1BRARY OF CONGRESS ODOD 4* V ^ : .^.* /% \1||V 4* V \ f?# /% • fc ' * « "^ o ° " • « X> Ay • ^ ' • ♦ "^a o ° " * • <. '?•«• .«&* V --TV?' .4 <» -?..• .6* >. v« ^ -o-«. «^ -!>*.*••. ^ '•••* *° ^6* W £ v . V . * *bv* ^MS*"- **o« r^^VX: *bv* )PVN '•• «K jP^ : MX- ^ oV V ^ . * : ******+ °*y^w< : arrF& to tiyr ilFtttorg nf % Mary Ball Washington as the "Rose of Epping Forest" '®tfi nnly nnblr to be goon Kino Ijearta art more ttjan rnrnnrta Ann Htmnlp fatttj than Norman blnnn. — ®rnmjson. From Painting by Lowell The Home of Mary Ball Washington at Fredericksburg and Wakefield, the Birthplace of General Washington The Washington Ancestral Line THE Washingtons trace their ancestry through the family of Sulgrave manor, Northamptonshire, to John Washington, of Lancaster. After him the line is clear and authentic, before him mere conjecture. The name comes from de Wessynton or Wessynton without the de; then Wasshington and Washington as it appears as the name of a parish in county Durham in Eng- land at an early day. John Washington, of Warton, had a son, Lawrence, the grantee of Sulgrave, and this name, like the father's, had been handed down not infrequently before reaching Mount Vernon. On the tomb of this Lawrence in the church at Sulgrave is found engraved the family coat-of-arms ; and the three-spur rowels above the red bars on a field of white, which appeared as early as 1360 in the seal of William de Wessyngton, is said to have suggested the stars and stripes of our flag. Lawrence, meeting with reverses, was compelled to give up his manor house, and, in 1606, Lord Spencer, his good friend and neighbor, built him a home in the village of Little Brighton, where he spent the remainder of his life. "Washington House," as it has been known and pointed out to pilgrims for centuries, was later occupied by Law- rence's brother, Robert, and his family. Lawrence's widow, however, occupied it until 1636 when she went to live with her son, another Lawrence, who was rector of Purleigh, at Essex. This son, the Reverend Lawrence Washington, M.A., was married to Amphillis Rhodes, and John, the emigrant, and five other sons and daughters, were the result of this union. England, at this time, was in the throes of civil con- vulsions, and Charles II was in banishment; the Puritans of the eleven-year commonwealth were carrying govern- mental affairs with high hand, and affairs in general were in turmoil. The Washingtons were Royalists — committed 39 40 Washington Ancestral Line to the cause, not merely because of their holdings of the Rectory of Purleigh, but by the traditional devotion of generations to the crown. Consequently the father was deprived of his parish in 1643, and to escape from petty persecutions, his son, John, crossed to Virginia near the year 1658, and his brother, Lawrence, and a sister soon followed to this land of promise. So with John Washington, the emigrant, the history of the family in America begins, as does the connection of the Washingtons at Mount Vernon. He did not come direct to the upper tide-water of the Potomac, but settled in Westmoreland county, between the Rappahannock and the Potomac, which gave his name to the parish. His wife and two children died not long after his arrival in this wilderness, and he was then married to Mrs. Anne Pope Brodhurst, widow of Walter Brodhurst; and where Bridges creek meets the Potomac, seventy miles below the Capitol, he reared his humble dwelling at what was later known as Wakefield. Here their sons, Lawrence and Augustine, were born. Augustine was sent to England to be educated, and upon his return, he was married to Miss Jane Butler, daughter of Caleb Butler, of Westmoreland county ; and of the four children born of this union, but two, Lawrence and Augustine, survived childhood. The mother, Jane, passed from sight in 1728, and Augustine Washington then claimed Miss Mary Ball, daughter of Colonel Joseph Ball, as his bride ; and she was destined to have her name written upon the highest pinnacle of fame as the mother of the "Father of His Country." George was the first born of this union, and Samuel, John Augustine, Charles, Elizabeth, who became Mrs. Fielding Lewis, and Mildred, who died in childhood, were the other children. Not long after the birth of George, the parents moved up the river to the Hunting Creek lands, as the name of Augustine Washington appears as vestryman of Truro Par- ish, as early as 1735, but, as has already been stated, after their dwelling was burned, they removed to near Fredericks- burg, where Mr. Washington died when George was but eleven years of age, leaving the shaping of the destiny of this promising lad entirely to his strong-minded mother. Washington Ancestral Line 41 But the father to whom the boy was so greatly attached, had not failed to stamp upon him, both by example and precept, his noble principles, and some of these early im- pressions went with him through life. Mary, the Mother of Washington Mary Ball was descended from an old and highly re- spected family of English colonists, who settled on the banks of the Potomac, at the mouth of the Corotoman river in Lancaster County, Virginia, in 1650. William Ball, the emigrant, had two sons, William and Joseph ; and Mary Ball was the youngest daughter of William, who was a well-to-do planter. She was born on the banks of the Rappahannock in 1706; and here amidst these rural sur- roundings, with scant educational advantages, grew into a lovely young womanhood — so noted for her beauty and charm that she was known as the "Rose of Epping Forest," when she became the bride of Augustine Washington in 1730. Strong and noble in her quiet, unobtrusive simplicity, she has come down in history simply as the "Mother of Washington ;" for she refused to be swerved from her natural, everyday manner of living, by any honors that might be conferred upon her son. And when he rose to the highest pinnacle of fame, she quietly accepted it as a matter of course, "as he had always been a good boy." When this son started out in the world to try his for- tune alone, this reserved mother, with a heart overflowing with affection, beneath a calm and dignified exterior, sent him on his way with this blessing: "Remember, George, God only is our sure trust: to Him I commend you." When she was told of the surrender of Lord Cornwallis, she lifted her hands toward Heaven and exclaimed, "Thank God ! war will now be ended, and peace, independence, and happiness bless our country." She managed her farm down to old age and insisted upon living alone, though her daughter, Mrs. Betty Lewis, who resided near ever kept her palatial door open to her. When the war cloud of the Revolution began to hang threateningly about the colonies, Washington per- suaded her to move to Fredericksburg, where she continued 42 Washington Ancestral Line to reside to the close of her life. Here the Victor of York- town returned, to embrace his mother, after a separation of seven years. She was alone and employed about her domestic duties when he was announced. A warm embrace bade him welcome. She inquired as to his health, noted the furrows of care that had been added to his brow, since last they met, spoke of friends of former days, but never a word of his glory. Fredericksburg hastened to pay homage to the Con- queror of Lord Cornwallis in the form of a citizens' ball, and Mrs. Washington did attend that in her usual equa- namity. The foreign officers had been very anxious to see the mother of their Chieftain of whom they had heard so much; and with their European standards of glitter and show as criterions of greatness, their surprise was complete when a matron of queenly dignity, gowned in the very plain style of the old-time Virginia lady, entered upon the arm of the distinguished hero ; accepted the highest attentions without the slightest evidence of elevation, and at an early hour bade the company goodnight saying: "It is time for old folks to be in bed," and left upon her son's arm. The officers were amazed that she should thus deport herself under such a blaze of glory as shone about her son. It was unheard of in the Old World, and one was heard to remark, "If such are the matrons of America, well may she boast of her illustrious sons." When Lafayette was on the eve of his departure for Europe in 1784, he went to Fredericksburg to pay his respects to Mrs. Washington. As he approached the house, her grandson, who was acting as his escort, said, "That is my grandmother, sir." The distinguished Frenchman's eye fell upon her at work in her garden, clad in domestic- made garments with a plain straw hat upon her head. She greeted him cordially with, "Ah! Marquis, you