Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-06-02

frontage of 1+0 feet facing the Potomac.
which is 200 feet below, half mile away,
and Washington, which is two or three
miles to the east. The prominent feature
of the building Is the portico, whchh Is
slXty #. wide and twenty-five IT, deep sus-
tanned by eight Doric columns, massive
and grand. 1t was modelled after the
temple of Paestum near Naples Mr.
Custis was man of great wealth who
entertained lavishy. He and his wife
are buried on the grounds. BY the terms
of the viii the Arlington estate passed to
his daughter Mary, wife of Robert T.
Lee, but cniailed to her eldest SON They
were married in 1881. about two years
after his graduation from West Point;
and Arlington House was their home
thence on until April 90. 1861. when he left
Tor Richmond Immediately to become the
m,nanucr-in -chief of the military forces
of his native state and later to be known
ms the great military chieftain of the en-
tire Southland in the very front with the
great generals of the age and of all ages.
- was In command of an army post in
Texas until that state seeded when he
came to Washington by direction Of the
government and was promoted to he
colonel Of the First United States cav
airy. His excellence as n man and an
officer WIS recognized fully by Scott, then
general IN command of the United States
army, and the two were In frequent and
ca ruest conference. up to the fateful
day he was let To decide against the nation
whose soldier he was. in favor of the
state whose son he was. Arlington
House Wa the scene Of his mighty struE
hc n no
nictins duties. He was unequivocaly
opposed to accession. MS is witnessed by
his letter written from Texas to his son
on January %. SCI:
Secession is nothing but revolution Tho
trainers Of our Constitution never ex-
huusted go much labor. wisdom and for
bearance In its formation, and surrounded
it with so many guards and securities. II
it was intended to be broken by every
member Of the Confederacy at will. 1t
was intended for Perpetual Union: so
expressed In the preamble, and for the
establishment Of government. not
compact. which can only be dissolved by
revolution. or the consent of ali the peo-
pie in convention assembled. 1t is idle
to talk Of secession. Anarchy would
have been established, and not govern
forson. Madison and other patriots Of
the Revolution"
General Scott believed In the full loyalty
Of Lee to the Union and. acting under his
advice. President Lincoln rendered the
| command of the Army then being assem-
bled That lie gave most serious thought
| to this offer there is no question. but on
the 10Th of April he wrote to General
| Scott:
darlington. Va. April 20, 1861.
| General:
Since my interview with Won on the lSt h
| inst. have felt that ought not longer
to retain my commission in the army.
| therefore tender my resignation which /
| request you will recommend for accept
ance. 1t would have been presented at
| once but for the struggle II has cost me
| to separate myself from the service to
which | have devoted the best years of
my life and all the ability / possessed.
| During the whole Of that time, more than
n quarter of century. | have experience
ed nothing but kindness from my SUI
periors and the most cordial friendship
| from my comrades. To no one. General
| have | been as much indebted as to YOUR
self for uniform Kindness and considera-
| ton, and II has always been my ardent
desire to merit your appreciation.
| shall carry TO the grave the most CRATE
fil recollectons of your kind considera-
tion. and your name and fame will always
| be dear to me
| Save in the defence Of my native state
] never again desire to draw my sword
BE pleased to accept my most earnes,
wishes for the continuance of your hap
piness and prosperity. and believe me
most truly yours,
"R. +. LEE.
"Licut-General Winfield Scott.
Commanding United States Army"
On the same day a deputatlon from Tho
Nirgnian convention. which had dcclar-
ed it's adherence to the cause OF tho con.
fcderacy. appeared In Washington and By
authority offered the command OF tn,
military forces OF that State to Genera
Scott. They met only a stern rebuff
They went direct from Scott to Lee ant
offered him what Scott had refused. u
to that hour Lee had been undecided bu
his indecision terminated there and ther
and, casting his fortunes with and glvnl
his allegiance to his native State, h'
wrote the historical letter which ! hav.
just read in your hearing. General Scot
was Nirginian also proud and fond o
the State of his birth but he held hi.
first and greatest duty to be with and t,
his whole country. While to Lee hi
State was supreme.
Almost Immediately following the de
parture Of Gen. Lee and family from
Arlington, the exigencies Of war and tn,
strategical Importance o: the position
made Arlington House military headquar
tiers for the Union Army ana converte,
the fields into camps and fortidcation
which conditions continued through tn
war. II also became the site Of a Crea
} hospital and tho first conception of thes
grounds as place Of burial came whe-
} the other cemeteries assigned 10 the sol
: der dead had become over-crowded an
, | further provision must be made II 4
related that on May 10, 1854 Quartcrmas
, ter General Meigs was riding in the Arl
in9ton fields with President Lincoln an
J he observed Il squad OF soldiers wit
stretchers In the lower part of tn
grounds evidently waiting river transpor
tation OF their dead to the already to
thickly crowded cemetery at the Soldier
= Home near Washington. He made in
3 quiries and finding that thirteen soldier
4 were awaiting burial he Immediately CAV
the requisite orders for the interment {
$ the thirteen at once at Arlington and a
0 a point where the slight terrace border
n the garden of the mansion
n The first soldier buried under this orde
was l.. Reinhard, 23rd. y. G. OF the r,
n naming twelve-two were Vermonter
4 ]. A, Miller of the 4th VI, Inf. and !
\ Sherbudd of the 9Th W. Previously to Thu
. a report had been made by a conmitte