The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-06-25


nearly 5000 Union soldiers buried
there: and likewise IN late years of
the lccple or the South In love and
honor Of General Lee, and the Con
federate soldiers having graves IN tho
Confederate section. The Lac man
s ,in ma. mas become an imposing, memorial.
Tue grandest In that vast field III nonu-
ments. And the most notable and
beautiful site Of graves In the entire
-aren Of 500 acres Is The Confederate
section.
The Southern visitor to Arlington at
once seeks the mansion, and as he
rcverently trcads its stately halls ana
apartments, and stands within tho
eight pillars OF IT'S Doric porch. his
Ii thoughts naturally turn to reflection
4 npon the purity of life and character
and the wonderful military genius ami
carecr OF General Lee.
Aringt ton was the home with which
he was most closely Identified, and
his name can no more be disassociatcd
from II than can be George washing.
tons from Mount Vernon. His na,nc
and fame VIII cling to It as long as
there lis tree or stone left to M FIX
tho historic spot. Tho extensive grove
OF druidical oaks surrounding the man
sion. the multitude Of monuments njii
white headstoncs resting under the
wide spreading branches, the historic
Potomac flowing Mt its base broaden
Ing out for many miles In fair view
tho beautiful city of Washington
with the Washington Monument, tie
capitoi. the White House and other
public buildings, and the parks, all N
majestic panorama. make the outlook
from tho Lee mansion supre,nciy i'm
pressivc and hcau,iful
From the city OF Washington on the
farther side of the Potomac River
Arlington nppears as aan elevated
plateau Immersed in trees OF mature
growth: from the summit OF the an
rroach CLEANS the exceedingly simple
classic facade OF the renowned ma
zion. reminding one Of Greek ,cni-
\ pie. a pantheon at which Americans
4 assemble with patriotic pride and rev
ercncc To heroes from nil sections OF
The country.
These familiar facts are recited here
to emphasize the notable change IN
sentiment that has come In respect TO
Arlington since the Year 1868. when
Federal soldiers with fixed bayonets
tore from the graves Of the Confed-
crate soldiers the wreaths OF flowers
which had been laid upon them by
their relatives and friends, ana com
pclled those patriotic men and women
to leave the burial grounds at point
OF bayonet
1t is the story Of this change ana
the manner In which 1t was brouen,
labont that wish to mako better
known to your readers.
Soon after Colonel Robert f. Lee left
his home in april, 1861. to csponsa
the cause of his native state, the Fed
nral authorities took possession Of
these admirably situated broad lands
Tor military uses. and so held them
until January. 1864, when they were
caused to be sold for non payment ar
war taxes. the Federal government
No .T,,. 4. L.
valuation. After the death OF his
mother III. 1873, George w. Custis lie.
brought suit In cJcctment and sue
ressfully contested the legality OF the
title of the Federal government under
the tax sale. But on these lands had
been established n military cemetery In
1864, q graveyard for soldiers of the
Federal army. together with negro
contrabands. refugees and Confederate
soldiers who had died In hospital and
prison In the District OF Columbia,
designated as rebels In time this
graveyard became a sort OF WalhaIla
for Union soldiers, and for long
period large number or the people
of the North seemed. to ind some grim
satisfaction In tho fact that the 2inI,
home OF the Lee family had been per-
rcrted forever TO such purposes. On
the other side, the Southern people felt
that great outrage was being donc.
hardships Of war, but thought it moro
than unsecmly that The government
should misuse in this way the .,onc
of the Lee family.
Under these irremcdlnblc circum-
stances General GUSTS Lee was re-.
vailed upon 10 consent to q forced sale
to the United States government Ac-
cordingly. the United States Congress
3 In 1SS3 appropriated the sum III $780,
600 for the purpose. and General lee,
pcrforce, made conveyance of those
broad lands. most eligibly located, of
moro than l11D t,cr.s hus bfing ruth
lcssly wrongcd Of his rightful inheri-
tance.
The Southern people will ever hold
that the Lee family have been de-
spoiled by the Federal government, Ibi,t
they: have come to recognize the fact
that this action OF a past generation
of the Federal government is deed
accomplished, and beyond recall, re-
pair or remedy Since The scattered
remains of.$Confederate soldiers have
4 been brought tog ether in an approprt-
alto plot and the graves suita bly, mark
ed. many Southern people visiting
Washing ton, journey TO the Confeder-
ate section to honor the memory Of
those valiant soldiers: and once ca eli
year thousands go there 10 strew
flowers over those beloved dead and
Hltei 4il peri Ut InlnR tnaL n Sa cred duty,
flowers arc placed at the ba Sc of the
monument erected to tho unknown
Union dead. How and by whom was
this great change In sentiment brought
about? Certainly generous minded ana
patriotic men ON both sides must have
Joined in the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Of are
siilt so @praiscworthy.
twelve years ago, DR. Samuel T.
I Lewis, n generous and sympathetic
y n N n nd M
OF his comrades OF Washing TOM ID. c..
began an investigation to ascertain
the number and condition OF tho graves