see an old woman, but come, I can make you welcome to my poor dwelling without the parade of changing my dress." Much as the Marquis had already heard, he was struck with admiring wonder. Her advanced age, and the unprecedented glory that encircled her son had wrought no change in her quiet simplicity; and when he eulogized that son, and con- Washington Ancestral Line 43 gratulated her, she calmly replied, "I am not surprised at what George has done, he was always a very good boy." She had an innate fear of lightning, which had its origin in a tragic incident of her youth and which followed her through life. A young friend was killed at her side, and the knife and fork that she held in her hand were melted by the flash, and the impression of that moment ever returned with its terror at the approach of an elec- tric storm. In 1789 when General Washington was leaving for New York to assume his presidential duties, he went to Fred- ericksburg to tell his mother goodbye. She was then in feeble health from the malady that carried her away; and when he spoke of hastening back to Virginia when the outset of the new government could be disposed of, she interrupted him by assuring him that he would see her no more; that age and disease were already preying upon her vitals and that she could not be long for this world now. But she said, "I trust God that I may be somewhat pre- pared for a better. Go, George, fulfill the high destinies which Heaven appears to have intended you for ; go, my son, and may that Heaven and a mother's blessing be with you always." This was too much for the strong man. Forgetful of the recent laurels and diadem, his head dropped to her shoulder and he wept, while her feeble arms encircled his neck, and fond memories were revived. This was truly the last meeting. She sank to rest on August 25, 1789, at the age of eighty-three, just a few months later, and he was unable to be present at the funeral. They laid her down to sleep at Fredericksburg. Long years after, a public monument was reared in grateful remembrance above her tomb. It bears the simple inscrip- tion: "Mary, the Mother of Washington." Augustine Washington died April 11, 1743. Lawrence Washington Lawrence Washington, the builder of Mount Vernon, was born of the first union, the elder half-brother of George. 44 Washington Ancestral Line He was but twenty-two years of age when he came into possession of this estate, and he seemed to have no idea of settling down to the life of a planter. So when the call came from the Motherland for troops from the Colonies for the reinforcement of General Wentworth and Admiral Vernon, who were engaged in the discipline of the Spaniards in the West Indies, he enlisted under the commission of captain, and departed with the Colonial troops, and fought at Carthagena. He survived the bullets and the fever scourge, and returned home in 1742. Military life now had a fascination for him, and he had no thought of abandoning the sword. But the charms of a fair daughter of Belvoir, a neighboring estate, held the balance of power, and the following year he and Anne Fairfax were wed. She was the daughter of William Fairfax, and thus he was united to one of the most influential families of Virginia, as she was a cousin of Lord Thomas Fairfax, and her half-brother, Bryan, inherited his title. And Lawrence developed into one of the prominent men of the colony within the next ten years. He was appointed adjutant of the military dis- trict with the rank of major, and was repeatedly a member of the House of Burgesses. However, failing health caused him to sail for the West Indies, accompanied by his brother, George, who suffered from the smallpox while there, and returned sooner than Lawrence. But no benefit being derived from this change of climate, he returned home to die; and in 1752 he was laid away at Mount Vernon, by the side of his four little ones who preceded him to the other side. Dying without heirs, this younger brother, to whom he was so greatly attached, fell heir to the estate. Here all the family lie, and while the name of Law- rence Washington has been so overshadowed by the renown of his younger brother, it will ever stand out in bas relief as the builder of this historic mansion, and the bestowing of its present beautiful name. Washington Ancestral Line 45 Other Washingtons Fall Heir At the death of General George Washington, his nephew, Bushrod Washington, by the terms of his will, came into possession of the old mansion with four thousand acres. He was the second child of John Augustine Wash- ington, the younger brother of George, and he occupied the estate for twenty-seven years, but the only evidence of his handiwork which survives is the porch outside the library windows. He was graduated from William and Mary's College, served as a private at Yorktown, and was a very successful lawyer; was at one time associate justice of the supreme court. He died on November 20, 1829, while attending court at Philadelphia, and his wife, Anne Black- burn Washington, only survived him by a few days. They had no issue, and both rest at Mount Vernon. Bushrod Washington in turn left the mansion, with 1,225 acres to his nephew, John Augustine Washington, the third child of Corbin Washington ; and he, foreseeing that it would be impossible for any member of the family to maintain the place and respond to its demands which meant utter ruin, wisely provided for its sale to the government. To wring a living from its worn acres and meet the tide of visitors with the open-handed hospitality that had set it apart in former days was impossible; for in addition to the tourists from all parts of the world, everyone in public life at Washington City, felt free to come and to ask atten- tion for friends and constituents, who were sent with letters of introduction, which not only bespoke the privilege of the home but entertainment as well. John Augustine Washington, born in 1792, was mar- ried to Miss Jane Charlotte Blackburn, daughter of Major Richard Scott Blackburn, of the United States Army, in 1814; and they lived in Jefferson county before succeeding to this inheritance. They had five children, two of whom died in infancy. The head of the household died in 1832, leaving the estate to his wife with the privilege of dis- tributing it among the children as she wished. She deeded the mansion to her eldest son, John Augustine Washing- ton, and later confirmed it by her will. She remained here 46 Washington Ancestral Line until 1843. In February of that year, he was married to Eleanor Love Selden, of Virginia, and this John Augustine was the last Washington to own Mount Vernon. He and his wife had seven children ; viz, Louisa Fontaine, Jane Charlotte, Eliza Selden, Anne Maria, Lawrence, Eleanor Love, and George, all of whom were born at Mount Vernon, except Eliza, and they were the last children born here. It will be noted that the acreage grew less about the mansion as it was transferred from time to time, but this has only to deal with the mansion and including grounds. As had been foreseen, the estate was falling into decay, as private ownership could no longer hold sway. Both Virginia and the National government had declined to pur- chase it, and the question of how to preserve this shrine, which meant so much to the nation and to the world became a grave one. But the hand of Fate seemed to intervene at a most opportune moment. The Mount Vernon Association IT WAS the custom for steamboats plying the Potomac to toll the bells in passing Mount Vernon. The custom is said to have originated on August 24, 1814, when Commodore Gordon, commander of the English fleet, in passing ordered the bell of his flagship the "Seahorse" tolled ; and thus every passenger was reminded of the sig- nificance of the place. One day a steamship chanced to carry a passenger from South Carolina in the person of Mrs. Robert Cunning- ham, who was born at Alexandria, six years before the death of Washington, and whose father and grandfather had been associated with him as vestrymen of the old Christ's Church. She was on her way to Philadelphia to place her invalid daughter under medical care, and the tones of the tolling bell made a deep impression on her patriotic heart. She awoke to the realization that something must be done or this sacred place would be lost; and she men- tioned the matter to her daughter, saying that the other plans for preservation had failed, and that it was left to the women of America to come to the rescue. Washington Ancestral Line 47 Immediately this suggestion took root in the daughter's heart, and from her invalid's chair through difficulties un- told, and