Fredericksburg, Virginia 1608-1908. Author:Sylvanius Jackson Quinn
are two reasons which may be given which, we think, will show that the site of Falmouth would have been an improper and unsafe location for the fort, both of which would have suggested themselves to the constructors of the fort. One is, that the place is on the bend of the river and is surrounded by high hills, now known as Stafford Heights. From the crest of these hills the fort could have been attacked by the enemy and captured by any small force. And if it had not been captured the elevation would have given the Indians great advantage over the garrison, making their arrows very effective. To have placed the fort on either one of the high hills would have thrown the garrison too far from the river to protect their sail vessels, and in case they had been compelled to give up the fort they could not have reached their vessels in the river, which, in the past, had proved a safer refuge than the poorly constructed forts of that day.
The other reason is, that to have constructed the fort on the north side of the river would have placed the almost impassable Rappahannock between the garrison and their remote friends on the south side, from whom alone they could look for relief in case they had been besieged, or if they had been compelled to retreat. For these reasons, if for no other, we are satisfied that the fort was not located on the north side of the river, but on the south side and in the vicinity of where Fredericksburg now stands. But this author, in speaking of the fort, says "not one stone or brick of the fort is left on another, but the terraces on the long hill back of the riverside houses still bear traces of ancient work."
But this does not prove the contention. It should be remembered that forts were not constructed in those times of stones and bricks, nor even of earthen walls, as they have since been, but of wooden poles or logs, and very temporary at that. British Lieut. John Fontaine gives a minute description of the fort built by the Germans at Germanna in the year 1714, which will help us to understand what a fort was in those days.
"We walked about the town, which is palisaded with stakes stuck in the ground, and laid close the one to the other, and of substance to bear out a mussket-shot. There are but nine families, and they have nine houses, built all in a line; and before every house, about twenty feet distant from it, they have small sheds built for their hogs and hens, so that the hog-sties and houses make a street. The place that is poled in is a pentagon, very regularly laid out; and in the very center there is a block-house, made with five sides, which answer to the five sides of the great enclosure; there are loop holes through it, from which you may see all the inside of the enclosure. This was intended for a retreat for the people, in case they were not able to defend the palisadoes, if attacked by the Indians." Col. Byrd, in 1732, called this a fort.
[6] Memoirs of a Huguenot Family-"Knights of the Golden Horseshoe."
CHAPTER II.
Governor Spotswood and Others Start on an Expedition over the Blue Ridge Mountains — They Pass Through what is now Fredericksburg — They Join Others at Germanna, where they make Extensive Preparations — The Country Rough and the Woods Dense — Bears, Deer, Turkeys, Squirrels and Snakes Plentyful — The Summit of the Mountain Reached — The Sublime Scene — The Health of the King Drank and the Country Taken Possession of in His Name — The Shenandoah River, &c.
THE KNIGHTS OF THE GOLDEN HORSE SHOE
Two years after the settlement of Germanna Governor Spotswood visited the place, in company with gentlemen and others who were to accompany him in his famous expedition over the Blue Ridge mountains, which has been the theme of the writers of song and story, and upon which has recently been founded a secret benevolent order. So much has been written about this expedition, in this country and in Europe, into which so much romance has been woven, and yet so little is known about it by the general public, at the expense of length and tediousness to the reader of the narrative, we propose to give John Fontaine's [1] diary, written daily as they progressed on the journey, from the time he left Williamsburg with the Governor, until he returned to that city, that we may be thoroughly informed of all the particulars.
[1] British Lieut. John Fontaine was the son of Rev. James Fontaine, of France, a Huguenot [French Protestant] who fled to England to avoid religious persecution, and thence settled in Scotland where he ended his days. The name originally was De La Fontaine, but John's grandfather, "from motives of humility, cut off the De La, the indication of the nobility of the family." John came to this country In 1716. with his brother Rev. Peter Fontaine, and at once became a friend and companion of Governor Spotswood, while Peter became a minister of ability and was very popular. From these two brothers sprang the Fontaines and many allied families of this country.
The expedition was made in August and September, 1716, and the following is extracted from Lieut. John Fontaine's diary:
Williamsburg, 20th August, 1716. — In the morning got my horses ready, and what baggage was necessary, and I waited on the Governor who was in readiness for an expedition over the Appalachian mountains. We breakfasted and about ten got on horseback, and, at four came to the Brickhouse, upon York River, where we crossed the ferry and at six came to Mr. Austin Moore's house[2] on Mattapony River, in King William County; here we lay all night and were well entertained.
[2] Austain Moore lived at Chelsea, on the Mattaponi river. He was the Governor's son-in-law.—[Matthew Fontaine] Maury's "History of Virginia."
21st.—Fair weather. At ten we set out from Mr. Moore's, and crossed the river of Mattapony, and continued on the road, and were on horseback till nine of the clock at night, before we came to Mr. Robert Beverley's house where we were well entertained, and remained this night.
22nd.—At nine in the morning we set out from Mr. Beverley's. The Governor left his chaise here, and mounted his horse. The weather fair, we continued on our journey until we came to Mr. Woodford's where we lay, and were well entertained. This house lies on Rappahannock River ten miles below the falls.
23rd.—Here we remained all this day, and diverted ourselves and rested our horses.
24th.—In the morning, at seven, we mounted our horses and came to Austin Smith's housef about ten, where we dined, and remained till about one of the clock, when we set out, and about nine of the clock we came to the German-town, where we rested that night—bad beds and indifferent entertainment.
German-town, 25th.—After dinner we went to see the mines, but I could not observe that there was any good mine. The Germans pretend that it is a silver mine; we took some of the ore and endeavored to run it, but could get nothing out of it, and I am of opinion it will not come to anything, no, not as much as lead. Many of the gentlemen of the county are concerned in this work. We returned and to our hard beds.
26th.—At seven we got up, and several gentlemen of the country, that were to meet the Governor at this place for the expedition, arrived here, as also two companies of Rangers, consisting each of six men, and an ofiicer. Four Meherrin Indians also came.[3] In the morning I diverted myself with other gentlemen shooting at a mark. At twelve we dined, and after dinner we mounted our horses and crossed the Rappahannoc River that runs by this place, and went to find out some convenient place for our horses to feed in, and to view the land hereabouts. Our guide left us, and we went so far in the woods that we did not know the way back again; and so we hallowed and fired our guns. Half an hour after sunset the guide came to us. and we went to cross the river by a ford higher up. The descent to the river being steep, and the night dark, we were obliged to dismount and lead our horses down to the river side, which was very troublesome. The bank being very steep, the greatest part of our company went into the water to mount their horses, where they were up to the crotch in the water. After we had forded the river and came to the other side, where the bank was steep also, in going up, the horse of one of our company slipped and fell back into the river on the top of his rider, but he received no other damage than being heartily wet, which made sport for the rest. A hornet stung one of the gentlemen in the face which swelled prodigiously. About ten we came to the town, where we supped, and to bed.
[3] These Indians came from the Meherrin river, where Governor Spotswood Owned a large body of land. He had opened a school there for the education and conversion of the Indian children, which made him quite popular with the Indians In that quarter. The Governor and