The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1906-09-15
ARLINGTON THE NATIONS wEsTMIN.
STER ABBEY.

ARLINGTON THE NATIONS wEsTMIN.
sTER ABBEY.
On the hills of Virginia, 200 feet
above the Potomac, fronting and over
looking the river and city, stands the
historic mansion, Arlington. Built
by the adopted son of George Wash
ington, it is better known Of later
years as the home which Col. R. E.
Lee abandoned in April, 1861, to ac-
cept the command of the troops which
Virginia was enlisting for the new
Confederacy, and as the principal
National Cemetery.
In 1869 the tract, of which this es
tate was a part, comprising 5000
acres and known as Abingdon, was
traded for six hogsheads of tobacco.
In 1878 John Parke Custis purchased
100 acres, upon one corner of which
was large frame house; two years
later he died, and his son, George
Washington Parke Custis, inherited
the place. In 1902 he built the man
sion, modelling the front after Gre
clan temple and naming it in honor
of the Earl of Arlington, one of the
men to whom Charles II had given
title to a large portion of the Province
of Virginia. This building is of brick,
covered with stucco, and the portico,
with the great columns supporting it,
may be seen from many parts of the
city. The main part is sixty feet
wide, with wings forty feet each, CIV
ing front of I4o feet. Back of this,
in the old plantation style, stand the
servants quarters and kitchen. The
large square rooms, with wide pas
sages, show that space was not so
much regarded in the modern city
house. Mr.. Custis was genial, hos
pitable man, always delighted when
entertaining friends he called himself
farmer and was interested particu-
larly in raising sheep, but seems to
have had little success. He was some
thing of an artist, and on the walls
hung a number of pictures painted by
him to illustrate incidents in the life
of Washington. Here were also a
number of relics of the Revolution,
including the sword of Washington,
his Generals uniform and his camp
chest, which had been given by their
illustrious owner to his adopted son
and namesake. In 1892, Mr.. Custis'
only daughter married Lieut.. R. E.
Lee, son of Light Horse Harry"
of Revolutionary fame, and on the
death of Mr.. Gusts in 1887, Mrs.
Lee inherited life interest in the
estate, which at her death was to de-
scend to her eldest son. In the early
part Of 1861, when secession was
threatened, and officers of the army
and navy were announcing their in
tentions to "go with their states, !"
such was the desire of the govern
ment to avoid any appearance of vio-
lence that their designations were ac-
cepted and the amount due each Off
Ger was paid in gold. There was
much interest in what Lee would do,
a Virginian by birth, related to some
of the leading families, of high social
standing, and holding colonels COM
mission, he was regarded as one of
the rising men of the army, and his
example would undoubtedly decide
mapy others. General Scott, the
commander-in-chief, who considered
Lee the ablest officer of the service,
pleaded with him to cast his lot with
the Union, and pointed out the pros
pect for advancement.
1t was known that early in April
Lee had been offered high command
in the new army and for a time he
appeared to hesitate. When he ten
dered his resignation many prominent
men urged his arrest, but Scott could
not be brought to believe that his
favorite would actually take up arms
against the old flag, but at the worst
would remain neutral. However, on
April 2Ist, Lee went to Richmond,
leaving his family in possession of
the homestead, no doubt expecting
soon to return at the head of a vic
torious army and hoist the stars and
bars over the capitol. The rights of
the states as related to the uation was
the great question of the hour, and it
was not thought that the United
States would invade Virginia, and
Lee supposed his home would be un-
molested /; but the position, overlook
ing the city on one side and Virginia
on the other, rendered its occupation
a military necessity. On May 24th,
1861, a company of engineers was
sent to take possession Capt. H. G.
Wright, who was in command. three
years later led the famous 9th army
corps, and is buried near the house,
Earth-works were erected and later
two of the chain of forts which encir
cled the city were within its borders
one of them, Fort Whipple, now
Fort Myer, is the finest calvary pos
in the country.
Mrs. Lee soon followed her hus
band to Richmond, few old family
servants being left in charge. Camp:
and hospitals we're established and II
one part of the grounds large mum
Der of fugitive slaves were gathered
The relics of Washington were re
moved and after many vicissitude.
most of them can now be seen in the
National Museum. III 1862 an Ac
of Congress levied direct war ia,
on the states in insurrection, the pro
portion of Arlington being $o2.o7
| aud nd one annearinp to nav this. fhI