even under ridicule at times, she carried the resolve of that moment to success, after years of persistent effort. She made her appeal under the nom de plume of a "Southern Maiden," as women at that time were supposed to be seen and not heard. Women brave and true all over the country heeded the call and rallied in behalf of this sacred shrine. Contribu- tions came in from every quarter, but difficulties unfore- seen arose from time to time; and in March, 1856, Miss Cunningham traveled in her invalid's chair, in great pain, to Richmond that she might intercede for the cause ; and she enlisted the aid of Edward Everett Hale, who had gone there to deliver his renowned eulogy on Washington, and he generously turned the proceeds of this lecture over to the fund, and subsequently contributed the sum of $69,964 besides being a champion for the cause in other ways. At last on March 19, 1858, both houses of the Virginia legislature passed an act incorporating the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association. But it now developed that Mr. Wash- ington had refused to sell the estate to this corporation — that he would sell to the state only, and the efforts of all these toilsome years seemed lost. But with a woman's indomi- table courage, Miss Cunningham resolved to confront Mr. Washington in person, and she set out in her chair, making the trip from Charleston to Baltimore by boat. She was kindly received, but the owner refused to change his posi- tion, which seemed to be based on sentiment, and she was taken back to the boat-landing. But an unseen hand seemed to be guiding, and after waiting some length of time in a skiff for the boat, she was compelled to return to the man- sion for the night. During the evening, she learned the real secret of the opposition to be that this movement was designed to reflect on him, and to her joy she was able to remove this false impression and carry the day. Owing to the many disappointments and delays, ardor had by this time died away, but her courage was equal to the emer- gency, and she set about with new zeal and devotion to revive it; and on April 6, 1858, the contract through which 48 Washington Ancestral Line this association became the owners was signed. By this time Miss Cunningham was so helpless that the pen had to be placed in her hand and she had to be lifted up and supported while signing the document. Thus the struggle of five weary years was crowned with victory. This shrine had been saved to the nation by the efforts of patriotic women, and she was content. Two hundred thousand dollars was the price paid, but it must now be restored to precisely what it was in Wash- ington's day, so that when other seats of great men have yielded to the mandates of modern change and fashion this will remain what it was when ennobled by the presence of the founder of liberty. So funds were raised to restore it ; out-buildings were replaced ; a sea-wall was built, and beautifying touches were everywhere added. Then the scat- tered relics of former days must be collected, so as to restore its identity, and this was no slight task or expense. And how marvelously this has been accomplished the visitor of today can testify. True the library and many other things are wanting, but nothing has been accepted that did not relate to Washington and Mount Vernon. Miss Ann Pamelia Cunningham has an enduring monu- ment in this patriotic association. She remained as regent of it until one year before her death, which occurred at her home at Laurens, South Carolina, on June 1, 1875. Her parting admonition to the association as she lay her armor down is worthy of preservation here : "Ladies, the home of Washington is in your charge; see to it that you keep it the home of Washington. Let no irreverent hand change it; no vandal hand desecrate it with fingers of progress. Those who go to the home where he lived and died wish to see in what he lived and died. Let one spot in this grand country of ours be saved from change ! Upon you rests this duty." And the multi- plied thousands who annually pay tribute at this shrine are witnesses to the sacredness with which this admonition has been obeyed. Nellie Custis and Woodlawn THE last anniversary of the birth of the "Father of His Country" will ever stand out in history for its double significance: for it was the wedding day of his beloved ward, Eleanor Parke Custis, and never before had historic old Mount Vernon been brighter or gayer. From the time the fair, little three-year-old became a member of this household, at the death of her father, she had not only been the pet and idol of this home, but of the great of this and other lands, who came under this distin- guished roof. Now in the full blush and promise of her young womanhood, so charming in her bridal-robe and orange blossoms, it is small wonder that "she was the center of all eyes ; the theme of all praise ;" for no other girlish figure in the annals of America has ever held such sway over the hearts of her countrymen, as did the beau- tiful, vivacious Nellie Custis, who retained this sway down to a ripe and graceful old age. She was a child of nature and delighted in all things beautiful. It is told of her that her romantic nature and her love for wandering alone in the forest by moonlight, occasioned her grandmother anxiety for her safety, and she exacted the promise that Nellie would not visit the woods alone again. However, one evening she was reprimanded for this offense by Mrs. Washington, and reminded of the broken promise. She acknowledged her failure and offered its attendant ex- cuse, and was just closing the door in retirement from the room, when General Washington said, "My dear, I would say no more, perhaps, she was not alone." The little lassie could not accept such a challenge of her truthfulness, and reopening the door, she walked up to the General and said, "Sir, you brought me up to speak the truth, and when I told Grandmamma I was alone, I hope you will believe I was alone." This was too much for the General. He made one of his most magnanimous bows, and said, "My child, I beg your pardon !" 51 52 Nellie Custis and Woodlawn Her loving, childish influence over the heart of the great man, who seemed so unapproachable, was marked. Her sweet smile and little confidences whispered in his ear, while she held affectionately to the button of his coat, brought her heart's desire in pretty gowns and the innumer- able other things that she wished. How charmingly her early pathway was arched with sunshine and roses, but the afternoon and eventide of life were deeply touched by sorrow and care. One writer says, "She was as witty as she was beau- tiful ;" and a famous portrait shows her sweet, girlish face framed in dark curls, while her long hair is gathered care- lessly at the top of her head with a cluster of white flowers, and this portrait, which sets forth the simplicity of her youthful charm on another page, certainly verifies all that has been written of her rare beauty. Naturally gifted, highly educated, and brought up under the refining influ- ences of the first home of the land, with the additional ad- vantages of several years in the Presidential mansions at New York and Philadelphia, she was well-fitted for the life that awaited her. February 22, 1799, the anniversary of her guardian and ideal hero, was set apart as the nuptial day. Great prepara- tions had been made for the event. Deft fingers, with flowers and evergreen, had transformed the interior of this stately old mansion into a veritable bower. Picturesque Colonial costumes in "rich fabric and richer colors," with jeweled buckles, brooches, powder and ruffles, so incident to the period ; stately men, and willowy, girlish figures flit- ting about in the minuet and Virginia reel, under the waxen tapers, all contributed to the brilliant scene in this great drawing-room, which was destined to be hushed and still, ten months later, for the nuptial altar was to have in its stead the bier of the great Chief, who tonight had given the fair bride away with such courtly dignity. The Dandridges, Custises, Calverts, Lees, Lewises, Cor- bins, Bushrods, Blackburns, Masons, Carrolls and many of the other elite of the day witnessed the ceremony ; and the silent portraits of the great upon the walls looked down in striking contrast with the gay throng before them; Nellie Custis and Woodlawn 53 for they tell us Mount Vernon had never before witnessed such a scene. Lawrence Lewis, the sixth child of Colonel Fielding and Betty Washington Lewis, who had won the rank of major in the Revolution, was the fortunate bridegroom. He was the favorite nephew of General