Fort Myer in Arlington in Arlington County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Trophy of War
Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial
| | George Washington Memorial Parkway | |
Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, May 25, 2025
1. Trophy of War Marker
As Union forces threatened to occupy northern Virginia in 1861, the Lee Family evacuated Arlington House. Looking Across the river, you can see the vantage point it offered to protect the capital city. The hilltop swelled with tents, cannons, wagons and horses. Union officers moved into the house transforming it into a headquarters. The soldiers stole cherished family heirlooms from the shelves as souvenirs.
I grieve at the necessity that drives you from your home.
Robert E. Lee to his wife, Mary May 8, 1861
Caption
A Union soldier penciled these words into a wood beam in the Arlington House attic, shown above at two times thickness.
Erected by National Park Service.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is May 8, 1861.
Location. 38° 52.855′ N, 77° 4.354′ W. Marker is in Arlington, Virginia, in Arlington County. It is in Fort Myer. It can be reached from Queen Drive just south of Ord and Weitzel Drive, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 321 Queen Dr, Fort Myer VA 22211, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area and in Northern Virginia. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Garden to Graves (a few steps from this marker); A Place of Division and Reunification (a few
this page online
Other markers no longer nearby. Arlington House, 1864 (was a few steps from this marker but has been confirmed missing); The Flower Garden (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been confirmed missing); Selina Gray (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); The Kingdom of My Childhood (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Also see . . . Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial. National Park Service (Submitted on June 15, 2021.)
Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, May 25, 2025
2. Trophy of War Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on May 26, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 14, 2021, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 387 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 25, 2025, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
