Civil War - Modern Times
Educational sign:
As shown by the above sketch, Union General George McClellan and 80,000-100,000 Union troops camped at Harrison's Landing, near the Rice Rivers Center property, for six weeks. The encampment created significant disturbances in the environment, such as the widespread cutting and burning of trees to create fortifications, which are still visible today.
For 40 years, there was a YMCA Summer Camp where the Rice Rivers Center now stands. Originally "Camp Richmond", the camp was renamed to "Camp Weyanoke" when Native American artifacts were discovered on the property.
Today, the Center’s research is used locally, regionally, and nationally to protect endangered species, conserve economically important living resources, develop more effective environmental management tools, and to provide the objective, scientific basis for policies that ensure clean air and water for the Commonwealth. The reach of the Rice Rivers Center goes far beyond the James. We encourage objective, relevant and timely information on river structure and function, as well as responses to natural and man-made stressors. Work done at the research facility will provide the world with sound science and good practices for today, as well as for generations to come.
Timeline Dates:
- McClellan Encampment- July-August 1862
- King Fulton/Powell Family- 1928-1935
- YMCA Camp Weyanoke- 1935-1977
- Walter and Inger Rice- 1977-2000
- Donation to VCU- 2000
Amelia Johnson's Gold Award report:
One of the most significantly documented historical uses of the Rice land occurred during the Civil War, when in July of 1862 Union General George McClellan retreated and camped 80,000-100,000 troops for six weeks at Harrison’s Landing, in the vicinity of the Rice Center’s modern location30. The troops constructed fortifications from the surrounding earth and lumber on Rice Center property, which can be viewed in an 1863 Confederate map31. Early on in the encampment, President Abraham Lincoln visited McClellan to encourage him to return his troops to the war; however, the group would not leave Harrison’s Landing until August32. The six-week encampment of both men and horses resulted in widespread trampling of vegetation, the clearing and burning of trees to build infrastructure and fortifications, and extensive soil disturbance. The fortifications at Harrison’s Landing were depicted in a war correspondent sketch published in Harper’s Weekly, which provides an image from across Kimages Creek. The sketch and its accompanying caption indicated the environmental impacts of the encampment: “Kimages Creek forms the defense of the extreme left, and is as impassible as the creek on our right. It is a savage-looking hollow, filled with felled and burned trees, dense with shrubbery, marsh and water33.” The fortification remains visible today.
The other major part of the modern Rice tract — on the east side of Kimages Creek— originated as part of Berkeley Hundred, an 8000 acre Virginia colony34. Its history is much briefer. In 1692, Berkeley Hundred was bought by Benjamin Harrison III and a portion later renamed Berkeley Plantation. This property belonged to the Harrison family for several generations, through Benjamin Harrison VII, until its sale in 1842 to Powhatan Starke. The land changed hands again after the Civil War, to Joseph Crenshaw in 1862, and then to Henry Knox twenty years later. In 1907 Knox sold the Plantation to John Jamison, whose family still owns it today. The portion of the Berkeley land that is now the Rice center had remained a part of the Plantation, but around 1927 when the late John Jamison’s son Malcolm inherited it, some portions were sold. Another Jamison, Frank, sold the eastern Rice tract to King Fulton35, and perhaps an additional tract west of Kimages Creek that was purchased by Fulton in 1928. The sale of the western tract is where the ownership trail of the Westbury property, which included Samuel Tyler and ended with William A. and William M. Harrison in the 1850s, picks back up. Fulton hoped to create a hunting and fishing club36.
During this time, Kimages Creek was dammed to create Charles Lake. The club was unsuccessful and was quickly sold to the Powell Family. In 1935, the YMCA bought the parcel in order to make a summer camp called Camp Richmond, and would retain the property for 50 years. Various lodges and a pool were constructed, which also led to the discovery of prehistoric artifacts on site. As a result, the camp was renamed Camp Weyanoke as a tribute to the original Native American inhabitants of the land. In 1977, Ambassador Walter Rice purchased the property from the YMCA, and he along with his wife Inger Rice donated it to VCU in 2000. The summer camp’s lodges and pool were dismantled, and the VCU Rice Rivers Center now has new developments such as research buildings and a research pier37.
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30 Monroe, 12 and Egghart, 140.
31 J.F. Gilmer, Map of New Kent, Charles City, James City and York counties, Confederate Engineering Bureau, 1863, Map, https://www.loc.gov/item/gvhs01.vhs00367/.
32 Monroe, 15.
33 Egghart, 140-142.
34 William Tucker, Land Grant 9 February 1636., Library of Virginia, 1636.
35 Personal communication with Tammy Radcliff and Malcolm E. Jamison of Berkeley Plantation
36 Monroe, 15.
37 Monroe, 15.