The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1866-07-28
A Suggestive Spot.

We spent few days at Washington in the
early part of the week, and in company with
several friends paid visit to Arlington
Heights, the former residence Of the Rebel Gen.
Lee. The estate consists Of several thousand
acres, lying on the south side Of the Potomac, di-
rectly opposite Washington, and extending back
so as to include range of thickly wooded hills
running parallel with the river. The old man
sion house, which in its better days, was model
of courtly elegance and hospitality, stands on a
fine elevation surrounded by dense growth of
native forest trees and commands charming
view of the city with its public buildings, the
intervening river with innumerable watcr-craft
moving over its surface and the picturesque land
scape stretching away to the rear. Once it was
the home of loyalty and true patriotism It's
stately halls were graced by the immortal Wash
ington and the most halowed memories of the
olden time still gather around it. But when
treason entered poisoned the heart of the propri-
etor and led him away to take charge of the ar
mics of the rebellion, the fine estate soon shared
the fate of that war-cursed region. The forces
of the Government early took possession of the
commanding heights and the old mansion for a
long time was a general headquarters for the
troops in that vicinity.
But dearer than ever to the nation-more pre-
cious as shrine where patriotism may gather
inspiration and reckon up the priceless cost of
our Liberties, is the Arlington estate to-day
Directly in the rear of the mansion lie the moul-
dering ashes of ten thousand Union soldiers vic
Tins of the battle and the hospital. They have
been collected here by the War Department apd
laid in parallel rows with intervening walks,
each furnished with white head-board on which
is the name, regiment, company and date OF
death, SO far as was known. Many of the head
boards, however, bear the simple inscription
"Unknown," Unknown p yet in the death of
him who sleeps beneath may have fallen the joy
of happy household, the support of an aged
mother or the protector of an orphan sister,
Who may tell the anguish of hearts that gave their
ali to their country and are denied the simple
privilege of gathering the bones of him they low
ed into the family burying-ground and planting
the flowers of affection on his grave. From ev-
cry simple head-board in that vast garden of 10y
alty-from every sorrowing heart throughout
the land, comes voice TO US to-day to be true to
the cause for which they fell-not to lose the OBJ
jects of the war through false leniency to trail
tors
Dead to every patriotic feeling must that man
be who can stand amid those mute bpt solemn
oracles and ask that they whose treason filled
those graves shall be at once received back to all
the privileges which they forfeited without any
guarantees for future safety.
In different parts of the cemetry neat boards
are put up containing appropriate quotations of
poetry. Among others we copied the following
'The mufled drums sad roll has beat
The soldiers last tattoo;
No more on Lies parade shall meet
These brave end fallen few.
On Fame's eternal camping ground
Their silent tents are spread,
And glory guards with solemn round
The bivouac of the dead.n