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Arlington National Cemetery: Difference between revisions
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In May 1864, the [[Union Army]] suffered large fatalities in the [[Battle of the Wilderness]]. Quartermaster General [[Montgomery C. Meigs]] ordered a review of eligible sites for the establishment of a large and new national military cemetery. Within weeks, his staff reported that Arlington Estate was the most suitable property in the area.{{sfn|Hanna|2001|p=84}} The property was located at a relatively high elevation and was typically free from floods capable of unearthing graves, and it was aesthetically pleasing. An additional factor in its selection was likely that it was the residence of Robert E. Lee, a leader in the Confederate States Army, and denying Lee use of his home during and following the war was advantageous to the Union.{{sfn|Hanna|2001|p=88}} | In May 1864, the [[Union Army]] suffered large fatalities in the [[Battle of the Wilderness]]. Quartermaster General [[Montgomery C. Meigs]] ordered a review of eligible sites for the establishment of a large and new national military cemetery. Within weeks, his staff reported that Arlington Estate was the most suitable property in the area.{{sfn|Hanna|2001|p=84}} The property was located at a relatively high elevation and was typically free from floods capable of unearthing graves, and it was aesthetically pleasing. An additional factor in its selection was likely that it was the residence of Robert E. Lee, a leader in the Confederate States Army, and denying Lee use of his home during and following the war was advantageous to the Union.{{sfn|Hanna|2001|p=88}} | ||
On May 13, 1864, [[William Henry Christman]] was buried at Arlington Cemetery,{{sfn|Hanna|2001|p=86}} close to what is now the northeast gate in Section 27,{{sfn|Dennee|2012|p=4}} even though Meigs did not formally authorize establishment of burials until the following month, on June 15, 1864.{{sfn|Hanna|2001|p=85}} Consistent with the practices of many cemeteries in the late 19th century, Arlington Cemetery maintained segregated burial practices. On July 26, 1948, however, [[President of the United States|U.S. president]] | On May 13, 1864, [[William Henry Christman]] was buried at Arlington Cemetery,{{sfn|Hanna|2001|p=86}} close to what is now the northeast gate in Section 27,{{sfn|Dennee|2012|p=4}} even though Meigs did not formally authorize establishment of burials until the following month, on June 15, 1864.{{sfn|Hanna|2001|p=85}} Consistent with the practices of many cemeteries in the late 19th century, Arlington Cemetery maintained segregated burial practices. On July 26, 1948, however, [[President of the United States|U.S. president]] Harry S. Truman issued Executive Order 9981, which formally reversed this practice.{{sfn|Poole|2010|p=191}} | ||
In 1864, with the Civil War still ongoing, the Union acquired Arlington Cemetery for $26,800, {{Inflation|US|26800|1864|fmt=eq}}, after the property was placed for tax sale.<ref name="hughes">{{cite book |title=Bivouac of the Dead |author=Hughes, Mark |year=1995 |publisher=Heritage Books |page=265| isbn=978-0788402609}}</ref> Mrs. Lee did not appear in person for the tax sale, but sent an agent, who attempted to pay the $92.07 allegedly owed in property taxes, {{Inflation|US|92.07|1864|fmt=eq}}, which had been assessed on the estate.<ref name="arlingtoncemetery.org">{{cite web| title=Historical Information| publisher=Arlington National Cemetery| url=http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/historical_information/arlington_house.html| access-date=July 29, 2011| url-status=usurped| archive-date=September 13, 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100913093837/http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/historical_information/arlington_house.html}}</ref> The Union government, however, turned her agent away, and refused to accept the tendered payment. The Washington Chronicle described the Freedmen's Village at Arlington in an article published in September 1864 and recorded at that time, "This cemetery is at present divided into the upper yard and the lower yard. The upper yard contains fourteen hundred graves, and the lower twelve hundred. These graves are marked with wooden slabs, with the exception of one marble slab in the upper and one in the lower yard. As we passed by it, a cortege of five ambulances, containing nine coffins, moved by. Some of the coffins were draped with our colors. The cemetery is as yet enclosed with a wooden fence."<ref>{{Cite web |date=1864-09-16 |title=A Freedmen's Village: The Settlement at Arlington Heights |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-liberator-a-freedmens-village-the/158743475/ |access-date=2024-11-10 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en-US}}</ref> | In 1864, with the Civil War still ongoing, the Union acquired Arlington Cemetery for $26,800, {{Inflation|US|26800|1864|fmt=eq}}, after the property was placed for tax sale.<ref name="hughes">{{cite book |title=Bivouac of the Dead |author=Hughes, Mark |year=1995 |publisher=Heritage Books |page=265| isbn=978-0788402609}}</ref> Mrs. Lee did not appear in person for the tax sale, but sent an agent, who attempted to pay the $92.07 allegedly owed in property taxes, {{Inflation|US|92.07|1864|fmt=eq}}, which had been assessed on the estate.<ref name="arlingtoncemetery.org">{{cite web| title=Historical Information| publisher=Arlington National Cemetery| url=http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/historical_information/arlington_house.html| access-date=July 29, 2011| url-status=usurped| archive-date=September 13, 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100913093837/http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/historical_information/arlington_house.html}}</ref> The Union government, however, turned her agent away, and refused to accept the tendered payment. The Washington Chronicle described the Freedmen's Village at Arlington in an article published in September 1864 and recorded at that time, "This cemetery is at present divided into the upper yard and the lower yard. The upper yard contains fourteen hundred graves, and the lower twelve hundred. These graves are marked with wooden slabs, with the exception of one marble slab in the upper and one in the lower yard. As we passed by it, a cortege of five ambulances, containing nine coffins, moved by. Some of the coffins were draped with our colors. The cemetery is as yet enclosed with a wooden fence."<ref>{{Cite web |date=1864-09-16 |title=A Freedmen's Village: The Settlement at Arlington Heights |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-liberator-a-freedmens-village-the/158743475/ |access-date=2024-11-10 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en-US}}</ref> | ||