“The Rest Of The Story”
Front of Berkeley Plantation Mansion |
Last
month’s post introduced how the 8000 acre parcel that became Berkeley
Plantation was acquired, settled, became the official site of the first
Thanksgiving in America , and was purchased in
the 18th century by the Harrison family.
William Henry Harrison - Our 9th President |
Continuing
the legacy at Berkeley Plantation, Benjamin Harrison V married Elizabeth
Bassett with whom he had seven children. One son, William Henry Harrison was
born at Berkeley Plantation, and though originally pursued a career in medicine
he had military aspirations, and gained fame fighting the Indians at the Battle
of Tippecanoe in 1811. He later settled in Indiana and became Secretary to
the Northwest Territories and its Delegate to
Congress. He is probably better known as (until Ronald Reagan) the oldest man
to be elected to the Presidency. Though he was our ninth President, it was of
short duration. He gave a ninety minute speech at his inauguration on a cold damp
day, not adequately dressed for the occasion and with no hat. He caught cold
which went into pneumonia and he died thirty-two days later ― the first
President to die in office.
Benjamin Harrison - Our 23rd Preisident |
Notably,
America ’s first ten Presidents
were guests at Berkeley Plantation. The grandson of William Henry Harrison,
Benjamin Harrison also served as our twenty-third President though he never
lived at Berkeley as he was from Indiana .
The Civil War
During
the Civil War, Union troops under the command of General George B. McClellan
along with 140,000 troops occupied Berkeley Plantation. That is a staggering
number, but when you walk the estate’s vast lands it’s easier to imagine.
During
the occupation, in the summer of 1862, Abraham Lincoln visited Berkeley Plantation
twice to meet with General McClellan and review the troops. That same summer General
Daniel Butterfield, a man who had risen through the ranks from Private in the
New York State Militia to Major General and Chief of Staff of the Army of the Potomac , was encamped with
McClellan at Berkeley . They had come through
some very costly and difficult campaigns where many thousands of casualties
took place.
Taps
Gen. Daniel Butterfield |
One
can imagine the chaos on a battlefield where thousands of men are attempting to
take direction from their leaders. It was a common practice that Commanders had
individualized bugle calls to minimize confusion among their troops. On July
2, 1862 ,
while the troops were bivouacked at Harrison ’s Landing at Berkeley, General
Butterfield, despondent over the loss of so many men, charged Private Oliver
Wilcox Norton, his bugler to alter his particular bugle sound, lengthening some
notes and shortening others. The result ― “Taps”, probably the singularly most
known and used bugle melody was born. For the past 150 years many have heard
and associated those somber twenty-four notes as our national song of
remembrance.
During
the Civil War the third floor of the mansion served as a hospital and the
basement as a prison.
After
the Civil War the Harrison family was not able to regain ownership of Berkeley . It passed through
several owners and fell into disrepair. Berkeley Plantation was bought in 1907
by a Scotsman, John Jamieson who ironically had served as a drummer boy in the
Army under General McClellan. His son, Malcolm and his wife Grace have restored
the plantation and mansion and filled it with beautiful 18th century
antiques. Berkeley Plantation is still owned by the Jamieson family. Like many other
waterfront Virginia Georgian homes, it has a center hall with the front door
facing the drive and the back door facing the river.
Garden Path toward The James River |
The
Berkeley grounds are extensive
and something to behold with its gardens and walkways. A wonderful fragrance
emanates from the ten acres of formal terraced boxwood gardens overlooking
farmland and extending a quarter mile to the James River . Although this national
historic treasure is privately owned, it is open to the public.
Garden Path toward Back of Mansion |
Chippendale Gazebo |
Thanks for sharing all this wonderful history. I love finding out so much when I stop by your blog.
ReplyDeletePaula O(kyflo130@yahoo.com)
Thanks Paula, We have so many great contributors who love to study and share about our country's fascinating history.
ReplyDeleteLove this plantation, Janet--hope we can go there together sometime too!
Delete