Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-08
REPORT SUBMITTED ON
/ BULL RUN BATTLEFIELD
Army Officers Recommend Purchase
of Henry and Dogan
Farms.
Two Monuments Declared to Be in
Fair State of Preservation-Re-
ferred to House Committee.

Observation-Disclosures tndl tut Ailco
States government should purchase the
land comprising the battlefield of Bull
Run as a national park have been made
by board of United States Army Off
GERS appointed by the Secretary of War
to investigate the state of the land and
the monuments on the field. The report
has been referred by the Secretary to the
House of Representatives and is before
the House military affairs committee. The
army officers who made the survey are
-ldjt. Gen. III. O. s. Heistand. Lieut.. Col.
Chaupcey Is. Baker and Capt. Robert r.
I.alston.
The report says, In part:
The board visited the battleiields of
Bull Run for the purpose of making an
inspection of the monuments and inter
viewing the owners of the lands on which
they stand.
The monuments, two in number, are
located one ON the Henry farm, about
100 feet east of the Henry house and
the other on the Dosan farm, about GOO
yards TO the north and west of Groveton
the intersection of the Warrenton turn
pike and the Groveton-Sudley road A de-
scription of these monuments, the method
of their construction and the events
leading to their construction and dedica-
ton are given in the printed copies of
the hearings of April Is. 1872, before the
committee on military affairs of the
House of Representatives on II. +. 1850
ia bill to protect the monuments already
erected on the battlefields of Bull Run,
Va. and other monuments that may be
there erected, and it is not considered
necessary to repeat them in this report.
Location of Monuments.
Both monuments are at present in q
fair state of preservation, though that
near the Henry house is leaning some
what, due to unequal settlement, and
the one on the Dogan farm has been
denuded of the projectiles that were
placed on it when built. and is also
now surrounded by timber and under
growth. which has grown up since it's
construction, and prevents good view
of 1t being obtained except at close
range.
As a result of its Investigations. the
board is of the opinion that steps
should be taken by the United States
1or the repair and preservation Of these |
monuments, and that to this end it is |
desirable and advisable that the lands !
chased.
The monument on the Henry farm
is located in such close proximity to |
the house that ii the land on which |
" stands is to be acquired it will be |
necessary TO purchase the entire farm, |
ana this is believed to be warranted !
since, in addition to the monument, the |
farm contains many points of historic |
interest In connection with both the |!
mrs. st, and second battles of Bull Run.
1ocat ad no on the Dogan farm is
railroad which is of considerable historic !
lnteres-, since it was the position of a |
part Ct the Confederate forces during the
second battle, and was the scene Of the |
most severe fighting of that battle
IN view OF the above, the board Is inn
pressed with the desrability Of acquiring |
sufficient land to include section Of the |
unfinished railroad in addition to that |
necessary for the monument and a right |
of-way thereto.
Number of Acres Involved.
The Henry farm contains approximate |
iy l2s acres, Of which about half is wood |
land, the remainder being under cuitiva-
ton or in pasture; the fences are gener-
ally In good condition, and the buildings,
which consist of a house. a barn and three
small outbuildings, are inexpensive frame
structures. In fair condition.
THE portion Of the Dcgan farm which.
In the opinion OF the board. should be ac
quired contains about las acres, which,
with the exception OF small area of pas
Iure. is all woodland there are no build
Ings on this portion OF the farm and the
fences are i'll fair condition.
Based on its Investigations of the
prices of farm lands III the vicinity, the |
board is of the opinion that for the Henry
farm $50 per acre and for the portion |
per acre would be good prices were their |
value as farm lands alone considered. |
The historic interest of these two farms I
has naturally enhanced their value much |
above their value as farm lands, however,
and In recent years several small tracts !
of from one acre up have been disposed |
of for memorial purposes on the battle |
field of Second Bull Run, for 800 an |
acre.
The owners of the Henry farm have, |
in recent years. CHARGED visitors fee of .
30 cents for the privilege of visiting the |
points of interest on their farm, including |
the services of guide. and as 1t was |
learned that on the average. LOCO per- |
sons visited the place annually, il Will |
appear that the historic interest of the !
property is the source of some revenue |
to its owners. The owners of the farm !
are willing to dispose of their property |
at the rate of approximately S155 per |
acre.
Owners Willing to Sell.
The owners OF the Dogan farm ex-
pressed themselves as willing to dispose
Of 4 tract OF land OF moderate size, sur
rounding the monument. at s1G0 per acre
and they are willing to dispose of the
tract which the board believes should be
purchased at $50 an acre, at which price
its cost would be about s1l,6OO.
The board believes that IL the Henry
farm and the portion of the Dosaa
farm indicated be purchased, ample |
means will be afforded for the protec- |
ton Of the monuments and for making