Restored Government of Virginia (Historical Marker)

Here follows the inscription written on this roadside historical marker:

Restored Government of Virginia
After Virginia seceded in the spring of 1861, Unionists met in Wheeling and organized a state government loyal to the U.S. under Gov. Francis H. Pierpont. The Restored Government, which sent representatives to the U.S. Congress and raised federal troops, moved to Alexandria in Aug. 1863. Pierpont was based at the City Hotel (Gadsby's Tavern) before moving to 415 Prince St. The General Assembly, representing Northern Virginia, the Eastern Shore, and Hampton Roads, met at City Hall. Members authorized a convention that adopted Virginia's Constitution of 1864, which abolished slavery and secured other reforms. The government moved to Richmond in May 1865; its constitution was in effect in 1869.

Erected 2021 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number E-156.)


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Here follows an excerpt from the Fall 2006 edition of the "Franconia Legacies" newsletter published by the Franconia Museum:

Governor Pierpont and Colonel Mosby
written by Don Hakenson

During the War Between the States Gadsby’s Tavern was known as the City Hotel. It was the City Hotel where the Lincoln appointed Union Governor Francis H. Pierpont made his quarters as the leader of the “Restored Government” of Virginia. Naming Pierpont the Governor of Virginia when Virginia had already seceded from the Union made many southerners steaming mad.

Guerilla Chieftain John S. Mosby called Pierpont the bogus governor and twice tried unsuccessfully to catch him. Mosby failed in his first attempt because Pierpont was called to Washington City by Lincoln, so he instead captured Pierpont’s aid Colonel Daniel F. Dulany while he was residing at the Rose Hill plantation on Franconia Road on September 28, 1863. This was the raid where Ranger D. French Dulany helped Mosby capture his own father.

On his next attempt, Mosby failed again when he and approximately forty men made it as far as four miles outside of the city of Alexandria on the Telegraph Road on June 9, 1864. Unfortunately for Mosby, and fortunately for Pierpont a Yankee sympathizer discovered Mosby and his men camping in the woods, and notified the authorities in Alexandria that Mosby was in the area. Mosby found out about this, aborted his plan and went back to Fauquier County.

Governor Pierpont was not exactly ignorant of Mosby’s desires. Pierpont realized that he was a target when he received a most unusual correspondence while staying at the City Hotel. The message read, “You did not see the farmer who rode by your hotel on a hay wagon yesterday, did you Governor? My driver pointed out your window, and I marked it plain. It’s just over the bay, and I’ll get you some night, mighty easy.”

This bravado was signed by none other than the Gray Ghost himself. The famous partisan leader had already captured Brigadier General Edwin Stoughton, in Fairfax City without a single shot being fired in the early morning hours of March 9, 1863. Mosby must have wanted Pierpont very badly to plan two such raids. It must have been one of Mosby’s biggest regrets during the war in not snaring the pretend Governor of Virginia. Pierpont only laughed at the insolence of Mosby’s message, as he laughed at all the threats that came his way.

Francis H. Pierpont was born in Monongahela County, Virginia on January 25, 1814. After graduating from Alleghany (Pennsylvania) College in 1838, he taught in Mississippi, studied law, and finally came back to his birth state to practice at Fairmont, Marion County, Virginia. After his term of office as governor of Virginia expired in 1868 he returned to Fairmont (now West Virginia). In 1870 he was elected a member of the West Virginia Legislature, and later served as Federal Internal Revenue Collector. Although Pierpont is considered the “Father of West Virginia,” he never served as governor of the State.