Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-10-15
ARLINGTON CEMETERY.
Famous National Buryins Place Near
Washington.

Famous National Buryins Place Near
Washington.
Although established within so COM
paratively recent a period, there are
few cemeteries in the world that con-
tain more interesting features than
does beautiful Arlington, the place
which the United States government
has selected for the last resting place
of its soldiers and sailors. Its location
is all that could be desired from the
standpoint of natural beauty, as it is
on high ground commanding view
across the Potomac of the city of Wash
ington and all it's manifold beauties. In
addition it possesses historic value
from having been the country home Of
several persons intimately connected
with the history Of the nation.
The grounds comprising the ceme-
terry are a part of the original Custis
Heights" The property belonged first
to John Parke Custis, who was a son
Of Martha Washington by her first
marriage. He was aid-de-camp to
Washington during the war of the
Revolution and died on Nov. 5, 1881, of
camp fever contracted during the siege
Of Yorktown. Upon his death Wash
ington adopted his two children, George
Washington Parke Custis and Eleanor
Parke Custis. George Washington
Parke Gusts inherited the Arlington
estate from his father, but he was a
member of Washington's family until
the death Of the latter in 1899 when he
removed to Arlington, where he resided
until he died in 1857. He had one
child, a daughter, to whom he be-
queathed the Arlington house estate by
a will dated March 26, 1855.
This daughter, Mary Ann Randolph
Lee, was the wife of General Robert E.
Lee. She was to have the use Of Ar
lington during her life, after which it
was to revert to her son, George Wash
ington Custis Lee, and his heirs for
ever Robert E Lee, who was a colo
mel in the United States army before
the breaking out Of the Civil war, re-
sided at Arlington and left it to enter
the service of Virginia on the secession
Of that state For this reason it has
seemed especially fitting that now when
past differences are overcome, the
Confederate as we'll as the Union SOL
diers should rest in a spot having such
touching associations for both. The
story of how Arlington was acquired
by the Federal government first in pay
ment of delinquent taxes and of the
suit which followed by which the Unit
ed States finally paid $4,000 addition
al for the property has been frequently
told.
The national cemetery at Arlington
now contains between 400 and 500
acres of ground inclosed by a substan-
tial brick and stone wall 1t has five
principal entrances, four on the eastern
and one upon the western side. Those
upon the eastern front are designated
as the North, Mcclellan, Sheridan and
South gateways. There are two stone
columns, one on each side of the North
gateway, on which are inscribed the
names of ord" and "Weitzel." The
Sheridan gateway has two columns on
each side and the four are surmounted
by a stone tablet upon which the
name of Sheridan" is inscribed. The
four columns contain the names of
Lincoln" Grant" stanton" and
Scott" The South gateway is built |
of Seneca sandstone in the form of a
massive arch composed Of capstone
resting upon two columns. The name
of Mcclellan" is engraved upon the
capstone and the names of Hooker