Richmond Howitzers – Encyclopedia Virginia
Unidentified Member of the Richmond HowitzersThe Richmond Howitzer Company of the 1st Regiment of Volunteers was founded on November 9, 1859, by George Wythe Randolph, a grandson of Thomas Jefferson, a U.S. Navy veteran, and a Richmond lawyer. After electing Randolph its first captain, the company, which was recruited from elite Richmond circles, marched to Charles Town, Virginia (now West Virginia), to help provide security during Brown’s trial and subsequent execution. Curious out-of-towners had flooded into Jefferson County, taxing the authorities’ ability to keep order. In addition,...