Fairfax, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Blenheim (Willcoxon Farm)
Civil War Soldier Art
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 6, 2022
Blenheim, built for Albert and Mary Willcoxon about 1859, contains some of the nation’s best-preserved Civil War soldier writings. More than 110 identified Union soldiers, representing units from New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Massachusetts, and New Jersey, left their marks on the house walls. The earliest dated signature is from March 11, 1862, and the last is from June 20, 1863.
From the front door to the attic, the soldiers covered the new white plaster walls of the house (described by a Richmond newspaper in 1861 as “a brick building recently erected and fitted up in handsome style”) with their names, regiment numbers, and hometowns. Using charcoal, graphite, and crayon, they drew images from home—a house and animals—and of war—a cannon and men in uniform. One soldier lamented the war’s toll on morale:
No Money
No Whiskey
No Friends
No Rations
No Peas
No Beans
No Pants
No Patriotism
The Willcoxons, while loyal Confederates, neither destroyed nor covered the Union soldier signatures, art, and poetry on the attic walls. Recent removals of paint and wallpaper from the first and second floor walls revealed more names long hidden from view.
Blenheim is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is significant for providing rare visual insight into the psyche of the common Civil War soldier.
Erected by Virginia Civil War Trails.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1779.
Location. 38° 51.325′ N, 77° 17.604′ W. Marker is in Fairfax, Virginia. Marker can be reached from Old Lee Highway. The marker is located at the Civil War Interpretive Center at Historic Blenheim. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3610 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax VA 22030, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Historic Blenheim (a few steps from this marker); Dairy Barn Complex (within shouting distance of this marker); Blenheim House (within shouting distance of this marker); Boxwood Garden (within shouting distance of this marker); Grandma's Cottage (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Willcoxon Family Cemetery (about 300 feet away); Old Baptismal Area (approx. 0.8 miles away); Historic Fairfax Elementary School (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fairfax.
More about this marker. On the lower left of the marker is a map captioned, Survey for Military Defences:Map by the Bureau of Topographical Engineers, August 1862.- Courtesy of The Library of Congress..
In the center of the marker is a portrait captioned, Lt. Daniel W. Clark, 83rd Pennsylvania Infantry, signed the attic wall and left Fairfax Court House for Gen. George B. McClellan's Peninsula Campaign. -Courtesy of Forest Co. (Pa.) Historical Society. Below the portrait is a photo captioned, Signature of Lt. Daniel W. Clark.
On the upper right of the marker is a photograph captioned, Unsigned pencil and charcoal drawing of a cannon and soldier.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 7, 2022. It was originally submitted on July 25, 2009. This page has been viewed 2,168 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on May 7, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 2. submitted on July 25, 2009. 3. submitted on May 7, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 4, 5, 6. submitted on July 25, 2009. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.