This page is for information on the area of eastern Richmond, then known as
Rocketts. During the Civil War, the area was used as a place of encampment, as
well as the Confederate shipyard and dock on the James River.
|
Richmond
Whig |
5/22/1861, p. 3; Richmond Howitzers camped on Chimborazo
hill, with new military road "leading from the plateau," along the declivity, to
the encampment at Rocketts. Artillery posted atop the hill. |
|
Richmond
Dispatch |
10/7/1861;
flood ruins wharf
at Rocketts |
|
Richmond Dispatch |
4/21/1862; Ladies’ Defence Association is building its gunboat opposite
Rocketts. Farrand in charge. Note from Maria Clopton on this. Tredegar
involved. |
|
Richmond Dispatch |
5/9/1862; details on a woman arrested for theft at Rocketts, sent to Castle
Godwin |
|
Richmond Dispatch |
5/22/1862; details of murder at the "tall white brick house on the left hand
side of Main street, where the street turns towards Rocketts." |
|
Richmond Dispatch |
5/23/1862; Edward Conner, 21 Miss, stabbed to death at Rocketts - dies at
4th Georgia Hospital |
|
Richmond Dispatch |
6/7/1862; CSS
Teaser anchored at foot of 21st St. |
|
Richmond Dispatch |
6/21/1862; great
story about family & dog near Rocketts |
|
Richmond Dispatch |
7/28/1862; Police
break up rock battle at Rocketts |
|
Richmond Dispatch |
9/18/1862; CSS
Nansemond at foot of 18th St. – wants crewmen |
|
Richmond Dispatch |
9/27/1862;
Russell’s starch factory “in Rocketts old field” burned to the ground. Was
lately in use as a hospital and formerly known as the Second Baptist Church
Chapel. |
|
Richmond Dispatch |
11/5/1862;
interesting case of Solomon Bell, federal soldier at Libby, captured twice
in past year. Wife living in Richmond, near Rocketts. |
|
Richmond Dispatch |
11/12/1862; Mrs.
Maria Clopton, President Ladies’ Gunboat Association, calls meeting at R. H.
Maury residence, Clay between 11th and 12th |
|
Richmond Dispatch |
11/13/1862; Maria
Clopton adv for the Ladies’ Gunboat Association to meet at R. H. Maury’s
house, Clay between 11th and 12th |
|
Richmond Dispatch |
12/2/1862;
Frederick Lindsey, 1TX & Mathew Pitman, 1GA, both arrested for drunken
fracas at Rockett’s. Pitman to Castle Thunder, Lindsey left behind, “having
had his skull broken by a skillet in the hands of a female whose house he
had entered.” |
|
Richmond Dispatch |
12/8/1862; ten
houses at Rocketts (Water & Main streets) burn in huge fire. Known as
Tyler’s Row, as Hiram Tyler owned them all |
|
Richmond
Enquirer |
12/18/1862; man who had escaped from Castle
Thunder twice before is recaptured in Rocketts |
|
Richmond
Sentinel |
4/9/1863; General Elzey holds a review of
troops in Richmond in "Rocketts old field" |
|
Richmond
Sentinel |
6/30/1863; the ironclad Virginia II was
launched from the Rocketts shipyard yesterday |
|
Richmond
Sentinel |
10/25/1864; steamer Schultz has been
refitted and will resume trips down the river |
|
Richmond
Whig |
4/11/1865; appeal for a city railroad to
replace one the CS built to transport iron to Rocketts |
|
New
York Herald |
4/13/1865; excellent letter from Richmond
describing the Federal occupation of Richmond, mentions Tredegar, former
slaves, Rocketts, former rebel hospitals (Chimborazo, Jackson, Stuart) - All
patients now at Jackson, Stuart Hospital is now a US Post Hospital.
Dahlgren's body found and is being returned to Washington. Castle Thunder
and Libby Prison are now holding Confederates. Also notes veneration of
Robert E. Lee in Richmond |
|
Richmond
Whig |
4/13/1865; Rocketts, the port of Richmond has
resumed trade, and is being cleaned up |
|
Richmond
Whig |
4/27/1865; Rocketts has been taken over by the
Federals and improvements are being made |
|
Richmond
Whig |
6/6/1865; appeal for a passenger railway
from St. Charles Hotel to Rocketts |