Washington, and the one of the many suitors for Nellie's hand that he would have selected for the principal on this occasion, and this was a gratifying moment to him. When his social duties had become too great, and he longed for quiet he had asked this nephew to come and stay with him so as to relieve him of this and other cares. And it was in the mansion, in the gardens, along the walks, in the quiet of shady nooks, that "Love's old sweet story was told," and this was the happy culmination of the romance of these two favorites of the great General. Here, in the old mansion house, which had become so dear to Nellie by association, her first two daughters were born ; and it is said that it was a great disappointment to her and her husband, and to Mrs. Washington, when they found it had been transferred to Bushrod Washington, by the General's will, as they loved it so, and wished to remain here. Tradition says that the future master of Mount Vernon was coldly received when he came to attend his uncle's funeral, as Lawrence and Nellie cancelled their cus- tomary hospitality and he had to ask a slave to prepare his dinner. Woodlawn Built General Washington left two thousand acres to Major Lewis and Nellie, as their part of the Mount Vernon estate, beside other lands and cash sufficient to erect a home in accord with their ideas, and maintain their high social stand- ing; and Mrs. Washington added to this a fitting dower out of the abundance of her resources, so their new home was established under auspicious circumstances. It took its name, "Woodlawn," from the childhood home of Major Lewis in Culpeper County, Virginia, and was built in 1805 on Grey Heights, overlooking the river and Dogue bay, three miles inland from Mount Vernon ; 54 Nellie Custis and Woodlawn and was the stateliest Colonial manor-house of the Upper Potomac. The main building is sixty by forty feet, with spacious halls and apartments, and ample wings united by corridors to the main portion ; and with its ideal settings of oaks, pines, and a park in the rear, it at once claims the admi- ration of the stranger, who knows nothing of its place in American history: for it is second only to Mount Vernon and Arlington, and should be a National shrine instead of the property of private individuals. It was bombarded by the British in 1812, but was not seriously injured, and it is said to be noted for its secret chambers which almost defy detection. Woodlawn was known far and wide for its hospitality. It opened its doors to the great of every land, who came to pay homage to the "Daughter of Mount Vernon." Among these notables was General Lafayette, who years before had oftentimes caressed her as a child, with paternal fondness, in her sweet, laughing moods in the home of his old Com- mander. She possessed an innate kindness and sympathy, which endeared her to all, alike, and the toilers on the plantation always found in her a helper. She was an advocate of the Episcopal Church faith, and carried her religion into her daily life; and it was her custom to have all the domestics of her home attend family prayers both morning and evening. She was a favorite wherever she went; the life of any company; and she retained much of her youthful vivacity, and traces of beauty as long as she lived. "She lived to be admired, and died to be regretted." One writer observes : "When that fair, smooth brow of the great artist's picture had been imprinted with the lines of three-score years, and those clustering curls had changed their brown to threads of snow, how she must have seemed like some saintly messenger to those who eagerly listened to her as she brought from memory's far-away shore the historic scenes, which had passed before those sparkling eyes in the hey-day of her youthful life." Major Lewis spent his last hours at Arlington on November 20, 1839, and after he had been laid away at Mount Vernon, she removed to Audley, an estate of near Nellie Custis and Woodlawn 55 sixteen hundred acres, which belonged to him in Clarke County, Virginia. Here she passed from earth on July 15, 1852, at the age of seventy-four: for she was born at Abing- don, between Washington and Alexandria, in March, 1778, during the American Revolution. "And one bright summer day, a lonely hearse followed by a single carriage, was seen wending its way along the Virginia highway from the Shenandoah to the Potomac." This hearse contained all that was mortal of Nellie Custis, who was being borne back to Mount Vernon to be laid at rest among the beloved scenes of her eventful youth. It was late at night when it arrived at its destination, and the casket was placed in the great drawing-room, where she had been crowned "as the fairest of the land" with her bridal-wreath, fifty years before. Many of the citizens of Washington and the surrounding country came to pay tribute as she lay in state, and to witness the "last sad rites" in one of her favorite childish nooks. She sleeps near her kind guardians — just outside the tomb and a marble monument, bearing the following inscription, marks her grave : "Sacred to the memory of Eleanor Park Custis, granddaughter of Mrs. Washington, and adopted daughter of General Washington." Another handsome monument in the same enclosure marks the grave of her daughter, Eleanor Angela Conrad. Her husband also sleeps here in the vault. The birds were singing as gayly about her quiet resting- place on the occasion of our recent visit, as they must have sung in the olden days when she listened with such rapturous delight. She had four children. Agnes, the eldest, died while in school at Philadelphia; Frances Parke, who became the wife of General E. G. W. Butler, spent her last hours at Pass Christian, Mississippi, some years ago ; Eleanor An- gela, who married the Honorable C. M. Conrad, died in New Orleans many years ago, and Lorenzo was the son. He fell heir to Woodlawn. In 1827, he claimed Miss Esther Maria Coxe, of Philadelphia, as his bride, and their family consisted of six children, all of whom have long since joined them on the other side. R. J. C. Lewis, of 56 Nellie Custis and Woodlawn Berryville, Virginia, being- the last to go. For some years they resided at the mansion; but he died in 1847, and she survived him by many years. But as early as 1845, the entire estate presented a forlorn and forsaken appearance, with the neglect of years everywhere in evidence. Not a white man lived upon it, and only a few old slaves remained in rickety cabins, and they did not subsist upon the products from the soil. Only here and there a patch of ground showed cultivation. No grass had been sown, no hay harvested, and the fields were overgrown with brambles, sedge, sassafras, and cedars, and the fences had tumbled to decay. The taxes were about thirty dollars a year, when the buildings alone cost near one hundred thousand dollars, forty years before. At this crucial moment, the New Jersey Colony pur- chased the estate for twelve dollars and fifty cents the acre, and divided and sub-divided it into small farms for improve- ment. It was a melancholy change that greeted the eye of the pilgrim to this shrine, which had been so magnificent under the touch of the original, gracious mistress. There was talk in later years of the Sons and Daugh- ters of the American Revolution coming to its rescue; but in 1901/ two young men from New York City in the persons of Paul Kester, the playwright, and his brother, Vaughn, the novelist, visited it, and they were so much impressed with this "grandeur in decay" that they purchased it the following year and restored it to its former beauty and culture. It again threw its doors open to noted personages in the literary and theatrical world; and among these visitors was Julia Marlowe, who spent her off-stage hours here during her engagement at Washington; and her little dog "Taffy" was a guest of honor at Woodlawn for several weeks during the winter of 1902. After a few years, the Kesters sold it to Miss Sharpe, of Philadelphia, and while it retains its old-time beauty, it wears the air of utter loneliness and seclusion, as it is in the hands of care-takers the greater part of the time, and the "no trespass" sign by the roadside, doubtless, pre- cludes the pleasure of a visit for many a tourist. But the name of Nellie Custis will ever hang a mantle of sacredness Nellie Custis and Woodlawn 57 about it despite its ownership; and the pilgrim will pause and view it from a distance, though he may be forbidden to enter its portals. Camp Humphreys, which has now been made a permanent camp, is almost beneath its shadow. Abingdon — The Birthplace of Nellie Custis THOUGH the name of Nellie