Evening star., 1927-05-29

Washington's survey marks, set down
when the District borders were
marked, still can be found in the
county.
The land was thickly forested. Set
tiers were few. There were occasional
fine houses in the direction of Alex
andria, but elsewhere the Arlington
mansion was the one notable land
mark. The few farmhouses were
rudely constructed and the land was
not well adapted to agriculture. 1t
did not appear that the slowly pro-
crossing city of Washington ever
would engulf this rough. If pictur-
esque, territory. 1t was ceded back
by act of Congress.
The Arlington estate was inherited
from George Washington Parke Gus
tis by his only daughter, Mary Anne
Randolph Custis, who had married,
some say against the wishes of her
father a young lieutenant of Engi-
neers named Robert E. Lee, the de-
scendant of a distinguished Virginia
family, but with no financial prospects
beyond his Army pay. In any event,
the fathers will stipulated that she
was to have control Of the property
during her life, but that it was to
pass upon her death to her son,
George Washington Custis Lee, only
on the condition that he dropped the
name of Lee and used that Of Custis.
This condition, however, may not have
indicated any animosity against the
lieutenant on the part Of his father
in-law. who naturally did not desire to
have the Custis family name lost for.
ever.
House Suddenly Abandoned.
Lee continued to live at the fine
old mansion overlooking the Capital
with his family-his wife was an in
valid--during the years he was on
duty in Washington. He used to ride
on horseback from Arlington to the
War Department In fine weather.
During the Winter he sometimes
would stay all night in town because
how times have changed-of the poor
condition Of the roads. The old man.
sion witnessed in those days a Sc
cluded family life, with prayer before
meals and few evening guests. Among
the most frequent Of the latter was
another young Army officer, Lees
classmate at West Point and closest
friend in Washington-Joseph e.
Johnston.
Lee and his family suddenly aban-
doned the house on April IL, 1861.
Ten days later at Richmond he &C.
cepted the commission as commander.
in-chief of the Confederate Army.
The estate was left to the tender
mercies Of the enemy. During the
lifetime Of Mrs. Lee no effort was
made to reclaim 1t.
Congress in 1851 levied q special
war tax on all the States with author
ization to seize and sell property in
those commonwealths which did not
meet their obligation. Virginia, of
course, did not pay. The Arlington
estate was about the handiest property
the Government could lay hands on.
But tented city had sprung up on
the hills across the Potomac. The
surgeons staff Of the Hospital Corps
was located at Arlington. Officers
were bileted in the mansion. The
Government made no effort to realize
on the property until January IL,
1864, when it was put up at public
auction for taxes. 1t was bid in by
the United States for $4,000. In 1850
it had been assessed for $4,000.
Government Gets Title.
This did not settle the matter. In
May, 1877, George Washington Custis
Lee unexpectedly called into question
not only the validity OF the tax sale
but of the clause in his grandfather's
will which would have required him
to drop his fathers name in order to
inherit the property. After long
and involved legal fight the Govern.
| ment finally obtained a clear title
| from him by payment of $150,O00.
| Thus the estate, a large part of
which now is holy ground for Ameri-
; can patriots, passed finally from the
| Gusts and Lee families.
Establishment of the National Gem.
| etery there was somewhat accidental.
Prior to 1864 soldiers and sailors who
had died in Washington had been
buried at Soldiers Home. The avail.
able ground there soon was exhausted.
In May OF that year permits for fur
ther burials were refused. President
Lincoln used to make frequent eve.
ming visits to the local hospitals. On
the evening of May 13 he was accom-
/ panied on visit to the hospital at
Arlington by @. NJ. Gen. NJ.
G. Meigs. They found IL bodies In
black painted board collins lying on
the ground. They had been refused
burial at Soldiers Home, and Meigs
was in a quandary what to do with
Vthem.
"They cannot be left like this" said
the President.
Then bury them right here" said
Meigs. calling some Hospital Corps
orderlies and pointing to what had
been Gen. Lees garden.
Prisoner Buried First.
The first body buried was that Of a
Southern prisoner. The second was
that of a New York volunteer. Thus
| was established the nucleus of the
great national cemetery Of today.
During the Civil War a seni.circle
or "courronne" Of forts stretched
y acreea Arlington County as q part
7sta. o. :, N&txS