National Park Service Arlington House U.S. Department of the Interior The Robert E. Lee Memorial The Spectacle From the Office Down the Hall Something magical happened last week in the swampy wilds of Arkansas, but it went largely unnoticed here at Arlington House— or anywhere else for that matter. A lone researcher spotted an unusual bird. This is a fact that, unless you are a bird watcher, you may have ignored as mildly interesting, but largely unimportant. But this bird, the “Lord God Bird” as it was sometimes called, shares something in common with Robert E. Lee: it has been gone a long time. At some moment in time, along about April 19, 1861, Robert E. Lee stopped pacing and wrote two lines that removed him from the US Army. Soon after that, there was another moment when he stepped over the threshold, leaving Arlington for the last time. It is unclear whether he saw Arlington again only once, or if he might have seen it twice from a train. None-the-less, we can say with certainty that, at some point, he saw it for the Arlington House last time. Because that is the nature of time and events. There is always a first time, and know what color they were. But what if more important to us, perhaps, is his consequently, there is always a last time, a someone were to see one, catch a glimpse, character. With only scant letters, photos and moment that then falls extinct from the river even if only from a train? Suddenly we could some boots, how do we know that we have of events in which we swim. color the bones and order them correctly. We reassembled him correctly when we talk to could see what thoughts lay behind their visitors? We know much of what he did, but And so to understand what happened, to (yellow?) eyes. Similarly, what if someone— not so much of how he did it. Perhaps more know Lee’s expression as the train trundled certainly unexpectedly—were to catch a important than his height, would be to know past Arlington, we must search for evidence fleeting glimpse of Lee as he rode Traveler whether he made a fist when he was angry, or of these extinct events. More specific than across a field? While this would be headline if he scratched his ear when he was historians, we become “momentologists” news (“Long Dead American Leader Spotted perplexed. When Lee laughed, what did it and sift the bones of events to resurrect them in Richmond!”), what difference would this sound like? If we could see him pace, his as a Tyrannosaurus is assembled in a discovery make to history? How would it steps measured or quick, we would get a museum. And this is not always an easy thing change our understanding of Lee? much better sense of the man and his to do. Early on, the Tyrannosaurus was struggles. But he is long gone, and we can articulated as a tall, but shambling monster. A visitor asked me, “what color were Lee’s only guess at these things now. More recently, paleontologists have eyes?” I’ve been asked countless times how reassessed the evidence and reassembled tall was he? How big were his feet? There are So when I heard that a team had not only these giant lizard bones as a sleek and very paintings and boots and even photographs (continued on page 4) quick horizontal runner. But we may never that will help us answer these questions. But Volunteers Monthly Newsletter - Volume VI, Number 5 - May 2005 Area Special Events May 1 Park near Mechanicsville, VA northeast of Reenactment and living history in Artillery demonstrations at Fort Washington Richmond. Details: 804-512-7210 or McDowell, VA. Lectures, demonstrations Park, MD (I-495, exit 3A). 1, 2 and 3 pm. Free www.coldharborguards.com. and much more at this semi-annual event. with park admission. 301-763-4600 or Proceeds benefit the new Highland County www.nps.gov/fowa May 7 Museum. Battle at 4 pm. More info: Tour, “Doors Open Gettysburg,” (PA) eight highlandhistoricalsociety.com or Battlefield hike, “Full Battlefield Hike,” the rarely open historic buildings on the 540-468-3165. entire Antietam National Battlefield, MD in a battlefield and in town. Free. Info: Friends of two-part hike beginning at the visitor center the Parks at Gettysburg, 717-334-0772. May 13 at 9:30 am. Ends 4:15 pm. Free with park 10th Anniversary commemoration of the admission. www.nps.gov/anti or Special program, “The Assassination of opening of the Lee’s Retreat Driving Tour at 301-432-5124. Abraham Lincoln,” at the National Museum Fork Inn, west of Petersburg, VA on Route of Civil War Medicine in Frederick, MD. On 460. 