Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 76, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 May 1899 — NATION’S MONUMENT [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

NATION’S MONUMENT

TO ITS IMMORTAL DE AO AT ARg LINGTON CEMETERY, The Beautiful Spot Near Washington City in Which Thousands of Known and Unknown Heroes Await the . Resurrection Trumpet’s Call. Be ■

RLINGTON may truly be called “the nation’s monument to its immortal dead.” It would be hard to conceive of a more beautiful place in which to rest after life’s fitful fever than in this sacred spot. It is located on the Virginian

Mb about three miles southwest of Washington, on the old Georgetown and Alexandria pike, a road which a hundred years ago was the principal means of communication for all of that part of the Country. It rises beyond the river in terfaced hills, while every foot of ground for miles around it was the scene of the great drama of the civil war. The story of Arlington itself is full of historic interest. It was the property of George Washington’s adopted son, George Washington Parke Custis, and he built the old mansion in 1802. Into this house he brought his bride, Mary Lee Fitzhugh, and here he spent the remainder of his hfe, as a quiet country gentleman without ever giving any evidence of possessing much of the spirit of his honored grandsire. He left but one living child, Mary Randolph Custis, who married Robert E. Lee in 1831, and they lived at Arlington until the outbreak of the war, at which time they left it never to return. During the war it was used as headquarters for the commanders of the Union troops that were quartered on the grounds. Washington was the hospital base of all the surrounding country, and thousands of wounded soldiers were carried there to die. The cemetery of the Soldiers’ Home became overcrowded, and what to do with the soldier dead became a very serious question. Then it was that Quartermaster General Megis ordered that Arlington should be used as a burying ground for the Union soldiers. It is interesting in this connection to note that the first soldier buried at Arlington was a rebel prisoner of war. In 1867 it was declared a national cemetery, -and, a number of years afterwards, the Government paid to the Lee family the .price they agreed upon for it. The estate contains about 1,100 acres and the 200 ■acres surrounding the mansion is used for burial purposes, while all of the rest is a magnificent park. The house is modeled after the temple Theseus at Athens, and consists of a center 60 feet long; two wings, and a portico in the front, 25 feet wide, with six massive doric columns, which are 60 feet high. The view from this porch is surpassingly beautiful. To the north lie Fort Meyer and Georgetown. Extending away to the east across the Potomac lies the proud city of the natkm—Washington—with its legislative

tea of granite and marble, while just beyond it glitters the gilded dome of the Congressional Library building. The mansion is surrounded by a broad driveway, and from it the well-kept walks lead in and out among the flower beds. In a perfect grove of forest and ornamental trees, over a level plateau that extends from the western wall of the cemetery to the mansion, is the general burying ground where thousands of the private soldiers lie. In this section the headstones are all alike, simple marble slabs rising about two feet from the ground, bearing the names and regiments of those whose graves they mark. Directly south of the house is a most interesting plot of ground. Right in its center is what is known as the Temple of Fame. It is a circular structure and is composed of eight columns, surmounted by a dome, which rests on an octagonal cornice of stonework. Set in this cornice are the names Of Washington, Lincoln, Grant and Farragut. There is also carved on each of the pillars one of the following illustrious names: McPherson, Sedgwick, Reynolds, Humphrey, Garfield, Mansfield, Thomas and Meade. This temple is seen in the background of the illustration of the Tomb of the Unknown. During the summer months the names of our famous generals appear in floral letters in this plot. Immediately west of the Temple Is the Tomb of the Unknown Dead, and contains the bodies of 2,111 soldiers who were picked up after the battle of Bull Bun, and who could not be identified. It is one of the most touching sights. There are four magnificent entrance gates to Arlington, of which, perhaps, the one known as the Sheridan is the most interesting. It is of four mamaooth white marble columns, which were originally in the War Department at

Washington, but when it wu destroyed M fire to 1870. they were saved, and were placed at Arlington as a gateway, and —in honor of “Tattle Phil ” AH the /S C‘OU v vFjff? CO luC uQu߀ t Suu OU

“OLD ABE.” Live War Eagle Which Accompanied the Eighth Wisconsin Re<iment. “Old Abe” was the live war eagle which accompanied the Eighth Wisconsin regiment during, the war of the rebellion. Old Abe was a fine specimen of the bald eagle. Various stories are told of his capture, but the most trustworthy account is that Chief Sky, a Chippewa Indian, took him from the nest while an eaglet The nest was found on a pine tree in the Chippewa country, about three miles from the mouth of the Flambeau, near some rapids in the river. He and another Indian cut the tree down, and, amid the menaces of the parent birds, secured two young eagles about the size of prairie hens. One of them died. The other, which lived to become historical, was sold to Daniel McCann for a bushel of corn. McCann carried it to Eau Claire, and presented it to a company then being organized as a part of the Eighth Wisconsin infantry. Old Abe was called by the soldiers the “new recruit from Chippewa,” and sworn into the service of the United States by encircling his neck with red, white and blue ribbons, and by placing on his breast a rosette of colors, after which he was carried by the regiment into every engagement in which it participated, perched upon a shield in the shape of a heart. A few Inches above the shield was a grooved crosspiece for the eagle to rest upon, on

either end of which were three arrows. When in line Old Abe was always carried on the left of the color bearer, in the van of the regiment. The color bearer wore a belt to which was attached a socket for the end of the staff, which was about five feet in length. Thus the eagle was high above the bearer’s head, in plain sight of the column. A ring of leather was fastened to one of the eagle’s legs, to which was connected a strong hemp cord about twenty feet long. Old Abe was the hero of about twentyfive battles, and as many skirmishes. Remarkable as it may appear, not one bearer of the flag, or of eagle, always shining marks for the enemy’s rifles, was ever shot down. Once or twice Old Abe suffered the loss of a few feathers, but be was never wounded. The great bird enjoyed the excitement of carnage. In battle be flapped his wings, his eyes biased, and with piercing screams, which arose above the noise of the conflict, seemed to urge the company on to deeds of valor. Odd Abe knew his own regiment from every other, would always accompany its cheer, and never that of any other regiment. Having served three years, a portion of the members of Company C were mustered out, and Old Abe was presented to the State of Wisconsin. For many years on occasions of public exercises or review, like other illustrious veterans, be excited in parade universal and enthusiastic attention. He occupied pleasant quarters in the State capital at Madison, Wis, until his death at an advanced age.

Even the fleecy clouds that pass Springtime’s wondrous charms review. Troops of swallows speck the air. What can be more blithe than they? Hurtling here and darting there, The light-winged cavalry of May. Blandly, too, the zephyr’s breath Stirs with tender touch the flowers, To say that rising life, not death, Is master of these golden hours. For who can deem our heroes dead When May’s fair blossoms crown their sleep And every grave Is garlanded? On fame’s bright scroll their names we keep. Somewhere in dimes of fairer hue Than comes to any earthly May, To honor and to duty true, Life must have come to them. And they No more In conflict or In toil Need mingle in stern battle’s roar. In realms where nothing shall assail, And life Is theirs forevermore. Though dumb to-day the cannon’s mouth, While beauty springs from bud and spray, And all the winds are soft and south, Let reverence crown Memorial Day. * —Joel Benton.

TOMB OF UNKNOWN DEAD.

THE ARLINGTON MANSION.

“OLD ABE."