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.

Some miscellaneous items from The Daily Dispatch: March 27, 1861:

A Flag of the Southern Confederacy was raised in Sidney, on Saturday evening, on the lot of Mrs. J. A. Pilcher. Shortly after, a lot of Union boys, from Oregon Hill, visited the premises, and demanded that it be taken down. The request was complied with at the time, but the emblem of Southern independence was run up again early Mondaymorning, and is waving yet.
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The alarm of fire, yesterday, about 2 o’clock, was caused by the burning of a wooden shed within the Tredegar foundry enclosure.
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The Engineer in charge of the City Railway is making the drawing necessary to set the work in motion. We understand that the iron which will constitute the track, as well as the parties who are engaged to put it down, came from the North. We should think there were enough men of sufficient capacity unemployed in this city to have done the work in a satisfactory manner.

From The Daily Dispatch: February 19, 1861:

–Two new volunteer companies have been formed recently on the western suburbs of the city. One of the companies (the Oregon Hill and Sidney Home Guard,) numbers seventy-five active members. Charles Y. Morriss, Esq., is Captain, and Edward McConnell — a graduate of the Lexington Military Institute–is 1st Sergeant. It has adopted grey jackets and caps as part of its uniform. The other company, which is equally strong in numbers, has not yet been named. Its commander is Lawson H. Dance, Esq., formerly, we believe, commandant of the Henrico Dragoons. John Crosby is 1st Sergeant. No uniform has been yet adopted by the company, so far as we have heard. The officers of both have been commissioned. The people residing in the western portion of the city propose to raise a battalion of uniformed men, and they certainly can do it if they set to work under the leadership of capable officers.