By Pat Kilkenney
Yup, there really was a Fort Whipple in Virginia; although most tourists to the Nation's Capitol know it as Fort Myer and Arlington National Cemetery. How it came to be is an interesting "side-bar" of Civil War History; and not one of the finer moments of our Government's history!
An area of 1,100 acres on the Virginia side of the Potomac River was purchased by George Washington's stepson John Parke Custis. His son, George Washington Parke Custis, began the construction of the "mansion" in 1802, and it was completed after the War of 1812. Here, in 1831, his only surviving child, Mary Ann Randolph Custis married Robert Edward Lee, the grandson of "Light Horse Harry" Lee of Revolutionary fame or infamy, depends on what history you read! When Robert E. Lee was offered command of the Union Army in 1861, by Lincoln, Lee refused feeling that his loyalty belonged with his home state of Virginia and in April of 1961, he offered his services to Virginia.
In retaliation, Federal troops crossed the river and occupied Alexandria in May of 1861, and threatened to occupy Arlington as well. Mrs. Lee and six of their seven children fled to Richmond and the Federals moved in. Originally used as a Training Camp by the Federals, General McDowell the Union Commander used the mansion as his headquarters while soldiers looted at will. The Government confiscated many objects from the Washington families as well as papers and documents from the Washington families that were found in the Mansion. Most of them were never returned to the Lee family in spite of their repeated efforts to have them returned.
In 1863-64, two events coincided, the threat of invasion by the Confederates caused panic and great hysteria in Washington D.C., not an uncommon occurrence! The other was a law passed that required taxes be paid on property in areas occupied by Union forces . The local tax collector required that the taxes be paid IN PERSON by the owner. Well, obviously Mrs. Lee couldn't appear in person, unless of course she wished to become a prisoner of war, so she arranged for a cousin to the pay the taxes of $92.00. The government then confiscated all the land anyway and put it up for auction with the government being the only bidder, so much for fair play! 200 acres surrounding the mansion were then set-aside as a military cemetery.
In the meantime, Confederates entered Maryland and Pennsylvania and threatened Washington D.C. from the west! Amongst the panic and hysteria that followed, not to mention the exodus of the strong of voice but weak of skin, 127 hastily thrown together forts, batteries and emplacements were strung around D.C. on the Virginia and Maryland sides. Among those of course was a choice parcel of land already somewhat militarized, "Arlington" the home of "that traitorous confederate" General Lee. So Arlington was strengthened, heavily manned and re-named "Fort Whipple" for the gallant hero who had fallen in the Battle of Chancellorsville! Although there was already a Fort Whipple near Prescott in the Arizona Territory. The two Fort Whipples were confused with one another until 1881, when the Virginia fort was re-named Fort Myer in honor of Brigadier General A.J. Myer the creator of the Army Signal Corps. Only a year later Lee's son sued and won the property back. However, the hundreds of graves surrounding the mansion rendered it uninhabitable and after bitter negotiations the government purchased the property for $150,000 that included the area formerly known as Fort Whipple.
Today it is known as the oldest commissioned and active Cavalry Post in the United States, in fact it is the only Cavalry Post in this country! But it has had a long unbroken history of activities. It was know at one time or another to be the scene of the premier horse shows in the country, the home to General Pershing, and the site of early aviation demonstrations by the Wright brothers. General Patton once commanded it. During the "Bonus Marches" in 1932, General McArthur and Dwight D Eisenhower, then a major, over zealously burned out the marchers and their families at the fort. Coincidentally, the Assistant Chief of Police of the District of Columbia who gathered food, clothing, shelter and medicines for the Marchers and their families was named Glassford!
If you have ever seen a military funeral, or remember the burial of John F. Kennedy you will have seen the horses of the Cavalry Unit at Fort Myer, the lead horse with the boots reversed is always named "Black Jack". The "Old Guard" posted there furnishes the sentries at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers as well as doing duty during diplomatic and Presidential details. The official Drum and Fife Corps is also posted at Fort Myer and the Quarters house the General of the Army.
For almost 20 years there were two Fort Whipples in the United States. Today neither is officially known as Whipple. Back east, it is now Fort Myer and ours is now the Northern Arizona Veterans Affairs Health Care System.
Pat Kilkenny is a Facilitator at the Yavapai Learning Institute.
Sharlot Hall Museum Photograph Call Number: (national Archives NWDNS-111-B-5304). Reuse only by permission.
This Matthew Brady photo of Arlington National Cemetery was probably taken shortly after the end of the Civil War. The cemetery was once part of another Fort Whipple that sat on the banks of the Potomac River. Courtesy of the Still Picture Branch, National Archives at College Park