Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-01-24
YlsHrreror. jan. o. 1865.

Arlington Heights, on the Virginia side O
the Potomac, and commanding view un
rivaled in nagniacenee of the river, and
the cities Of Washington and Georgetown
with their suburbs, it derives q still deeper
interest 'front.' the historic associations which
elusterRround il and the sacred purpose tC
which it has now been devoted. Airing.
ton became at an early day the property Of
the Gusts family, which was related to that
Of General Washington, and like Mount
Vernon itself, it is chiefly interesting from
memories Of the Father OF his Country.
Lafayette was frequent and honored Yis-
itor here during his stay in America. On
the death of the late G. W. P. OusIis, the
estate passed into the hands Of Robert E.
Lee, the present Confederate leader, in
consequence Of whose treason it became
the confscated property of the Govern
ment, and is now g military cemetery.
The grounds comprise an area Of severs
hundred acres, on the highest point Of
which, at 8 considerable distance from the
road leading TO Freedmen's Village and
Alexandra, stands the old family mansion.
This structure is Of brick, plsstered in i'm
ltstion Of stone and was onoe q very good
specimen Of the better class Of Virginia
country residences. It is three stories in
height and is quite roomy, with large
hall running through the centre of the
house. The architecture is not peculiar for
Its besuty, and there is an unsubstsntisl
and dilapidsted air about the whole estsb
ishment. The only remarkable feature is
the heavy Doric porch, which e1ter ds
across. the entire front of the build
ing. The columns are short, and
very thick dramatically, resembling stone,
but found on close inspection to be plaster
ed. On the whole, may say the mansion
is Teslya sham, and that if it were in
city It would be hideous and unsiR htly;
but situated as it is on this beautiful emil
nence, surrounded on all sides by mRgnif-
cent forest trees, it is exceedingly pictur-
esque; and even the clumsy porch adds to
the effect, especially when seen at a dis
tsnee. The house was occupied as head
quarters by General Mcdowell in 1852, but
its only tenant now is superintendent in
charge of the freedmen employed upon
the place, and it will probably never again !
be used as dwelling.
Passing out at the back entrance, and |
walking down the carriage road few hum |
dred yards, we enter upon precincts which |
will be forever sacred as the last resting |
place of thousands of our Union soldiers |
who hNYe died in the hospitals of this city |
and elsewhere. The graves lie closely to-
gether, as their occupants once marched |
side by side in companies and regiments |
to the battlefield. Tier beyond tier and
rank after rank the white headboards /
stretch swsy as far as the eye can reach,
extending over many acres. Enter, nyou
have the hesrt, one Of the paths which |
lead through this melancholy place. En-
desvor, If you please, to count the mounds
beneath which,
Each in his marrow ell forever laid"
the brave defenders oftheir country Sleep |
ill your head grows faint and bewildered, |
and you abandon the attempt. Ponder |
The noble career of these sleepers, and con- !
sider what each Of them dared and suffer- |
ed and sacrificed for q great principle. |
Think of the bitter SORROW which their |
end brought 70 hearts thst loved |
them, and Of the want and care which |
perhaps formed the dregs in the cup of
grief. Then reflect that not many months |
8go this city of the dead was smiling |
pleasure ground, and yonder deserted |
now falling to decay, q |
happy home, and that this modern |
Golgstha is but one of hundreds which |
sprinkle the face of this land, north and |
south, in States loyal and rebellious
and you have portrayed q picture which in |
some degree expresses the misery, desols-
ton and death which follow on the track of |
civil war. But sad as is such q rortrsiture |
it does not depreciste 3 loyal cause. |
aThey never fail who die in great |
cause"
The Hfe Of these'men was glorious sue
cess, and Arlington, as the "Wsves above |
them her green leaves, dewy with Natures |
tear drops" will forever breathe their |
fame to history.
: The occasion which Immediately sug-
gested this letter twss the observance |
on the 18th inst, ofthe obsequies Of brave |
and accomplished officer, Major David T. |
Cole Of the 10th, United States Colored |
Troops, who was we'll known TO the writer |
and TO many residents of Cleveland. He |
died Jsnusry 7th, st Point of Rocks Hes |
pitsl, on the James River, aged twenty |
eight 1t was beautiful winter day |
when the funeral cortege left the residence |
of Hon! A. G. Riddle, crossed the Long
Bridge, and winding up the ascent of Ar |
lingtoni Heights, halted at the door of the |
mansion. The bier was placed in the |
main hall, covered with the national en-
sign and in the adjoining parlor the sim |
pie butimpressive service of the Metho- |
dist Episcopal church was conducted. The |
emotions which oonsecrated that occasion |
were shared by none more fully then by |
81 sTersl of the college friends of the de- |
ceased, who we're present. We consigned |
Kim TO q soldiers grave, and left him,
not Hslone in his glory" for an army of !
his brsye com-pstriots lies near him, but |
with the consolatory knowledge that as
his military career had heen glorious and
unsullied by bad act, his death was the
last and greatest of his victories, Major
Cole was one Of thosemen who give char
acter, IN the best sense of the word TO re-
giment an army, or 70 society, He was q
natiVe.of Grafton, New Hampshire, and
graduated at Dartmouth College, in the
class Of 1861. 60
After serving nine month as Captain in
the 18th Vermont he went to Cleveland in
September, 1863, and entered the law
Office Of Mr.. Riddle. In July last he re-
linquihhed the profession to which he wss
devoted. and re-entered the army, but
after S few months of honorable service
the fatal fever, which hss been the scourge
Of cur armies, seized him and in 8 few
days put an end to his life. Those who
knew Msjor Cole will always remember
him IS man Of genial and friendly dis
position, refined manners, strict integrity,
thorough scholarship and rare promise in