In 1776, when General George Washington undertook his momentous crossing of the Delaware, the brown stone McConkey Ferry Inn was the only building on this site.
Shortly thereafter, the Taylor Family purchased the Inn and surrounding land making way for the development of the 19th century village of Taylorsville. After expanding the McConkey Ferry Inn, brothers Mahlon and Bernard built homes for themselves: the federal style Mahlon K. Taylor house and the present day Washington Crossing Inn. The surrounding homes were built as tenant houses to comprise a self-sufficient community including homes for a blacksmith, wheelwright, tailor, physician, a general store and post office.
The 1830's brought the expansion of Taylorsville and construction of a wooden covered bridge across the Delaware. Shortly after its completion, the structure was destroyed by a flood and rebuilt a few years later. The existing steel bridge, opened in 1905, is the third bridge to be built at the site of Washington's historic crossing of the Delaware
(Bridges & Viaducts • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers • War, US Revolutionary) Includes location, directions, 4 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
John Other Day, a Dakota who disagreed with the decision to go to war with the Whites, led a party of sixty-two white men, women and children out of danger when the Dakota attacked the Upper Sioux Agency near Granite Falls. The party left the Agency at daybreak on August 19, 1862, and camped at this site that evening. This site was the home of Charles Peterson. Peterson and Gustaf Johnson were the only persons at this site when the refugees arrived. Their house provided a food supply and other provisions for the refugees for the remainder of their journey. The group reached Shakopee on August 22, 1862 with only one casualty. The night the refugees camped here, Stewart B. Garvie died of wounds received in the Agency attack. His body is buried in Cedar City.
Resting eternally in this hallowed ground where you are now standing are the remains of original settlers; the pioneers, the woodsmen, and the rivermen from this area's earliest years as a center of the timber industry. An earlier cemetery in the 1840's and 1850's was a victim of fire and flood making it impossible to identify the graves for reburial. This monument is an attempt to memorialize the lives of unidentified men, women, and children resting peacefully in this location.
South on New River at Crump's Bottom, Fort Culbertson was built, 1774, at outbreak of Dunmore's War by Capt. James Robertson on order of William Preston, Lieutenant-Colonel of Fincastle County. This fort was garrisoned by troops.
After suffering defeats to the British Army in New york and New Jersey, General George Washington retreated to the Pennsylvania banks of the Delaware River in early December, 1776. On Christmas night, Washington boldly moved approximately 2400 men under his command across the Delaware. Advancing to Trenton in sleet and snow, Washington attacked Hessian troops fighting for Britain, captured the city and reversed the fortunes of the Continental Army. His victory increased enlistments, raised morale and financial support, and sent a message of American strength to the world community.
From May 1-3, 1863 Generals Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson fought a powerful federal army to a standstill at Chancellorsville, while Major General Jubal A. Early's division confronted the Union 6th Corps at Fredericksburg. On May 4th, following battles fought at Fredericksburg and Salem Church the day before, Early used Brigadier General William Smith's Brigade to probe the Federal line near the Plank Road. He found it strongly held and so began careful preparations for another attack. At 6:00 P.M., Early launched his other brigades against the Union force. Brigadier Generals Robert F. Hoke, Harry T. Hays, and John B. Gordon led their men forward against the Federals positioned on the ridge traversed by modern day Cowan Boulevard. This first line collapsed under the pressure and the Confederates pressed on, across Smith Run. Colonel Lewis A. Grant's Vermont Brigade held the ridge west of the creek and the severe fighting continued. The soldiers of Vermont counterattacked, but as the sun went down, they were outflanked by Gordon's Brigade, which had worked it's way north to Fall Hill. The Federals pulled back to a new line of defense along present day Fall Hill Avenue, which they held that night while the Union Sixth Corps retreated across the Rappahannock River at Banks Ford.
The Green family was established in Virginia when Duff McFuff Green's great-great grandfather, Robert Green, settled in Orange County in 1710. Duff McDuff Green was born in Stafford county on 2 August 1832 to Capt. Duff Green and Elizabeth Ann Payne Green.
(Preface): In June 1864, Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee sent Gen. Jubal A. Early's corps from the Richmond battlefields to the Shenandoah Valley to counter Union Gen. David Hunter's army. After driving Hunter into West Virginia, Early invaded Maryland to attack Washington, D.C., draw Union troops from Richmond, and release Confederate prisoners held at Point Lookout. On July 9, Early ordered Gen. Bradley T. Johnson's cavalry brigade eastward to free the prisoners. The next day, Johnson sent Maj. Harry Gilmer's regiment to raid the Baltimore area. Union Gen. Lew Wallace delayed Early at the Battle of Monocacy on July 9. Federal reinforcements soon strengthened the capital's defenses. Early attacked there near Fort Stevens on July 11-12 and then withdrew to the Shenandoah Valley with the Federals in pursuit. He stopped them at Cool Springs on July 17-18. Despite failing to take Washington or free prisoners, Early succeeded in diverting Federal resources.
