Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-07-20
The Mount Vernon Estate-Lettsr from Caleb
Cushing Extracts.
MoUST ZEPHYR, July 18th, 1889.

/
Il very interesting one, of the Mount Yer
non estate, the residence of Washington, the
hero-man of the American Revolution.
The noble stream of the Potomac, which
flowing between the States of Virginia and
Maryland, had, before it reaches the Fedora
City, held enthusiastically course. then
strikes due south by Alexandria until 1t ap
proachcS Mount Vernon, in front of which II
passes eastwardly, then for a short distance
turns south again, then describes long
scmi-circle to Port Tobacco, at which point
it resumes its original enthusiastically course
and 50 flows OH to the sea Of Chesapeake Bay
The Mount Vernon estate, rs occupied by
General Washington ut the time OF his death
stretches along the northerly bank OF the 10,
tnmac, in the whole of this. its westerly and
e;,sterly line, with tide water front. accord
ing to Washington's own estimate, OF about
ten miles; bounded on the east by the mani
channel of the river ut its bend, and Oh the
west bv one of its uHluents, denominated
Dogue Creek.
The estate is divided into two unequal
parts by another sifluent of the Potomac de-
nominated Little Hunting Greek. The por'
ton in the elbow of the Potomac, and be-
tween that and Hunting Greek, called River
Farm, consisted of about ;, OD acres. The
other portion, between Little Hunting Greek
and Dugue Creek, extended further inland
and consisted of about 5000 acres, in the
form of AN irregular square, divided into
four unequal farms, known rs the Mansion
House Farm, the Union Farm, the Dogue
Run Farm, and the Muddy Hole Farm.
Several of these local names are found III
J 4 > IA a ba
perty east of Little Hunting Greek to George
Fayette Washington and Lawrence Angus
tine Washington; about two thirds OF he
land between Little Hunting Greek and
Dosue Creek, lying on the Potomac, and in
Guiding the Mansion House Farm, Ia Bush
rod Washington; and the residue, being the
southwestery part Of this tract, To Lawrence
Lewis, and his wife, Eleanor Park Lewis.
The soil and other natural capabilities Of
the estate are accurately described by Wash
ingtun The greater part" he says is u
greyish clay; sone part is u dark mould, L
very little is inclined 10 sand, and scarcely
any Ia stone" lie adds: "A husbandman's
will would not lay the farms more level than
they are" And ~ to the river, 1.-THE whole
shore" he truly says, lis one entire fishery.
lie had under enclosure not only the se'e-
raj farms, or cultivated PORTIONS of the es-
! tate, but also the woodland.
In addition to his own dwelling house.
and other buildings ON the Mansion House
Farm, he had what he calls an Oyerlooker' :
house, and negro quarters on each OF the
other farms. lie speaks also of IN newly
erected brick barn. equal perhaps to any i'll
America" on the Union Farm, new circu-
lar barn on the Dogue Run Farm; and the
plan indicates "a grist mill near the mouth ot
Dogue Run.
On the four farms he enumerates, 81
draft horses" II working mules" 3li
"black CATTLE" G334 sheep" and 'of hogs
many" but in number uncertain, ''all these
running" he says. pretty much ut large IN
the woodland" These numbers are indie
pendent, of course, OF the Mansion House
Farm.
In other letters, and in agricultural pa
pers drawn up with great tulness and care,
some of which are III print, We have. from
the pen of Washington, minute directions
for the cultivation OF the Mount Vernon es-
tate, with manv local Indications. OF these
papers. one Of the most important is dated
10th December, 1899, only four days before
his death. There we find that his principal
crops were maize, rye, barley, potatoes,
wheat, buckwheat, peas, oats, clover and
other grass, and tobacco.
Historical memories and public interest
attach mainly to the portion Of the Mount
Vernon estate which lies between Little
Hunting Creek and Doguc creek. Here. at
one place, is the veritable Mount Vernon.
the residence Of General Washington; and
ut au"ther, Mount Zephyr, the residence OF
Judge Bushrod Washington.
The main road from Alexandria tn Freder-
| ckshurg, then, H. now, or ~ Washington
says in has will, las it now goes and has ever
gone, since my recollection of it," passing t"
the nnrthward of the River Farm, traverses
the Muddy Hole Farm, from the Gum
Spring at the ford Of Little Hunting Creek to
the mill on Doguc Run. AT the Gum Spring,
another road branches off, passing between
the Muddy Hole Farm and the Mansion
House Farm, and through the southerly
part of Union Farm to i landing place on
the bank of the Potomac A wide private
road, with cedar hedges originally, cross
es this ut nearly right IN ,les, con meet
ing the Mount Vernon residence, in opposite
directions, with Alexandria and with Freder-
ickSburg. And from the new Oycrlooker'
House" of the Union Farm, there was broad
avenue by the new y erected brick barn, y
ornamentcd also with stately rows Of cedars.
At the head of this avenue is Mount Zephyr,
the site of the new" overlooker's house OF
the Muddy Hole Farm. Here, for many
years, and sometimes in the summer season,
ut Il smaller house, by chalybeate spring
below, near the river, dwct Bushrod Wash
inton. But since the death of him and of the
al e a, Il, "A
the Mount Vernon Estate, many changes in
ITS proprietorslip and its distribution have
taken place. The greater part of the Mud
dy Hole and Union Farms, some sixteen
hundred acres, in all has been purchased
by Mr.. Aaron Leggctt and part Of the
Union Farm by Mr.. David Walton. The
Dogue River Farm has also passed out Of the
hands of the Lewis family, and into the
hands of sundry proprietors. The Ladies
of the United States have purchased the Man
SION House Farm of upwards of POO acres,
leaving still in the hands Of MIR. John a.
Washington about 1000 acres of that part OF
the estate, extending from the Potomac 10
Little Hunting Creek, between the Mansion
House farm and the property OF MIR. Legget.
With the Mansion House farm all men
are acquainted by sight or by written de-
scrption-its picturesque situation on the
high bank of the Potomac--its patriotic rem
iniscences destined use AS the holy shrine
A.. l.. IL.