Dominion Hills in Arlington in Arlington County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Upton's Hill and the Civil War
Witness to War
At the start of the Civil War, Upton's Hill witnessed the arrival of thousands of Federal and Confederate soldiers. The nearby hill, road, and railroad made it strategically important. The Febrey house was used as a signal station, hospital, and military headquarters. The Febrey family had divided loyalties. While John and Mary Febrey supported the Union, his brother Moses enlisted in the Confederate Army. After the war, John applied for compensation from the US government for the livestock and crops taken by Federal troops.
Battle Hymn of the Republic
On November 17, 1861, abolitionist and poet Julia Ward Howe (1819-1910) traveled from Washington, DC, to Bailey's Crossroads, Virginia, to witness President Abraham Lincoln's formal review of Federal troops. Returning to the Willard Hotel that evening, she passed Upton Hill's, saw hundreds of campfires, and heard soldiers singing a popular tune, "John Brown's Body." Later that night, Howe wrote an updated version of the lyrics to one of the Civil War's most popular songs, the "Battle Hymn of the Republic."
Ball's Crossroads Skirmish
On August 27,
this page online
Seeking Freedom
The war drove thousands of enslaved African Americans to seek freedom behind Federal lines. In early January 1862, while fleeing slavery in Maryland, John Boston found refuge with the 14th Brooklyn, a New York regiment encamped at Upton's Hill. He wrote a letter to his wife, Elizabeth, who remained in Owensville, Maryland. Boston celebrated his freedom and hoped to reunite with his family.
"this Day i can Adress you thank god as a free man"
Erected 2025 by Arlington County, Virginia; Dominion Hills.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music • War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is November 17, 1861.
Location. 38° 52.403′ N, 77° 8.738′ W. Marker is in Arlington, Virginia, in Arlington County. It is in Dominion Hills.
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 10, 2026
2. Three historical markers along Wilson Boulevard
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, in the Mid-Atlantic, and on the Eastern Seaboard. 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: Febrey-Lothrop-Rouse Property (here, next to this marker); Dominion Hills, Past and Present (here, next to this marker); SW8 Boundary Stone Rededication (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Original Federal Boundary Stone, District of Columbia, Southwest 8 (about 300 feet away); Southwest No. 8 Boundary Marker (about 300 feet away); The Civil War at Uptons Hill (approx. 0.2 miles away); This Is Upton Hill! (approx. 0.2 miles away); Vietnamese Immigrants in Northern Virginia (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Arlington.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 10, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 10, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 22 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 10, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
