WOODBERRY FOREST 



HE estate of Woodberry Forest, the home of 

 General Wilham Madison, brother of the Presi- 

 dent, is situated along the Rapidan River, at the 

 lower end of Madison County. The exact date 

 of the erection of the dweUing Is uncertain, but it 

 is known to have been in existence in 1785, prior 

 to the separation of what is now Madison from Culpeper County, 

 in 1792. The house is one of the many homes the planning of 

 which Is authentically attributed to Jefferson. The plan of the 

 building, drawn by Jefferson, Is still In existence. But the ac- 

 cepted family tradition was to the effect that while Jefferson made 

 the sketch for the plans, three Presidents had a hand in the de- 

 signing — Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe. It was built for Gen- 

 eral Madison on the occasion of his marriage, and remained in 

 the possession of his family till the close of the War Between the 

 States. For several generations Woodberry Forest was the center 

 of the social life of the community, drawing to its hospitable doors 

 many whose names were familiar in the early traditions of Virginia. 

 During the War Between the States it was occupied at times 

 by the Confederate, and again by the Union Armies, and was the 

 scene of lively skirmishing, as the various fords on the Rapidan 

 River, lying just below the house, were strongly defended by the 

 Southern forces. This was especially true during the winter of 

 1 863-1 864, when Lee's Army was encamped between Orange and 

 the Wilderness, and the Northern troops were making every effort 

 to reach Richmond. 



The house and place suffered, as needs must, from their con- 

 tinued occupation by military forces; outbuildings were destroyed, 

 shots penetrated even into the house; the furniture was broken and 



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