The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-04-16
"At ArlinutOn."

One of the most charming spots in the vicin-
ity of the nations capital is the famed Arling-
ton estate, so long the abode of generous and
high-bred hospitality. AS the world knows, it
was the property of Mrs. R. E. Lee, and was
cen6scated to the uses of the Federal govern
ment during the war. Mrs. Lee was the
daughter of George Washington Parke Custis,
who was the grandson of Mrs. Gen. Washing
ton. This property was in Mrs. Lees individ-
ual right, or rather was entailed upon her ell
dest son by the will of her father. 1t COM
prises eleven hundred acres, situated just across
the Potomac from Washington City, and on
the Heights overlooking the city is the ances-
trail mansion bearing the name of Arlington.
The view from Arlington is enhancing beyond
description. The spacious halls are silent now,
and the surroundings betoken the presence OF
the conqueror. Two hundred and four acres
of ground are enclosed by substantial brick
wall. This part Of the estate, which includes
the old homestead, is denominated the "United
States National Military Cemetery" which was
established on the 18th of May, 1864. The
total number of interments is 11,276, of which
there are 7,199 known, and 4,O77 are marked
"unknown." A considerable portion of the
graves are near the entrance on the southeast,
and embrace all classes, including Confederate
soldiers. The bulk of the interments in this
part of the grounds, however, are colored SOL
diers, with their wives and children, many OF
them buried in the summer of 1866, when the
mortality must have been exceedingly great
On the northwest side of the enclosure, in
level plat of ground, there are the greatest
number of interments, mainly Federal soldiers
All of the graves are marked with neat head
stones, plainly inscribed when practicable With
the name, age, date of death, and in the case
of soldiers, the company and regiment are
given to which the deceased belonged. These
places of burial are on either side of the man
sion. and some distance from it. A number Of
Federal officers are buried quite near the resi-
dence, the graves encircling the fower-yard
Just beyond there is granite mausoleum
bearing this inscription: Beneath this stone
repose the mortal remains of 2, Ill unknown
Federal soldiers, whose bones have been gath
cred from the battlefield of Bull Run, and on
the route to the Rappahannock." The granite
pile is surmounted with four six-pounders
guarding the dust of the unrecognized and
unrecorded dead.
Although efforts we're made prior to Mrs
Lees death for restoration of this magnifi,
cent estate, or just compensation from the
government, there was no favorable response
to the righteous demand, The spoliation Of
her property was deemed essential while the
strife was going on; the government had devo'
ted the grounds to specific purpose, and the
bitterness of the late contest lurked In every
measure, which prevented just restitution to
the lawful owner of the Arlington estate, and
must have tinged her recollections of this once
happy home with increased poignancy and
sorrow. Her eldest son, G. W. Gusts Lee, ls
now making another effort, not to recover the
property, but to obtain reasonable compensa'
tion for the magnificent estate. Sooner or later
this cannot be denied as matter of right and
instice