km² (139.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 76.25% White, 19.69% African American, 1.25% Native American, 0.00% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.00% from other races, and 2.81% from two or more races. 0.00% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. There are 135 households out of which 25.9% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.2% are married couples living together, 10.4% have a female householder with no husband present, and 25.9% are non-families. 24.4% of all households are made up of individuals and 17.0% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.37 and the average family size is 2.78. In the town the population is spread out with 20.0% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 27.5% from 45 to 64, and 21.6% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 44 years. For every 100 females there are 91.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 84.2 males. The median income for a household in the town is $34,583, and the median income for a family is $44,688. Males have a median income of $40,938 versus $18,750 for females. The per capita income for the town is $18,033. 5.1% of the population and 4.4% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 5.7% of those under the age of 18 and 9.8% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

External links

Category:Southampton County, Virginia Category:Towns in Virginia

Disputanta, Virginia

Disputanta, Virginia is an unincorporated town located in Prince George County, Virginia in the Richmond-Petersburg region and is a portion of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). The postal ZIP Code of Disputanta, Virginia is 23842. Popular legend has it that William Mahone (1826-1895), builder of the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad (now Norfolk Southern), and his cultured wife, Otelia Butler Mahone (1837-1911), traveled along the newly completed Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad naming stations. Otelia was reading Ivanhoe a book written by Sir Walter Scott. From his historical Scottish novels, Otelia chose the place names of Wakefield as well as Windsor and Waverley. She tapped the Scottish Clan "McIvor" for the name of Ivor, a small town in neighboring Southampton County. As they continued, west, they reached a station in Prince George County where they could not agree on a suitable name from the books. Instead, they became creative, and invented a new name in honor of their dispute. This is how the tiny community of Disputanta was named. The N&P railroad was completed in 1858. William Mahone became a Major General in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War, and later, a Senator in the United States Congress. A large portion of U.S. Highway 460 between Petersburg and Suffolk is named General Mahone Boulevard in his honor. Category:Prince George County, Virginia Category:Unincorporated communities in Virginia

Major General

Major General is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of Sergeant Major General. A major general is a high-ranking officer normally subordinate to a Lieutenant General and senior to a Brigadier General. In countries which do not maintain the rank of Brigadier General, including much of Eastern Europe, Major General normally serves as the lowest General Officer rank.

Germany

Eastern Europe The German Army and Luftwaffe refer to the rank as as Generalmajor. It was the lowest general officer rank until 1950, when the rank of Brigadegeneral was introduced below it. Before that time, it was often equated with Brigadier General, and Generalleutnant was considered to be equivalent to Major General..

Israel

In the Israeli Defence Forces a Major General is called an Aluf and is the second highest rank, only outranked by Rav Aluf (Lieutenant General or General).

Korea

General The rank of Major General is known as Sojang in South Korea. The rank of Sojang is also used in North Korea, where it is the lowest general officer and flag officer rank, equivalent to both Brigadier General and Rear Admiral. The actual equivalent to Major General is Jungjang, which roughly translates as Lieutenant General.

United Kingdom

right In the British Army and Royal Marines, Major-General ranks below Lieutenant-General and above Brigadier, and is thus the lowest of the general officer ranks, although always considered equivalent to Major General in other countries. Major-General is equivalent to Rear-Admiral in the Royal Navy, and in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries to Air Vice-Marshal.

United States

Air Vice-Marshal In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps and United States Air Force, a Major General ranks immediately below a Lieutenant General and above a Brigadier General. An American Major General is also called a two-star general because of the insignia. A Major General is equivalent to a Rear Admiral (upper half) in the United States Navy. An Army or Marine Corps Major General typically commands a division-sized unit (10,000 to 15,000 soldiers). In the Civil Air Patrol, the National Commander is also given the rank of Major General. He or she has the distinction of holding the highest rank in the organization. A CAP Major General is demoted to Brigadier General when they vacate the position of National Commander.

Fictional references


- In fiction, the best-known Major General is probably Major-General Stanley, the "modern major general" from Gilbert and Sullivan's 1879 operetta, The Pirates of Penzance. Stanley satirizes the aristocratic, learned officers in the British army of the day. He sings the immortal Major General's Song. Also, in the science-fiction television series Stargate SG-1, the commanding officer of Stargate Command from seasons 1 to 7 is Major General George Hammond (played by Don S. Davis).
- In the anime movie Robotech II: The Sentinels, the lead character, Rick Hunter maintains the rank of Major General.

See also


- Comparative military ranks Category:Military ranks ja:少将

Confederate Army

The Confederate States Army (CSA) was formed in February, 1861, to defend the Confederate States of America, which had itself been formed that same year when seven southern states seceded from the United States (with four more to follow). The army was formed around a core of 313 officers who left the United States Army, and had an initial enlistment of 82,000 volunteers. In August of 1861, the Congress of the Confederacy authorized the recruitment of 400,000 men. In April of 1862, The Confederate Congress passed the Conscription Act, which drafted all white men aged 18 to 35. In total, 1,406,180 men enlisted or were drafted into the Confederate States Army. The CSA was initially a (strategically) defensive army, and many soldiers resented it when Lee led the Army of Northern Virginia in an invasion of the North in the Antietam Campaign. As many as 50,000 men deserted during the start of the campaign, claiming that their enlistments were for defense of their homeland, not invasion. After the losses at Vicksburg and Gettysburg, the number rose to 100,000. The CSA differed from many contemporaneous armies in that all officers under the rank of brigadier general were elected by the soldiers under their command. Congress authorized the awarding of medals for courage and good conduct on October 13, 1862, but war time difficulties prevented the procurement of the needed medals. To avoid postponing recognition for their valor, those nominated for the awards had their names placed on a Roll of Honor, which would be read at the first dress parade after its receipt and be published in at least one newspaper in each state.

