FREDERICKSBURG

fredericksburg, a city of spottsylvania county, virginia, u.s.a., on the rappahannock river, at the head of tide-water navigation, about 60 m. n. of richmond and about 55 m. s.s.w. of washington. pop. (1890) 4528; (1900) 5068 (1621 negroes); (1910) 5874. it is served by the potomac, fredericksburg & piedmont, and the richmond, fredericksburg & potomac railways, and by several coasting steamship lines. the city is built on a series of terraces between the river and hills of considerable height. the river is here spanned by iron bridges, and just above the city is a dam 900 ft. long and 18 ft. high. by means of this dam and a canal good water-power is furnished, and the city's manufactures include flour, leather, shoes, woollens, silks, wagons, agricultural implements and excelsior (fine wood-shavings for packing or stuffing). the water-works, gas and electric-lighting plants are owned and operated by the municipality. at fredericksburg are fredericksburg college (founded in 1893; co-educational), which includes the kenmore school for girls and the saunders memorial school for boys (both preparatory); a confederate and a national cemetery (the latter on marye's heights), a monument (erected in 1906) to general hugh mercer (c. 1720-1777), whose home for several years was here and who fell in the battle of princeton; and a monument to the memory of washington's mother, who died here in 1789 and whose home is still standing. other buildings of interest are the old rising sun hotel, a popular resort during washington's time, and "kenmore," the home of colonel fielding lewis, who married a sister of washington. the city was named in honour of frederick, father of george