1 pm. Reception follows speeches. Free. Living history encampments at the the hour 11 am-3 pm. Free with admission. Public invited. Pennsylvania Memorial Spangler’s Spring, 301-695-1864 or www.civilwarmed.org. Gettysburg National Park, PA. Free. May 14 717-338-9114 or www.nps.gov/gett. Living history walking tour, “Olde Towne Civil War Book Sale: Reference, classics, History Trail.” Meet Portsmouth’s(VA) regimentals and more at Fort Ward Museum Walking tour, “Civil War Encampment and historical characters including Civil War. and Historic Site in Alexandria, VA. Sales Freedman’s Farm,” on the grounds of 11 am-6 pm. Fee charged. 757-714-2343. benefit the site. 10 am-3 pm. Details: Montpelier, James Madison’s home near 703-838-4848. Orange, VA. 2 pm. Free with admission. May 7-8 www.montpelier.org or 540-672-2728. Living history encampment at the Carroll Special tour of Liberia Mansion, part of the County Farm Museum, 500 S Center St in Manassas(VA)Museum System. Behind-the- Civil War Fashion Show and Tea at the Westminster, MD, includes Sunday fashion scenes look at the restoration process from Staunton River Battlefield State Park show (12:30 pm). 10 am-5 pm both days. top to bottom. Noon-4 pm. $25. (Mulberry Hill Plantation) near Randolph, $3 adult. 410-876-2667 or email www.manassasmuseum.org or 703-368-1873. VA. 2-5 pm. Free. 434-454-4312 or [email protected]. .www.stauntonriverbattlefield.org. Bus tour, “In the Steps of Robert Sneden, Special program, “A Call to Arms,” special Part II,” visits Peninsula Campaign and Seven May 6-8 two-hour program for kids (ages 8-14) at the Days Battles sites. Leaves from Lee Hall Bus tour, “1865: Petersburg and Appomattox Monocacy National Battlefield near Mansion in Newport News, VA. 9 am-5 pm. - The Final Battles of the Petersburg Frederick, MD. 10 am and 1:30 pm. Free. $45. Reservations. 757-888-3371. Campaign,” sponsored by Pamplin Historical Reservations required. 301-662-3515 or Park, south of Petersburg.VA Reservations www.nps.gov/mono. Tour, “Impregnable Works or Wretchedly required. 877-PAMPLIN or Defective Line?” Historian-led walking tour www.pamplinpark.org. May 8 of the Spotsylvania battlefield works near Special program, “Bike Through History,” Fredericksburg, VA. 1-4 pm. Free. Meets at Tour and living history programs covers the entire nine-mile Antietam Bloody Angle parking lot. 540-373-6122 or commemorating the anniversary of the Battle National Park, MD tour road. Begins 9 am at www.nps.gov/frsp. of the Wilderness near Fredericksburg, VA. the visitor center. Ends 1 pm. Free with park Bus tour, speakers and more. Sponsored by admission. www.nps.gov/anti or May 14-15 the Fredericksburg National Park and the 301-432-5124. Special living history program, “Cavaliers, Friends of the Wilderness Battlefield. 540- Courage and Coffee: The Night Belonged to 373-6122 or 540-786-2880 or see Free tours of the Stonewall Jackson House in Mosby.” Walkiing tours of Atoka,VA a www.nps.gov/frsp or www.fowb.org. Lexington, VA for those who were born in familiar place to John Singleton Mosby the house (when it was a hospital) and their between Middleburg and Upperville on Living history and reenactment, “Dixie mothers. More info: 540-463-2552 or Route 50. Lantern tour Saturday begins at 8 Days.” Features military demonstrations and www.stonewalljackson.org. pm, Sunday tours begin 3 pm. Sponsored by other living history and a reenactment of the the Mosby Heritage Area. Tours begin at the Battle of Bethesda Church at Pole Green 2 The Spectacle Area Special Events (continued) Caleb Rector House. Free, donations May 15 301-695-1864 or www.civilwarmed.org. welcome. 540-687-6681 or New Market Day: Ceremony and parade at www.mosbyheritagearea.org. the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, May 21-22 VA. Event honors the cadets killed in the Living history encampments at the Anniversary living history and ranger 1864 battle. 2 pm. Free. 540-463-3777 or Pennsylvania Memorial and demonstrations programs at Drewry’s Bluff, part of the www.lexingtonvirginia.com. on Little Round Top and at the Angle (May Richmond National Battlefield Park, VA. 10 21), Gettysburg National Park, PA. Free. 717- am-5 pm Saturday, 10 am-4 pm Sunday. Free. Walking tour, “The Lincoln Assassination,” 338-9114 or www.nps.gov/gett. 804-226-1981 or www.nps.gov/rich. two-hour tour begins at the Jackson statue, Lafayette Square, Washington, DC. 11 am. $15. Living history, “Command the Heights: The Reenactment of the Battle of New Market at Reservations not necessary. Maryland Heights Naval Battery,” join the New Market Battlefield State Historical [email protected] or 301-294-9514. volunteers for a hike to Maryland Heights, Park, VA.