Custis is so closely en- twined about Mount Vernon and Woodlawn, there is still another place that stands out in bas relief as sacred to her memory, and that is "Abingdon," where she first saw the light, which is today pointed out to the tourist, as he turns his face toward Mount Vernon over the Wash- ington and Electric Railway Line. This tract of land belonged to the original grant of Robert Howson who sold it to the Alexanders along with Arlington, and this house which is so well built, has borne the weight of more than two centuries and is still habitable. General Washington bought it of Girard Alexander for his stepson, John Parke Custis, who founded his home here, upon his marriage to Eleanor Calvert of Mount Airy, Maryland, and here their three daughters were born. But the ravages of war plunged this happy family into the depth of mourning when the young master was carried away, just at the moment of victory. Some time later, however, the young widow was again married to Dr. Stuart and continued to live here, where the Stuart sisters, who were so far-famed for their grace and beauty, were born. Many a young planter worshiped at the "shrine of these fair muses," and would have gladly laid his all at their feet. But General Washington had paid for this estate with Continental money, and the heirs of Girard Alexander brought suit for its recovery, and after long years of litiga- tion, it was returned to them, and Walter Alexander became the owner. He soon sold it to a man by the name of Wise, who transferred it to Alexander Hunter, who was marshal of the District of Columbia for a score of years, and who spent much in beautifying the old place. President Andrew Jackson was a close friend of Gen- eral Hunter, and many a Saturday he stole away to Abing- 58 Nellie Custis and Woodlawn don for an over-Sunday rest : for this was a sort of Liberty hall, where politics and office-seeking were tabooed during the Presidential visits. One chamber on the northeast side was always known as General Washington's, as it was his custom to occupy it upon his visits to his stepson. General Hunter, in defense of the non-pretentiousness of the place, used to say that a house that was good enough for Wash- ington was good enough for him. He willed Abingdon to his nephew, Major Alexander Hunter, who was well-known in the literary world later, and who was to come into possession of the estate at his majority. But the Civil War came on, and he enlisted in the Confederate cause, and, like Arlington, it was sold for taxes during his absence. L. E. Crittendon, then employed in the treasury, bought it, but after the war, Major Alex- ander Hunter brought suit for the recovery of this property, and won in the supreme court. General Garfield was his lawyer, and for his fee he accepted forty acres of the estate, and was planning for the erection of a handsome country residence here when the hand of an assassin laid him low and turned the historic place into "sackcloth and ashes." It seems that an improvement company was interested in this part of the estate, along with Mr. Garfield, and that this company and the Garfield heirs still hold title to it. But this did not include the old mansion, which has long been owned by the New Washington Brick Manufacturing Company ; and Abingdon is now the home of the president of this company. It is in a good state of preservation, and is near a half mile from the electric car line, three or four miles out of Washington. 1313 m By Courtesy of Washington-Virginia Railway Co. Abingdon, as It Looks To-day Where Nellie Custis Sleeps— the Shaft to the Right Marks Her Grave." 3n tltia little rornrr 3 plant a sweet iFornet-iKe-Not to tii? fUemoru, of QJIte Nation's lUeroir Seao. Carlock, Washington, D. C. Fort Myer Gateway "fonr silent tents of green He oerk uiittj fragrant flowers; fours ttas tire sutfertng been Site wemortj sliall be ours/' Arlington National Cemetery ARLINGTON is ever second only to Mount Vernon, and now with its additional sections filled with the pre- L cious dust of our overseas dead, it has a new sig- nificance ; and there is no other one spot under heaven that claims the attention of more hearts, and it seems a most fitting time to enshrine it anew in our history. This beautiful "City of the Dead," overlooking the placid waters of the Potomac and the Nation's Capitol from its ideal heights on the Virginia hills, is the largest cemetery of its kind of modern times. Here all heroes of all ranks and of all wars, from the Revolution to the great World War, share, alike, in this embracing mold, so close to the heart of the great country they gave their life-blood to preserve. Nature seems to have especially favored this place for this sacred purpose, and what she in her generosity over- looked, the landscape gardener, with his wonderful, magic art has surely supplied: for nothing has been spared to make it a veritable Eden for the heroic hosts that slumber here. "Overshadowed by the magnificent forest and in sunny openings," the long line of white headstones tell their sad story of willing sacrifice, of broken hearts, and of fondly crushed hopes. Imposing mausoleums and costly monuments rise above the graves of distinguished officers or more favored sons than the unknown, but all share the same restful repose under the sound of the bugle call of Fort Myer. And as one reflects upon the solemn scene, the full significance of Gray's beautiful lines comes to mind: "The boast of heraldry, the pomp of power, And all that beauty, all that wealth e'er gave; Await, alike, the inevitable hour, The paths of glory lead but to the grave." The grounds are enclosed by a substantial stone wall with handsome memorial gateway entrances on the different 63 64 Arlington National Cemetery sides, and a paved driveway leads to the mansion and to other parts of the cemetery. A profusion of ornamental trees and shrubs have been placed among the primitive oaks ; and velvety lawns beautified with beds of flowers crown the crest of the hill, and invite the visitor to linger among their fragrance. The Temple of Fame is surrounded by a picturesque garden of flowers arranged in unique de- signs, some of which spell the word "Unknown," others the names of officers, etc. The great amphitheater, which was dedicated in May, 1920, has left the simpler, rustic one of former years to be treasured for its associations ; but for historic interest nothing surpasses "Arlington House," or the Custis-Lee mansion as it is generally known today. From its commanding position on the brow of the hill, which stretches away in slope a half-mile to the river two hundred feet below, it presents one of the most magnificent views that the eye can behold. Standing between these great Doric columns, which so distinctly set its architec- ture apart as Grecian, Lafayette pronounced it one of the grandest views that he had ever looked upon ; and what must he think could he drink in this panorama today in all its modern improvement and beauty ! Surely there is noth- ing fairer this side the pearly gates. The house is built of cement to resemble stone, and a coat of paint and new hardwood floors have greatly im- proved it within the past year. Aside from its wonderful columns, it presents a rather humble appearance within, and but few remnants of its halcyon days now remain. The bare floors seem to protest against intrusion, as they send back their echoes of precious memories of the long ago. The register has been abandoned, and in its stead is a complete record of the Spanish-American war soldiers placed here by the Colonial Dames. In the hallway are two large tablets, one containing the history of the Arlington estate, and the other that of the cemetery. The room where Robert E. Lee claimed his bride is now marked "private," and the old well, which has quenched the thirst of so many generations, is transformed into a modern drinking fountain. Arlington National Cemetery 65 Upon the terrace in front of the mansion, near the flagstaff, where "Old Glory" proudly plays the part of sentinel from reveille to retreat, rest General Philip Sheri- dan and Admiral Porter, the two most distinguished com- manders that slumber here. Sheridan's monument is one of the most artistic in the ground; the granite and bronze being adorned by a medallion portrait, with flag and wreath. To the right of the flag is the unique sarcophagus of Pierie Charles L'Enfant, the man who laid out the city of Wash- ington. The tomb of General Miles is in another part of the cemetery, overlooking the city and the river at a vantage point ; the anchor of the Maine, and the white granite monu- ment bearing the names of the