NP: June 21, 1864 Petersburg Daily Express: Local Matters, June 20-21, 1864

LOCAL MATTERS.

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DEATH OF DR. BELLINGHAM.—Dr. Wm. Bellingham, a prominent dentist of Petersburg, died at the residence of Mr. Daniel Perkinson, on Bank street, yesterday afternoon [June 20, 1864] about 1 o’clock. Dr. B. participated actively with the militia [Archer’s 3rd Virginia Reserves Battalion] in their fight with Kautz’s cavalry on Thursday, the 9th instant [June 9, 1864]¹, when that officer attempted to surprise and capture the city. On that occasion, which will be ever memorable in the annals of Petersburg, he received a dangerous wound in the back, which has at last resulted fatally. Dr. B. was the thirteenth victim, among our citizens, of this raid. He was a man of fine education, and stood high in his profession. He was always gentle in his bearing, polite and attentive to all whom he met, and during his residence here drew around him many warm friends.

His funeral will take place at Grace Church, High street, this morning at 9 ½ o’clock.

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PILLAGING HOUSES.—We understand that several houses in the Eastern portion of the city [of Petersburg] which have been recently vacated temporarily by their owners, have been forced open by robbers and partially pillaged. The property thus left behind remains at the mercy of thieves who make bold even in these trying and stirring times to practice their evil profession. However well houses may be secured, if no one remains to guard them they are unsafe. It would be the best policy, therefore, if possible, for the owners to remove all their provisions and valuable plate with them, and leave as little as they can to tempt the taste of the rogue.

Until a strong guard can be placed along our streets, this pillaging, will, we fear, continue.

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THE TWELFTH VIRGINIA REGIMENT—Mr. Nat. C. Harrison, the “soldier’s friend,”² will leave to-day at 12 o’clock [June 21, 1864], for the camp of the Twelfth Virginia Regiment. Persons who can furnish vegetables, such as onions, greens, or anything of the kind, would confer a great favor on our gallant boys now in camp, if they will send them before mid-day, to Pearman’s store, on Sycamore street. We would mention in this connection, that the Twelfth [Virginia] yesterday [June 20, 1864], unanimously directed their Commissary to turn over two days’ rations to the poor of Petersburg. Can our people ever repay these noble patriots for what they have done, and are still doing for their country?

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FREDERICKSBURG AND PETERSBURG.—At the bombardment of Fredericksburg, one hundred and seventy three Yankee cannon rained solid shot and shell, for ten hours upon the city. The guns were placed in position on the bluff around the city, and bore down immediately on the houses.—During the ten hours’ cannonading, upwards of fifteen thousand shot and shell were thrown into the devoted town, and yet, strange to say, only one person—a negro woman—of all who remained, was killed.

May the fair city of Petersburg stand ever, as she now rests, untouched and unhurt.³,⁴

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