Organization

1862

Command

The army did not have an overall military commander until late in the War. Confederate President Jefferson Davis, himself a former U.S. Army officer and U.S. Secretary of War, provided the strategic direction for Confederate land and naval forces. General Robert E. Lee, who served as Davis' military advisor and then as commander of the Army of Northern Virginia, was promoted on January 31, 1865, to be general in chief of all the armies. By this time the armies of the Confederacy were near exhaustion and Lee was bottled up by Ulysses S. Grant in the Siege of Petersburg, so he was unable to use this new power to any great effect. The lack of centralized control was a strategic weakness for the Confederacy and there are few instances of multiple armies acting in concert across multiple theaters to achieve a common objective. (An exception to this was in late 1862 when Lee's invasion of Maryland was coincident with two other actions: Braxton Bragg's invasion of Kentucky and Earl Van Dorn's advance against Corinth, Mississippi. All three initiatives were unsuccessful, however.)
- All Generals wore the same insignia regardless of grade.
- Officers' uniforms bore a braid design on the sleeves and kepi, the number of adjacent strips (and therefore the width of the lines of the design) denoting rank. The color of the piping and kepi denoted the military branch.
- Branch colors were used for color of chevrons

Armies and Prominent Leaders

The CSA was composed of independent armies and military departments that were constituted, renamed, and disbanded as needs arose, particularly in reaction to offensives launched by the Union. These major units were generally named after states or geographic regions (in comparison to the Union's custom of naming armies after rivers). Armies were usually commanded by full generals (there were eight in the CSA) or lieutenant generals. Some of the more important armies and their commanders were:
- Army of Northern Virginia — Joseph E. Johnston, Gustavus W. Smith, Robert E. Lee commanding
- Army of Mississippi — P.G.T. Beauregard, Albert Sidney Johnston, Braxton Bragg, William J. Hardee, Leonidas Polk, (aka Army of Vicksburg from December, 1862) John C. Pemberton, Earl Van Dorn, (1863) William W. Loring
- Forrest's Cavalry Corps — Nathan Bedford Forrest
- Army of the Kanawha — Henry A. Wise, John B. Floyd, Robert E. Lee
- Army of Kentucky — Edmund K. Smith
- Army of Middle Tennessee — John C. Breckenridge
- Army of New Mexico — Henry H. Sibley
- Army of the Northwest — Robert S. Garnett, Henry R. Jackson, William W. Loring, Edward Johnson
- Army of the Peninsula — John B. Magruder, Daniel H. Hill
- Army of the Potomac (Confederate) — P.G.T. Beauregard, Joseph E. Johnston
- Army of Tennessee — Braxton Bragg, William J. Hardee, Joseph E. Johnston, John Bell Hood, Richard Taylor, Daniel H. Hill
- Trans-Mississippi Army — Thomas C. Hindman, Edmund K. Smith,
- Army of the Valley (aka Second Corps, Army of Northern Virginia) — Jubal Early
- Army of the West (Confederate) — Earl Van Dorn, John P. McCown, Dabney H. Maury, Sterling Price Some other prominent Confederate generals who led significant units operating sometimes independently in the CSA included Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson, James Longstreet, J.E.B. Stuart, Gideon Pillow, and A.P. Hill.

Defeat

The Army of Northern Virginia was disbanded on April 9, 1865, when General Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House, Virginia. The other Confederate armies surrendered by June, 1865. Category:American Civil War
- Category:Armies

American Civil War

The American Civil War (1861–1865) was fought in North America within the United States of America, between twenty-four mostly northern states of the Union and the Confederate States of America, a coalition of eleven southern states that declared their independence and claimed the right of secession from the Union in 1860–1861. The war produced over 970,000 casualties (3.09% of population), including approximately 560,300 deaths (1.78%), a loss of more American lives than any other conflict in history. The causes of the war, and even the name of the war itself, are still debated (see the article Naming the American Civil War).

The division of the country

Naming the American Civil War

The Deep South

Seven states seceded shortly after the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 – even before he was inaugurated:
- South Carolina (December 21, 1860),
- Mississippi (January 9, 1861),
- Florida (January 10, 1861),
- Alabama (January 11, 1861),
- Georgia (January 19, 1861),
- Louisiana (January 26, 1861), and
- Texas (February 1, 1861). These States of the Deep South, where slavery and cotton plantation agriculture were most dominant, formed the Confederate States of America (February 4, 1861), with Jefferson Davis as President, and a governmental structure closely modeled on the U.S. Constitution (see also: Confederate States Constitution). After the Battle of Fort Sumter, South Carolina, Lincoln called for troops from all remaining states to recover the forts, resulting in the secession of four more states: Virginia (April 17, 1861), Arkansas (May 6, 1861), North Carolina (May 20, 1861), and Tennessee (June 8, 1861).

Border States

Main article: Border states (Civil War) Along with the northwestern counties of Virginia (whose residents did not wish to secede and eventually entered the Union in 1863 as West Virginia), four of the five northernmost "slave states," (Maryland, Delaware, Missouri, and Kentucky) did not secede, and became known as the Border States. Delaware, which in the 1860 election had voted for Southern Democrat John C. Breckinridge, had few slaves and never considered secession. Maryland also voted for Breckinridge, and after rioting in Baltimore and other events had prompted a Federal declaration of martial law, its legislature rejected secession (April 27, 1861). Both