Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-08-11

purposes AFTER the course OF events had carried
adefensiois position Tor foftincations 70 command
the capital.
TAKEN 1on Taxa
Subsequently, under certain direct-sax act q
June ., 1867, and February g. 1858, o tax was as
sssseo against the property and In default OF pay.
ment. the usual sale was had, when the United
states, pursuant TO the authority OF law, bid In
She property at the tax sale "for Government use
1or wal! military charitable. ana educational pur.
poses and continued under this title in possession
untn 1883 AFTER the close OF the war, Mrz Lee
having died. the heir to the estate, g. w. p. 9.
Court Of Alexandria County on the claim that the
tax sale was defective. The case was afterward re-
moved into the Circuit Court Of the United states,
decided in favor OF the Claimant. Tue Govern
ment on writ OF error, appealed the case TO the
al
MI. Lee. The ground Of this decislun was that
the TAX ceruncate and sale did not take from him
MS Title 70 the property.
THE ESTATE PURcHAsRD.
Under this decision Mr. Lee was entitled to take
possession Of the land spd force the Government
70 restore It to It's original condition by removing
the bodies buried there, the dismantling Of the
Tort erected, and the eviction OF large number OF
deemed advisable to secure the property, and under
the act or Congress Of March s, 1881 the Govern
ment accepted an o1er Of Mr.. Lee TO convey the
entire estate to the United States for $3.50, 600
The last payment was made March Is, 1854, and
the title TO the property was complete the state
s g, yhs
rom taxation
NATIONAL CEMETERY.
The original estate contained about LOO acrea
Shortly after the war about 200 acres were set
apart for the purpose OF forming a ma tional
cenNtery for the purpose OF the intermept OF the
bodies OF soldiers who fell on the battle elds Of
virginia. II now contains about 10000 bodies Of
soldiers, coored refugees and rebel prisoners Of
war. IL fronts east on the Georgetown and Alex.
andrta turnpike for distance Of about 800 feet,
and extends from north to south with an average
width OF 1900 feet. The grounds are enclosed
with stone wall, having three entrances on the
east front, from each OF which . driveway extends
to
on the heights. This mansion Is the yellow spot
In the midst Of the green that marks the neigh
borhood OF Sheridan's grave. 1t was the old manor
house OF the Lees, and is structure with purely
southern flavor in its architecture. with It's high
gabled portico supported by line OF pure straight
columns. The structure is OF brick, covered with
coating or the substance known as "rough-cast,"
the south, and colored a dusty yellow by the use
OF kalsOmine. little southwest OF the house is a
large vault containing the remains OF 2,211 un-
known Union soldiers, found on the Dattle-felds OF
Bull Run, Chanttlly, and other places. massive
granite tomb marks this mysterious grave.
THE AMPHITHEATBR.
A little farther to the west is a large amphi-
theater, erected for use on Decoration Day. 1t
consists Of brick columns supporting q heavy
trellis, on which thick growth Of trailing vines
protects the heads or those below from the rays
the sun. On every side the white headstones OF
the dead peep up from the dense, smooth TURF
mute reminders OF strife and struggle. Rows and
rows Of dead, each head being marked with q
name, company, regiment, state, and the
record is complete. Once year these graves are
gay with flowers brought by the loving hands Of
comrades. Then after a few days they are cleared
on, and for the rest OF the year are kept smooth
and green.
THE CARE OF THE CEMETERY.
The work OF caring for the cemetery is under
the charge Of superintendent John A. CONNER
ford, who has been on duty here for two years.
There are eight other national cemeteries, each
In the charge OF a superintendent appointed for
lie or good behavior by the Secretary OF War,
from hOnorably discharged Officers OF volunteers.
They are changed at times from one cemetery to
another. Mr. COmmerford is aided in the work OF
keeping the lawns mown, the gravel walks neat
OF laborers., The expenses OF this work are paid
out OF special annual appropriation Of 100000,
inserted in the sundry civil bill. This sum Is
divided among eighty-two cemeteries
DISTINGUISHED OFFICERS BURIED THERE.