ill-fated heroes ; the Memor- ial Amphitheater; the new memorial to the late Admiral Robert E. Peary, etc., are all points of special interest; but nothing surpasses the great "Field of the Dead," with its plateau of endless lines of uniform headstones, and the newly-made grave of the "Unknown," which adds a page that is yet unsurpassed in the world's history for military honor and significance. The Unknown Hero Selected from the burying-grounds of France without the slightest clue to his identity, typical of all our dead of the great battlefields, and transported across the water to the homeland on the historic "Olympia," this unknown American soldier received the highest honor that has ever yet been paid to mortal remains. Every rank and avenue of life was represented in the veritable stream of humanity that paid tribute from the moment the flag-covered casket was borne from the ship until the requiem taps were sounded as the last rites at the grave on Armistice Day, November 11, 1921. Floral offerings of the rarest hue from every state in the Union — from almost every country under the sun; from churches, lodges, patriotic organizations, societies, etc., from the King of Great Britain to the one that bore the simple language "Old Pal," intermingled their fragrance in the greatest display of flowers in the world's annals, about the casket of this "Unknown," as it rested upon the 66 Arlington National Cemetery catafalque that had upheld the remains of our martyred Presidents, under the great dome of the Capitol. But the final service on Armistice Day reached the climax, and must ever live in the memory of those who witnessed the impres- sive spectacle. The Amphitheater had been transformed into a veri- table bower with garlands entirely encircling the top, and the great embankments of the hero's tributes everywhere in evidence. The casket rested upon a catafalque that had been improvised for the occasion; and grouped about the platform were some of the greatest military heroes and statesmen of the age — not only of this, but other lands. General Foch and Premier Briand, of France, were there; Mr. Arthur J. Balfour and General Beatty, of England ; General Jacques, of Belgium ; General Diaz, of Italy ; former Presidents William H. Taft and Woodrow Wilson, and Gen- eral Pershing, of our own country ; and President Warren G. Harding's memorial eloquence, and the other impressive services, were wafted from ocean to ocean by the means of amplifiers, as the first event of its kind in all history. Promptly at twelve o'clock, as the bugle sounded atten- tion, came the lull of two minutes when a nation bowed its head in silent prayer, and an unprecedented hush and awe, such as had never before been experienced, spread its wings over an entire land. Then the solemnity of the mo- ment when the President of this great country concluded his address by repeating the Lord's Prayer in unison with the people — more voices than had ever before been thus united, — as the first instance of its kind on record. This was followed by the singing of the "Supreme Sacrifice," by a quartet. Then gold and jeweled emblems for the brave from the highest officers of other lands were laid upon the breast of the silent sleeper, after our own President had placed the Medal of Honor and the Distinguished Service Cross upon the casket. The Victoria Cross, never before bestowed upon anyone, who had not served under the British flag; the highest honors of France, Belgium, Italy, etc., were laid there. General Jacques of Belgium tore the medal Abel & Co., Washington, D. C. New Amphitheater From the Air Old Amphitheater 68 Arlington National Cemetery of valor from his own tunic that he might lay it upon the casket. The British and American mothers brought their tear-bedewed floral offerings ; and Chief Plenty Coups, in behalf of the dusky-face, called down the blessing of the Great Spirit of the Red man, as he laid the coup stick of his tribal office and the feathered bonnet from his own head beside the other honors. The tomb which was made in front of the Amphitheater, was not sealed until Monday, and thousands who had been disappointed by the traffic jam on Armistice Day, paid homage on Sunday. Tomb of Unknown As the casket was borne from the battleship to the Rotunda amidst military honors and the strains of "On- ward Christian Soldiers," from the mounted band, Na- ture's tears were falling copiously as if she too, were in sympathy; but as it was carried from the Capitol to its final resting-place, she broke forth into a sunny smile, as if in approval of the symbol of the unprecedented occa- sion, which brought together peace advocates from the very ends of the earth. Most of the tributes were perishable, but the one of white marble and gold sent by France must serve as an emblem of her enduring friendship. In the upper left Arlington National Cemetery 69 hand corner of this handsomest of designs were the words, "Homage de La France" in gold. Beneath them was a spray of American Beauty roses in the same gold; at the lower left hand corner were other words in French, and at the bottom were the significant ones "Versailles 1783- 1918," — dates, which let us hope, cement the friendship of these two liberty-loving republics for all time. This tomb of the "Unknown" is a new shrine for pil- grimages. The Continental Congress of the Daughters of the American Revolution, three thousand strong, bowed here on April 18, 1922, and with eulogy, prayer and song, laid their floral tributes down, and renewed their covenant in honor of those who rest in "Flanders' field" for a re- doubled effort for "Peace on earth, goodwill to men." History of Arlington Estate WITH all hearts centered about this National City of the Dead, its early history naturally becomes of more moment to us ; so let us turn our eyes back- ward to its primitive days, with its successive titles of ownership to the time it became the resting-place of our patriotic dead. On October 21, 1669, his majesty King Charles II of England, through Sir William Berkeley, the governor of the Virginia colony, "by the grace of God and the discovery of John Cabot," granted this large tract, including what is now the Arlington estate, to one Robert Howson, as a recompense for the many settlers he brought to the colony. Howson, evidently prizing it little, sold it that same year to John Alexander for six hogsheads of tobacco; and it remained in the Alexander family until Christmas 1778, when Gerard Alexander and his wife transferred it by deed to John Parke Custis for the sum of one thousand one hun- dred pounds Virginia currency; there being one thousand one hundred acres in the tract. Mr. Custis died intestate leaving four children, and in accord with the old English primogenitive law, which gave the sole right of inheritance of real estate to the eldest son, his only son, George Washington Parke Custis, in- herited Arlington, which took its name from the old Custis 70 Arlington National Cemetery homestead on the eastern coast of Virginia. This home having been named in honor of Henry, Earl of Arlington, to whom, with Lord Culpeper, Charles II had made a grant of the whole of Virginia in 1673. John Parke Custis JOHN PARKE CUSTIS, son of Martha Custis Washing- ton, who was familiarly known as "Jackey," was a wild and wayward youth, with more love for the fox-chase and similar sports than for his studies, and this gave his mother and Mr. Washington much concern. At the age of eighteen, he entered King's (now Columbia) college, but the charm of Miss Eleanor Calvert, second daughter of Benedict Calvert, proved too alluring, and a few months later, on February 3, 1774, he claimed this beautiful, vi- vacious lassie of sixteen summers, as his bride. The nup- tials took place in the parlor of the Mount Airy Mansion, and they founded their home at Abingdon between Alexandria and Washington, where three of their four children were born. He served as aide-de-camp on the staff of General Washington at Yorktown and died of camp fever at the home of Colonel Bassett, at Eltham, Maryland, on Novem- ber 5, 1781 ; Mrs. Bassett being a sister of his mother. The fatal fever was upon him at the time of the fall of Yorktown, and he felt that he could die content, if he could but behold the surrender of the sword of Lord Corn- wallis. This wish was gratified. He was supported to the ground where he witnessed the spectacle, and was then removed to the home of his aunt, as above stated, where his few remaining clays were spent. When there was no longer room for hope, General Washington was summoned, and, attended by a single officer and a groom, he left head- quarters