Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-14


Gusts of Arlington, though an uncompro-
missing federalist, was less interested In sf-
fairs OF state than in merino sheep He
entered quite largely into sheep raising at
portance Of sheep to the nation. which may
be seen at the Library OF Congress. During
his life there was an annual meeting OF
farmers at Arlington. held on April 80
came to be called "the Arlington sheep
shearings."
Lafayette on his last visit 10 the United
States went to the tomb OF Washington in
company with John c. Calhoun, Secretary
of War, and there, on October 20, 1924,
Gusts presented to the distinguished
Frenchman a ring containing a lock of
George Washington's hair. The speeches
made by GUSTS and Lafayette are matters
of record. In January. 1925 Lafayette was
a guest of Custis at Arlington for sew
eral days. 1t was one of the customs OF
Custis to write a series of recollections OF
Washington for publication In the Nation
al Interrigencer on Washington's birthday,
and in 1850 these were collected and pub
lshed in book form.
It was not long after the resignation of
Lee from the United States army and the
withdrawal of the Lees from Arlington that
the national government took possession
Of the place The heights commanded
washington ana their Occupation Dy 1euSI-
al forces was a necessity. General Scott
ordered General J, X. +. Mansfield, COM
manding the Department of Washington. to
fortify the heights Of Arlington. The order
was issued May 3, 1861, but the execution
Of II was not begun TIL May "a when three
bodies Of troops left the District OF Column
bia for Virginia. One OF these crossed at
the AQueduct bridge. one at the Long
by boat. It was on May "a that Alexandria
and Arlington were occupied by United
States troops. The Notifications construct
ed on Arlington Heights were Fort Whip
pie, which occupied the site OF Fort Myer;
Fort MCPHERSON which IL preserved In the
southern part Of the Arlington reservation;
Fort TilIinghast and Fort Cass. Fort Nc
Pherson was not begun till 1854. and had
not been finished when the war ended.
During the war camps and hospitals were
scattered over that high country and on
the Arlington estate. Men who died there
were buried IN the Soldiers Home ceme-
and Captain James NJ. Moore reported that
Arlington was a most eligible site for
national cemetery. and General Montgom-
cry c. Meigs, on May 10, 1864. ordered In
terments to be made there. On that day
a number Of men who died in the Arlington
hospitals were laid to rest under the sod
at Arlington.
According to some OF the guide books and
to Historic Arlington" written by Karl
Decker and Angus McSween, the first In
terment, on May 10, 1854. was that of the
body of L. Reinhardt, 23d North Carolina
Infantry confederate. who died OF wounds
in one of the Arlington hospitals. There is
authority for the statement that interments
were made at Arlington before May Ii, 1864.
After the war bodies were taken up from
the battlefelds and old camps in northern
Virginia between the Potomac and the
Rappahannock. and reinforced at Arlington
Men who died In the military hospitals In
and around Washington were also buried
there after the order issued by Gen. Meigs.
South of the mansion Is a monument,
the inscription on which tells this sad
story:
Beneath This Stone Repose the Bones of
Two Thousand One Hundred and Eleven
Unknown Soldiers Gathered After the War
From the Fields of Bull Run and the Route
to the Rappahannock. Their Remains Could
Not Be Identified. but Their Names and
Deaths Are Recorded in the Archives OF
Their Country, and Its Grateful Citizens
Martyrs May They Rest in Peace. Sept
A D. 1866"
Early in 1864 Arlington was ordered sold
for taxes, and was bought by the national
government. Mrs. Lee died in 1873 without
contesting the governments title, but her
son. George Washington Gusts Lee, sued
to have the sale set aside. The case was
finally decided by the Supreme Court and in
favor of Lee He then sold the property 10
the government for $4,000
In the southwest part of the grounds are
the graves of Gusts. the builder OF Airing
ton House. and his wife. Over their graves
stand two plain monuments erected by their
daughter. Mrs. Robert E. Lee.