The cemetery is used also for the interment of
bodies Of officers and soldiers OF the regular ser
vice. There are from so to 100 bodies buried there
each year.
The name Of Gen. Sheridan will now be added to
list OF oficers Of considerable renown who rest
at Arlington. Among these are Gen. Jas. B.
Ricketts,, Gen: VIM. B. Hazen, late Chief Signal
Officer; Col. VIM. Myers, Col s. c. Lyford, Col j.
II. Taylor, Gen. Gabriel X. Paul, Col. Geo. w.
Bradley, Capt w. p. Martin, and about 40 other
commissioned officers OF the Army. Lots for this
purpose are obtained on application to the quar-
termaSter General, under whose charge all OF the
National Cemeteries are placed at. Gen. r. c.
Meigs has lot there, In which are buried his
father, Gen. Josiah Meigs his wife, his son, Major
Jn0 r. Meigs and other members OF his family.
NOTES.
The resident members OF the Society OF the Army
OF the Cumberland met at the Ebbitt House last
evening, and appointed a committee Of flve, with
Gen. X. D. Mussey as chairman, TO prepare suita-
BILE resolutions concerning the death or Gen. Sheri-
dan, the late president OF the society.
At q meeting of the National Veteran Club, OF
which Gen. Sheridan was commander, resolutions
were passed yesterday expressing respect to the
memory OF the dead general.
Yesterday afternoon, the church having been
cleared or all other people, the casket was opened
for the last time, In the presence Of Mr. John Sher
idan, DIR. OReilly, Col. Blunt, and Klein the gen
erals body servant The cover TO the casket was
moved and the generals face exposed to view. The
features wore a calm and peaceful expression, and
looked more natural than at any time since he was
taken sick. The caSket was opened to let the gen.
erals brother, John Sheridan, who had just ar
rived look at the remains. When 1t had again
been covered the doors Of the church were opened
A photographer hurried up the steps OF the
church before the funeral with a tripod followed
Private CLANCY, OF Battery /, Sd artillery, was
overcome by the heat while marching TO the
church. hospital ambulance was sent for and
took him away. The ambulance, In charge OF o
hospital steward, followed the procession to the
cemetery.
It's customary to have the saber attached to
the right side OF the saddle OF the horse OF dead
officer, the saber being reversed. AS Gen. Sheri-
dams saber was placed upon the casket, this OBJ
servance was omitted to-day 1t Is usual to have
the trapptngS covered by pail, but this too,
omitted. The horse Guy was a favorite OF Gen.
Sheridan, because he mad three white feet and In
Other respects resembled his Old war-horSe, Win.
chester.
Col. John 9. Healy and Lieut.. G. J. P. Wood
represented the 10th Army Corps Association in
the funeral line.
Before the march TO Arlington was ended the
ambulance that followed the line was filled with
soldiers Frustrated by the oppressive heat.
BOYS FEARFUL FIGHT WITH BULLDoG.-A
bulldog owned by Chas. salisbury, who lives ON
the outskirts Of Baltimore, made savage attack
On Miss Amelia SALISBURY and Miss Jennie Brown,
Their screams attracted the attention OF l4-year-
Old brother OF Miss salisbury, who made an effort
TO beat on the oog. The brute at once turned on
the boy, and before help could reach him he was
bitten in twinty-two different places. His arms
and legs were terribly mangled and his wounds
! may prove fatal The young ladies were badly
bitten on the arms, and Miss Brown received a
dangerous wound on the left hip. policeman
had 10 be summoned to shoot the animal before he
bury.
The Holland Society Of New York was received
by the municipal authorities OF Amsterdam In the
town hall yesterday.
The convention OF Northern settlers III louisiana
met In New Orleans Tuesday and Wednesday.
Every Northern state was represented. Measures