at midnight, and rode with all possible speed to Eltham, arriving just in time to see the departing scene. Turning to the weeping widow and mother, he said, "From this moment I adopt the two youngest children as my own." Then grief-stricken, he waved adieu, and with fresh horses returned to the camp without rest or refreshments. "It was a melancholy hour," coming as it did to shadow the great triumph, while the camps were still resounding with Carlock, Washington, D. C. Front and Rear Views of Arlington Mansion, With Portraits of George Washington Parke Custis and General and Mrs. Lee 72 Arlington National Cemetery the shouts of victory, but the hand of Destiny must have ruled that hour. Two years passed by, and Eleanor Calvert Parke Custis was again married to Dr. David Stuart, and a large fam- ily of children was born of this union. She died on Sep- tember 28, 1811, and rests in the little church at St. Thomas beside her father. She was the last one to be laid here. The vestry had forbidden such burials, but her re- mains were carried into the chapel at night. In digging the grave, after taking up the floor, the gold plate on the casket of her father was disclosed. John Parke Custis also rests in the Calvert burying-ground. A beautiful portrait of Eleanor Calvert Custis in riding habit, which perpetuates her girlish charm, and which once adorned the old mansion at Mount Airy, is still in existence. The children of John Parke Custis were: Elizabeth, who became Mrs. Thomas Law, and Martha, who mar- ried Thomas Peter, both of Washington; and Nellie and George Washington Parke Custis, the children of Mount Vernon. Arlington Mansion Built GEORGE WASHINGTON PARKE CUSTIS remained at Mount Vernon until after the death of his grandmother in 1802. He had now reached his majority, and with his inheritance from his father and from General Washington, was one of the wealthiest young men in Virginia. But owing to its ideal location and its proximity to the newly established capitol of the nation, his fancy naturally turned to Arlington in selecting his future home. The only house on the estate at this time was the old one occupied by the Alexanders, which stood near the river a mile east of the present mansion, and which was built near 1725. Here the young master of Arlington lived until his "castle" was completed in 1803 or 1804. Young Lochinvar had not yet deserted single life, but when all was in readiness, he prevailed upon Miss Mary Lee Fitzhugh, who was then but a lassie of sixteen sum- mers, to share his fortune and his happiness; and she, Arlington National Cemetery 73 a descendant of the Randolphs of Virginia, presided over his home with the grace and dignity that such surround- ings demanded: for it in some measure took the place of Mount Vernon in opening its hospitable doors to the great of earth. Many who had frequented that shrine during the boyhood of Mr. Custis now sat at his festal board. Among them being General Lafayette, who had invoked his blessing upon him as a barefoot boy. Many were the treasures Mr. Custis brought here, from Mount Vernon; among them being the bed upon which his beloved Pater spent his last hours ; and the Marquee sleeping-tent, which served the General throughout the Revolution, from the time it was pitched at Cambridge in 1775, until the triumph at Yorktown in October 1781, which was the dearest of all to his heart. This silent weather-beaten remnant of liberty seemed to have a lan- guage all its own. It had witnessed the greatest events of the struggle. Under its protecting canopy, the great Gen- eral, had, doubtless, many times poured out his innermost soul in prayer to the omnipotent Author of all victory ; and o'er and o'er again shed the silent tear over the destitute patriots. Cornwallis had not only been a guest, but a prisoner, under it, and the sight of it called forth many other tender associations and memories. Mr. Custis used it at times as a special honor to his guests, and it was more than once the medium for some worthy cause; as people would pay liberally for the privilege of sitting under it. Two churches are said to have been built from funds thus secured. On October 12, 1824, during the last visit of La- fayette to this country, it was spread in his honor under the Rotunda of the Capitol. It is now resting with its poles and pegs in a glass case in the National Museum; and the very sight of it today brings an irresistible feel- ing of awe and reverence, and tends to deepen our sense of gratitude for the liberty, we so much enjoy, which was bought at such a price. Among the reminiscences that Mr. Custis treasured to life's last hour was his visit to Wash- ington's tomb with Lafayette, which is recorded in the Mount Vernon chapter. Mr. Custis was a man of many talents, aside from his 74 Arlington National Cemetery literary aspirations, but he did not fulfill the hope of Gen- eral Washington that he might "shine in the councils of the nation as a statesman," but preferred the life of a gentle- man-farmer, with its attendant ease and luxury. With the mansion filled with relics of the past, he began his career at Arlington by purchasing a flock of imported Me- rino sheep in 1803, and instituting an annual convention here for the benefit of those interested in sheep" husbandry. This was known as "Arlington Sheep-Shearing Day," and commemorated his natal day, April 30, each succeeding year. Through his generosity, Arlington Springs became a summer resort, and he thoughtfully added a kitchen, dining-room, dancing pavilion, and boat-wharf for pleasure seekers, — making just one stipulation, that no intoxicating liquors be bought or sold, for he did not forget the high principles that had been instilled in him at Mount Vernon. Mrs. Custis passed from sight in 1853, and he joined her on the other side, four years later. Both rest within an iron enclosure just beyond the shadow of the old man- sion, under the protecting branches of three large oaks. Their graves are marked by simple shafts, which are thus inscribed : "Mary Custis, born April 22, 1788, and died April 23, 1853." "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God," which is sufficient tribute within itself. "George Washington Parke Custis, born April 30, 1781, and died October 10, 1857." "Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy." (He was born at Mount Airy, the home of the Calverts, while his father was serving in the Revolution.) Mr. Custis left his entire estate to his only child who survived infancy, with the exception of fifteen and one-half acres, which he set apart for a faithful servant. This daughter, Mary Randolph, became the wife of Robert E. Lee, and at her death, the estate descended to her eldest son, George Washington Custis Lee, by the provision of her father's will. Arlington National Cemetery 75 Carlock, Washington, D. C. The Graves of the Custises at Arlington The Lees at Arlington THE name of Robert E. Lee will ever hang about this old mansion for he spent thirty years of his event- ful life here. Even before he went to West Point, he was a frequent visitor at Arlington, where he was at- tracted by the grace and beauty of the young heiress, Mary Randolph Custis. The marriage took place here in the drawing-room, the first at the right of the front entrance, on the evening of June 30, 1831, in the presence of a gay and happy throng. Six lieutenants of the United States army acted as grooms- men, and a like number of charming young ladies, as bridesmaids, forming a circle about them. The Reverend Mr. Meade, later bishop of the Episcopal church, read the nuptial service. The bridegroom was not wealthy, but he was young, handsome, and an officer in the army with bright promise before him. He later served with distinction in the Mexican war, and was appointed superintendent of 76 Arlington National Cemetery the academy at West Point in 1852; and other honors came thick and fast. But when the Civil War came on and he was called upon to decide for or against his be- loved state, he, after a hard struggle, resigned his com- mission in the "gallant little army that he had helped to make and adorn from Vera Cruz to Mexico City," and cast his lot with the Confederacy. On April 20, 1861, after a painful interview with Gen- eral Scott, he penned the fateful letter and passed through the gates of Arlington never to return: for the future des- tiny of this grand old estate truly hung upon the thread of that signature. The same day that they bade farewell to this old mansion and went to Richmond to live, he was appointed as commander-in-chief of the Virginia forces. In a very brief time, the estate was confiscated by the gov- ernment and the old mansion became headquarters for the Union army, — the center of a vast military camp. After the first bloody disaster at Bull Run, Major George B. Mc- Clellan reorganized, drilled, and disciplined the Army of the Potomac here, and to the close of the war, the estate was in constant use for military purposes. Many of the treasures, given to Mr. Custis by his grandmother, which adorned the mansion when taken by the Federal troops, were removed to different places, but were restored to the descendants after the war; and many of them have been returned to Mount Vernon — among them the bed upon which Washington died, and the firedogs presented by Lafayette. The Lee family consisted of the following named chil- dren: George Washington Custis, Mary, William H. Fitz- hugh, Annie, who died in '62, Agnes, Robert, and Mildred Lee. The Letter that Sealed the Destiny of Arlington Arlington, Va., April 20, 1861. "General : "Since my interview with you on the 18th instant, I have felt that I ought no longer to retain my commission in the army. I therefore tender my resignation, which I request you will recommend for acceptance. It would have been kS: f "K. 