Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery is a cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. It is the final resting place of over 400,000 people, including military veterans, their families, and other notable figures. The cemetery covers 624 acres and is among the most well-known and respected national cemeteries in the United States.
The Origins of Arlington Estate
The land that eventually became Arlington National Cemetery was originally part of a 1,100-acre estate owned by the Custis family. John Parke Custis, the son of Martha Washington and stepson of George Washington, inherited the estate from his father in 1781. He named the estate Arlington after the Custis family’s ancestral home in England. After John Parke Custis died in 1781, the estate was passed down to his daughter, Mary Anna Randolph Custis, who married Robert E. Lee in 1831.
The Custis Family and Their Estate
The Custis family owned the estate for many years and used it as a plantation, with slaves working the land. When Mary Anna Randolph Custis married Robert E. Lee, they moved into the mansion on the property, which was known as Arlington House. The house was built in the early 1800s and was designed by George Hadfield. It was one of the most impressive houses in the area and was a symbol of the Custis family’s wealth and status.
Robert E. Lee and Arlington House
Robert E. Lee lived at Arlington House with his family for 30 years, until the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861. Lee was a respected military officer and had served in the United States Army for many years. However, when Virginia seceded from the Union, Lee resigned his commission and joined the Confederate Army. The Union Army soon took control of the area around Arlington House, and the Lee family was forced to flee.
The Civil War and Arlington Estate
During the Civil War, the Union Army used Arlington Estate as a military encampment and hospital. The estate suffered significant damage, and many of the Custis family’s possessions were destroyed or stolen. Additionally, during the war, the Union Army began burying soldiers on the estate, which would eventually become Arlington National Cemetery.
The Use of Arlington Estate as a Cemetery
The decision to use Arlington Estate as a cemetery was made in 1864 by Quartermaster General Montgomery Meigs. Meigs was a Union Army officer who had served with Lee before the war, and he despised Lee for joining the Confederacy. Meigs wanted to ensure that Lee could never return to the estate, and he believed that the construction of a cemetery on the property would make that impossible.
The First Burials at Arlington Cemetery
The first burials at Arlington Cemetery took place on May 13, 1864. The remains of Private William H. Christman, a Union soldier who had died of measles, were interred in what is now Section 27 of the cemetery. Over the next few months, more soldiers were buried on the estate, and by the end of the year, over 2,000 soldiers were interred there.
The Establishment and Expansion of Arlington Cemetery
In 1867, Congress officially established Arlington Cemetery as a national cemetery. Over the years, the cemetery has expanded to include new sections and monuments to honor the men and women who served their country. Today, the cemetery covers over 624 acres and is the final resting place of over 400,000 people.
The Role of Quartermaster General Montgomery Meigs
Quartermaster General Montgomery Meigs played a significant role in the establishment of Arlington National Cemetery. He selected the site and oversaw the construction of the cemetery and its early operations. Meigs also made sure that Robert E. Lee would never be able to return to the estate, as he ordered graves to be placed right up to the doorstep of Arlington House.
The Legal Battle over Ownership of Arlington Estate
After the Civil War, the Lee family filed a lawsuit claiming that the government had illegally seized their property. In 1882, the United States Supreme Court ruled in favor of the government, stating that the property had been used for a public purpose and that the government had the right to claim it under eminent domain.
Conclusion: Arlington National Cemetery Today
Today, Arlington National Cemetery is a significant national landmark and a place of reverence and honor. It is a final resting place for military veterans, their families, and other notable figures. The cemetery is open to the public every day, and visitors can pay their respects to those who served their country and made the ultimate sacrifice.
Bibliography and Further Reading
- “A Brief History of Arlington National Cemetery,” Arlington National Cemetery, accessed June 29, 2021, .
- “Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial,” National Park Service, accessed June 29, 2021, https://www.nps.gov/arho/index.htm.
- “Montgomery C. Meigs,” Encyclopedia Britannica, accessed June 29, 2021, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Montgomery-C-Meigs.
- Robert M. Poole, On Hallowed Ground: The Story of Arlington National Cemetery (New York: Walker & Company, 2009).
- “United States v. Lee,” Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School, accessed June 29, 2021, https://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/106/196.
