From The Daily Dispatch: March 28, 1861:

In mentioning the raising of the flag of the Southern Confederacy, which took place last Saturday afternoon, on Bleak Hill, (the residence of Mrs. Pilcher,) an error was committed. The flag was not taken down at the demand of the Union boys; but, about 8 o’clock P. M., in consequence of the rain, the flag was hauled down and remained down during the succeeding Sabbath. Monday morning it was raised, in spite of the threats of about twenty-five assailants, who collected around the house on Saturday night about 10 o’clock. Monday afternoon another summons was received to the effect that the flag must come down before night, or it would be hauled down by main force, even at the expense of blood.–The news of the proceeding on Saturday night having spread over the city, about 100 gentlemen collected the following night and offered their assistance to protect the rights of the occupants of the house. The Oregon Hill party, however, did not come, and it is supposable, from their furious threats, that their absence was caused by the large crowd assembled to oppose them. They sent a messenger to the house to inform those who were there assembled that no farther violence would be offered. Whereupon, all parties returned to their homes, the flag raisers satisfied that they would be protected in their rights, and the opposing party convinced of the folly of attempting to set the laws at defiance. A Deputy Sheriff of the county was present, and prepared to see that the laws were respected. The above statement is furnished us by a gentleman conversant with the affair.

A note courtesy of Oregon Hill resident Charles Poole: Bleak Hill was a house that sat on Belvidere near Idlewood. The daughter of Samuel P. Parsons, Elizabeth Ann, married John Alsop Pilcher in 1836 and lived at Bleak Hill. What makes this article interesting is that Va. didn’t secede from the Union until April 17, 1861, so apparently the Oregon Hill boys were supporters of staying in the Union, while the former Quaker, Mrs. Pilcher, supported seceding from the Union.