'VS99JH ti&T^ • jj|&g ^- ; ^ ^^^■BK^^^g|H Arlington Mansion Hall of Fame Officers' Section Sheridan Monument Nurses of Spanish-American War General Crook's Monument Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument Anchor of Maine 78 Arlington National Cemetery presented at once, but for the struggle it has cost me to separate myself from a service to which I have devoted the best years of my life and all the ability I possessed. Dur- ing the whole of that time — more than a quarter of a cen- tury — I have experienced nothing but kindness from my superiors and a most cordial friendship from my comrades. To no one, General, have I been as much indebted as to yourself for uniform kindness and consideration; and it has always been my ardent desire to merit your approba- tion. I shall carry to the grave the most grateful recol- lections of your kind consideration, and your name and fame will always be dear to me. "Save in the defense of my native state, I never desire again to draw my sword. Be pleased to accept my most earnest wishes for the continuance of your happiness and prosperity, and believe me, "Most truly yours, R. E. Lee." Lieut.-Gen. Winfield Scott, Commanding United States Army. The Cemetery Laid Out ON May 13, 1864, while casting about for a place to bury the large toll of Union soldiers, Quarter- master-General M. C. Meigs, of the United States army, in company with President Lincoln, laid out this cemetery in order to relieve the one at the Soldiers' Home, which was so overcrowded, and take care of the waiting dead. On this day the first graves were made, and a Con- federate soldier, who died in prison, is said to have been the first one lowered to the bosom of mother earth in this quiet, restful place, which is today so far-famed for its countless dead. On May 30, 1868, Memorial Day was instituted by an order issued by General John A. Logan, the commander- in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic ; and the first ceremony was held at the Arlington mansion in the after- noon of that day. Generals Grant and Hancock with their staffs, and other military notables were present. General James A. Garfield, then member of Congress from Ohio, was The Blue and the Grey — Confederate Monument, Section of Union Soldiers and Officers 80 Arlington National Cemetery the orator of the hour; and from this beginning has grown the beautiful annual custom of strewing the graves of our heroes with flowers, which now reaches round the globe, and brings to Arlington its countless thousands to pay homage each succeeding year. Mrs. Lee passed from earth in 1873, at Richmond. Then came the litigation between the heirs and the represent- atives of the government, who were in possession of this spot, and who based their plea upon "forfeiture for taxes." But the title relied upon was a certificate of sale to the United States for the collection of taxes ; but this certifi- cate was impeached on the ground of the refusal of the commissioner to permit the owner to pay the taxes on or before the day of sale other than in person. The heirs lost in the circuit court, but won in the court of appeals ; and George Washington Custis Lee, as above stated, accord- ing to his grandfather's will became the owner. But dear as the estate may have seemed to him, he found himself confronted by a vast burying-ground, as thousands of sol- diers now rested here, and his only hope was to accept the terms of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars offered him or continue the fight against his "native land" in the courts, and he chose the former. March 31, 1883, marked the surrender of the home of his forefathers to the count- less tenants of the tomb. Two hundred acres were originally enclosed for the ceme- tery, but it is much larger now. In 1872, the Secretary of War declared all that part of the estate without the gate to be the military reservation of Fort Whipple, — now Fort Myer, and the settlers were paid for the removal of their homes, and for the loss of their crops. Thus history blends the present with the past in one great panorama of human interest about one of the most beautiful and sacred spots in the annals of America. Note: — An effort to restore this mansion to what it was when the Lees left it is on foot, but with the precious treasures of those days so widely scattered it will doubt- less be many years before its accomplishment. -fir-' ^mxf^^^^ *T^ Section of Overseas Dead Where Some West Virginia Boys Sleep 82 Arlington National Cemetery The Custis Ancestry THE Custises emigrated from Rotterdam, Holland, in 1640, and settled on the eastern shore of Vir- ginia. This emigrant had a son, John, who was a major-general in Bacon's rebellion. He, through his wife, came into a valuable estate in Northampton county, which he named Arlington in honor of Henry, Earl of Arlington. General Custis' only son, John, was a member of the King's council in Virginia in 1704, and he also left a son, John, — a name which we see was a family heritage to each generation. This son, which we shall designate as John, the IV, was educated in England, and he married, Frances, the proud daughter of Colonel Daniel Parke, a native of Virginia, and lived to regret his choice. Some of his letters which are left on record, suggest that he was a most ardent wooer, as he repeatedly assured this "angel of his affec- tions" that he could not possibly brook life without her. He had been warned of her temper and self-will, but felt confident that to "possess her would be heaven enough for him." But unfortunately the heavenly dream was not realized, and when she fell into an early grave, he seemed to prize his freedom from the entangling alliance so much that when he died he left to perpetuate his memory in epitaph the following lines: "Under this marble tomb lies the body of the Hon. John Custis, Esq., of the city of Williamsburg, and parish of Burton. Formerly of Hungar's Parish, on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, and County of Northampton. Aged 71 years, and yet lived but seven years, which was the space of time he kept Bachelor's home at Arlington on the Eastern Shore of Virginia." His son was compelled under penalty of disinheritance to execute this inscription on the tomb, but he apologizes on the opposite side, by stating that it was done by positive orders of his father. Arlington National Cemetery 83 The historians of the past insist that the chief claim of Daniel Parke Custis to fame was his marriage to the beautiful Miss Dandridge, the future Mrs. Washington, who was the eldest daughter of Colonel John Dandridge and one of the reigning belles of her day. He was an ex- tensive tobacco planter, and when he died in 1757, he left an estate valued at more than one hundred thousand dollars. Mr. Custis was noted for his high sense of honor, and as he neared the "Mystic river" he sent for a tenant to whom in settling an account he still owed a shilling. The tenant assured him that it did not matter, that he had for- gotten it, but "I had not," was the reply, as he bade him take the coin. Then he said, "Now my accounts are closed with the world," and shortly after passed from these earthly scenes, little dreaming of the manner in which his name was to be perpetuated and honored. Tomb of General Meigs, Who Laid Out Cemetery 1 73 * °^ *..••• 4* ^ ***** .6 o^ ... V^-y %*^v v^V %** V /% vlp^/ V'^iPv '°\w/ * <=/• ♦*^** •■ LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 007