From The Daily Dispatch: May 9, 1864:

Accidentally shot.

–A gentleman from Oregon Hill, while assembling for militia drill Friday afternoon, accidentally lost his hold upon the musket which he was carrying, when it fell with the butt to the ground, the force of which discharged its contents, inflicting a serious wound in his arm. For the time being he is disqualified for service.

From the Daily Dispatch, May 4, 1861:

Died.
Yesterday afternoon, Leathy, infant child of Baylor S. and Leathy Martin, aged 2 years9 months and 12 days.

That once loved form, now cold and dead,
Each mournful thought employs;
We weep our earthly comforts fled,
And withered all our joys.
Hope looks beyond the bounds of time,
When what we now deplore
Shall rise in full immortal prime,
And bloom to fade no more.

The funeral will take place from the residence of her father, on Oregon Hill, this (Saturday) afternoon, at 4 o’clock. The friends of the family are invited to attend.

Editor’s Note: Baylor Martin was one of the founders of the Pine St. Baptist Church and lived at 401 S. Pine

Times Dispatch runs a video feature that has Gregg D. Kimball, with the Library of Virginia, describing Tredegar Iron Works during the Civil War.

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.