The Virginia State Capitol Building was used by the Confederate States as
their Capitol, where the Confederate Senate and House met during the war. At the
same time, it remained in use by the Virginia State Legislature. In addition,
the Capitol Square was used as a parade ground and promenade by the citizens of
Richmond. The following articles and images detail the use of the building and
grounds during the Civil War.
|
Richmond Dispatch |
11/12/1860; soldiers at Camp Lee conclude their encampment and are dismissed
after parading through town and Capitol Square |
|
Richmond Dispatch |
11/12/1860; British account of the Prince of Wales’ trip to Richmond - notes
on the ill-taste of the "ruffianly" Richmond crowds, the Prince’s visit to
the state Capitol (important anecdote about the Houdon statue), St. Paul’s
Church, the fair grounds, Hollywood Cemetery, Governor’s Mansion, Ballard
House |
|
Richmond
Enquirer |
4/15/1861; excellent description of the
reaction in Richmond to the news of the fall of Ft. Sumter - description of
parade to Tredegar Iron Works and Capitol Square - notes disappointed
reaction to Letcher's remarks, and the raising and subsequent lowering of
the Confederate flag on the Capitol roof |
|
Richmond
Dispatch |
4/24/1861; VMI cadets have arrived
in Richmond and are quartered at the Fair Grounds (Camp Lee) and parade
for the Governor on Capitol Square |
|
Richmond
Dispatch |
6/5/1861; Vicksburg Southrons
arrive and parade in Capitol Square; they are then quartered at the
Columbian Hotel |
|
Richmond
Dispatch |
6/22/1861; the Henry Clay statue on
Capitol Square has become discolored by excessive handling |
|
Richmond
Dispatch |
7/5/1861; Public guard makes its
annual 4th of July parade on Capitol Square |
|
Richmond Enquirer |
7/6/1861; description of the celebration of the
4th of July in Richmond - Tredegar Battalion parades on Capitol Square,
along with the Thomas Artillery, Public Guard, and Washington Artillery |
|
Richmond
Dispatch |
7/24/1861; description of the
arrival of the bodies of Generals Bartow and Bee in Richmond and
conveyance to the Capitol to lie in state |
|
Richmond
Dispatch |
7/25/1861; bodies of Bartow, Bee,
and Johnston were escorted from the Capitol to the Petersburg depot for
transportation South |
|
Richmond
Dispatch |
10/5/1861; excellent description of the fitting
up of the Capitol building for use by the Confederate Congress |
|
Richmond
Dispatch |
10/21/1861;
description of the celebration of the anniversary of the Battle of Yorktown
- Armory Band and Public guard put on festivities in Capitol Square |
|
Richmond
Dispatch |
10/25/1861;
1NC Cavalry
parades through Capitol Square |
|
Richmond
Dispatch |
11/8/1861; description of the improvements made
to the Senate chamber preparatory to the arrival of the Confederate Senate -
VA State Senate are relocated upstairs |
|
Richmond
Dispatch |
12/4/1861; more
details on the new Senate chamber for the State Senate |
|
Richmond
Whig |
1/2/1862; description of New Year's
Day in Richmond - notes that the main event was the reception at Pres.
Davis' house, and subsequent reception at the Governor's mansion |
|
Richmond Dispatch |
1/11/1862; workmen are preparing a room for the C. S. Senate in the
northwest corner of the Capitol |
|
Richmond
Whig |
1/22/1862; Description of the
funeral of Pres. John Tyler. Body taken from the "Hall of Congress" to St.
Paul's, where the funeral sermon was delivered, and thence to Hollywood
Cemetery. Notes that the weather was exceedingly bad. |
|
Richmond
Whig |
1/27/1862; The Clay Statue in
Capitol Square is becoming soiled from exposure to the weather |
|
Richmond
Dispatch |
2/7/1862;
New Senate room, NW corner of Capitol, about
finished |
|
Richmond
Whig |
2/15/1862;
Capt. O. J. Wise's remains arrive via the
Petersburg depot and taken to lie in state on the third floor of the Capitol
in the room "recently fitted up for the occupancy of the Confederate Senate" |
|
Richmond
Whig |
2/17/1862; description of the
funeral of Capt. O. J. Wise at St. James' Church and Hollywood Cemetery. A
large number of people came to see the body while it was lying in state, in
a metallic coffin, in the Confederate Senate Room at the Capitol. |
|
Richmond
Whig |
2/21/1862; President Davis will be
inaugurated tomorrow; railroad companies will run extra trains; ceremonies
will occur on Capitol Square, businesses will be closed |
|
Richmond
Whig |
2/22/1862; very detailed
description of the plans for the inauguration of Jefferson Davis and
Alexander Stephens. After the ceremonies, the "President's Mansion will be
open from 8 to 11 o'clock." |
|
Richmond
Whig |
2/24/1862; description of the
inauguration of President Davis and Alexander Stephens at the Capitol, and
the lousy weather |
|
Richmond Dispatch |
3/7/1862; Tredegar-made
brass piece for Cropper’s Co. on display, Capitol Square |
|
Richmond Dispatch |
3/13/1862; Major John C. Porter Provost Marshal of the City, with Godwin
commanding eastern half and John C. Maynard the western half; Passport
office to 9th & Broad & Winder to house on 9th beside Mechanics’
Institute |
|
Richmond Dispatch |
3/20/1862; Governor no longer operating at his house – private office at
Capitol, public office upstairs at City Hall |
|
Richmond Dispatch |
3/26/1862; update on spring improvements at Capitol Square |
|
Richmond Dispatch |
4/7/1862; Tredegar Battalion parades on Capitol Square – more than 200 men.
