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Position:Home>History> Who used to own the property that is now Arlington National Cemertery?Question: Who used to own the property that is now Arlington National Cemertery!? Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: The Custis Family, relatives of Robert E!. Lee, Commander of the Confederate Army during the Civil War!. It (the mansion) was used as a hospital during the war!. Soon, they had no where to bury the Union dead, so they buried them on the land there!. After the war, the US wanted to give it back, but the Confederacy said no, because Union dead were buried there!. Www@QuestionHome@Com Robert E!. Lee was married to Mary Custis, the daughter of George Washington's grandson!. Under the terms of her father's will, Mary Anna Custis Lee was given the right to inhabit and control the house for the rest of her life!. Custis' will also stipulated that upon Mary Anna's death, full title would pass to her eldest son, George Washington Custis Lee!. Contrary to popular belief, Robert E!. Lee never owned the Arlington estate!. Lee did serve as custodian of the property!. The property was confiscated by the federal government when property taxes levied against Arlington estate were not paid in person by Mrs!. Lee!. Www@QuestionHome@Com All above answers are correct!. Gen Montgomery Meigs of the Union Army was in charge of setting up the National Cemetery!. He had lost a son in the war already and was bitter, and specifically chose Lee's mansion for this site!. The first bodies were buried near the front door and in Mrs!. Lee's rose garden so the house could never be used again as a private residence!. Www@QuestionHome@Com It used to be the home of General Robert E!. Lee of the Confederate Army, The United States took it from him when he surrendered to the US Army at Appomattox after the Civil War!.Www@QuestionHome@Com Robert E!. LeeWww@QuestionHome@Com |