One company has 12-pdr howitzers |
|
Richmond
Enquirer |
4/24/1862; Tredegar Battalion parades with the
Armory Band in Capitol Square, and is inspected by the Governor |
|
Richmond
Dispatch |
5/5/1862; “lunatic” who preached unionism at Washington Monument, Capitol
Square, sent to Castle Godwin |
|
Richmond Dispatch |
5/8/1862; paragraph recommending removal of Houdon statue from Capitol |
|
Richmond Dispatch |
5/15/1862; Men wishing to be sharpshooters along river bank to gather at
Washington Monument |
|
Richmond Dispatch |
5/27/1862; prisoners from state penitentiary mow grass on Capitol Square |
|
Richmond
Whig |
5/30/1862; the Clay Statue in Capitol Square has become very nasty;
editorial urging for authorities to clean it up |
|
Richmond Dispatch |
6/4/1862; cows
and animals straying into Capitol Square will be shot |
|
Richmond Dispatch |
6/12/1862;
popularity of Capitol Square re-confirmed |
|
Richmond
Enquirer |
7/16/1862; inside of Capitol building in
festooned with captured United States flags |
|
Richmond Dispatch |
7/25/1862;
Capitol Square no longer “a resort for idle soldiers” |
|
Richmond Dispatch |
8/14/1862; update
on conversion of Capitol building to accommodate Confederate Congress |
|
Richmond Dispatch |
8/16/1862; Maj.
Wilkins’ 2nd Class Militia parade on Capitol Square – look good |
|
Richmond Dispatch |
8/18/1862; obit.
of General Winder. Body arrived 7/17. Funeral Capitol Square, burial
Hollywood |
|
Richmond
Whig |
8/18/1862; Gen. C. S. Winder’s body
arrived and lay in state in the Capitol. He will be buried in Hollywood
Cemetery. |
|
Richmond Dispatch |
8/25/1862; 42 NC
voluntarily sleeps on Capitol Square |
|
Richmond Dispatch |
9/5/1862; old
building on west side of Capitol Square – formerly Washington Tavern & then
Monument Hotel, now occupied by 2nd Auditor’s office |
|
Richmond
Enquirer |
9/24/1862; remains of General Starke, killed at
Sharpsburg, arrives at the Central depot, and escorted to the Capitol where
they were laid in state |
|
Richmond Dispatch |
10/21/1862;
25VaBn barracks south side of basin. To have drill today at Camp Lee &
Capitol Square |
|
Richmond Dispatch |
11/5/1862; E.
Hunter Taliaferro of Stafford Co., First Doorkeepers, State Senate, arrested
for theft & forgery |
|
Richmond Dispatch |
11/6/1862;
Mayor’s Court: Jas. Pearson, of Drewry’s Bluff command, jailed for assault;
woman tried for stealing $10 worth of silverware from Spotswood; details on
E. Hunter Taliaferro case |
|
Richmond
Enquirer |
11/26/1862; excellent description of the
Confederate stables, located on Capitol and 10th streets |
|
Richmond Dispatch |
11/28/1862; City
Bn. has drill on Capitol Square. Five companies of 40 men each |
|
Richmond Dispatch |
12/16/1862; T. P.
Turner on leave, so Libby commanded by Lt. Virginius Bossieux; City
Battalion dress parade, Capital Square |
|
Richmond
Sentinel |
3/20/1863; body of John Pelham has been brought
to the Capitol to lie in state - the body of Major Puller (ancestor to the
famous USMC General "Chesty" Puller) has passed through Richmond on the York
River Railroad |
|
Richmond
Sentinel |
3/21/1863; description of the body of Maj. John
Pelham lying in state at the State Capitol - includes letter from J. E. B.
Stuart |
|
Richmond
Sentinel |
4/1/1863; dress parades of the City Battalion
and Smith's Armory Band are attracting ladies to Capitol Square every night |
|
Richmond
Sentinel |
4/9/1863; City Battalion is to be increased in
size, and parades nightly on Capitol Square, to the delight of the ladies |
|
Richmond
Sentinel |
4/18/1863; the Washington Statue in Capitol
Square has been adopted as the official seal of the Confederacy |
|
Richmond
Sentinel |
4/22/1863; the Clay statue in Capitol Square
has been mutilated by young boys - two fingers missing |
|
Richmond
Enquirer |
5/12/1863; detailed description of
the arrival of Gen. Stonewall Jackson's remains and the subsequent
procession to Capitol Square |
|
Richmond
Dispatch |
5/12/1863; detailed description of
the arrival in Richmond of Stonewall Jackson's remains and the procession
through the city |
|
Richmond
Dispatch |
5/13/1863; detailed description of
the funeral procession of Gen. Stonewall Jackson |
|
Richmond
Dispatch |
5/14/1863; new Confederate flag will be displayed on the Capitol today |
|
Richmond
Dispatch |
5/14/1863; Stonewall Jackson's
remains were taken from the Capitol to the Central RR depot |
|
Richmond
Sentinel |
7/23/1863; body of Gen. Pettigrew arrives by
the RF&P RR and lies in state in the Capitol |
|
Richmond
Sentinel |
8/5/1863; the Winder building, on 10th between
Broad and Capitol streets, is nearly completed; declares it better than the
stables that formerly occupied the site |
|
Richmond
Whig |
1/1/1864; announcement of the
reception at Jefferson Davis' house from noon to 3, as well as the
inauguration of Gov. Smith at noon at the Capitol |
|
Richmond
Whig |
1/18/1864; Gens. Hood, Breckinridge,
and Morgan visit the House of Representatives |
|
Richmond
Whig |
2/29/1864; bell at the first market
has cracked, which had given the fire alarm. Advocates the "bell house" at
Capitol Square do the job in the meantime |
|
Richmond
Sentinel |
5/25/1864; VMI cadets parade at Capitol Square
following the Battle of New Market |
|
Richmond
Examiner |
5/25/1864; VMI cadets arrive in Richmond and
parade in Capitol Square and hear speeches from Governor Smith and President
Davis |
|
Richmond
Whig |
5/25/1864; VMI cadets parade in
Capitol Square and are reviewed by President Davis. Afterwards, they listen
to a speech from Governor Smith |
|
Richmond
Examiner |
5/28/1864; VMI cadets parade and receive a new
stand of colors |
|
Richmond
Sentinel |
6/24/1864; boys are throwing stones
at the Washington and Clay monuments and each other. The mayor clamps down
and orders all offenders arrested. Brief description of a rock battle
between boys on Gamble's and Penitentiary hills |
|
Richmond
Whig |
8/20/1864; horse of Gov. Smith dies
of lockjaw in Capitol Square, after attempting to jump a fence |
|
Richmond
Sentinel |
9/15/1864; Gen. Morgan's remains
will arrive in the city soon and be taken to the State Capitol to lie in
state, and then be buried at Hollywood until Kentucky can take him home |
|
Richmond
Sentinel |
9/17/1864; description of Gen.
Morgan's body lying in state in the Capitol, and burial at Hollywood |
|
Richmond
Whig |
9/17/1864; description of the
arrival of Gen Morgan's remains via the Danville train, their lying in state
in the Capitol building and burial in Hollywood cemetery |
|
Richmond
Whig |
10/10/1864;
description of the funeral of Gen. John
Gregg, of Texas, and procession from the Capitol to Hollywood Cemetery. |
|
Richmond
Sentinel |
3/21/1865; Winder-Jackson Battalion; including Negroes
to parade |
|
Richmond
Dispatch |
3/23/1865; negroes employed at Winder & Jackson join the
army |
|
Richmond
Enquirer |
3/23/1865; description of the Winder-Jackson
Battalion's parade at Capitol square; call for Richmond ladies to produce
a flag for this unit |
|
Richmond
Sentinel |
3/23/1865; description of the Winder-Jackson
Battalion's parade at Capitol square |
|
Richmond
Sentinel |
3/30/1865; description of recent
renovation to the interior of the Capitol; laments the spitting of tobacco
juice |
|
New
York Herald |
4/4/1865; Details on the fall of Richmond and
subsequent occupation - notes the reception of the Union soldiers in
Richmond has been very pleasant |
|
Richmond
Whig |
4/4/1865; excellent account of the evacuation
and burning of Richmond |
|
New
York Herald |
4/5/1865; Details on the Federal occupation of
Richmond - notes that much railroad stock was captured at Richmond |
|
New
York Herald |
4/6/1865; Details on the Federal occupation of
Richmond - notes that the furniture in the White House of the Confederacy
was left behind, and that Tredegar survived the fire. Libby Prison and
Castle Thunder are now full of Confederate prisoners |
|
National
Tribune |
8/10/1899; “A Union Man in Richmond;” part four of
serial account. Describes John Minor Bott’s stay in “a negro jail in Lombard
Alley” [Castle Godwin], the economic situation in Richmond, the Battle of
First Manassas, the man who [Mr. Gretter] who tossed the first shovelful of
dirt for the Richmond defenses, the dangerous nature of “Lombard Alley”
[probably Locust Alley], and the post-war collapse of the upper floor of the
Capitol building |
|
National
Tribune |
7/12/1900; good account of the fall of Richmond
in 1865, by a boy who lived on Church Hill; notes that advancing Union
troops were fired upon from convalescent patients from Chimborazo |
