PLACES OP MILITARY INTEREST IN THE UNITED STATES. 
563 
Fort Myer is situated on the main ridge of the Arlington Heights 
and on the same site as one of the principal detached forts which 
formed the main line of McClellan's defence of Washington, while 
within a few hundred yards of the barracks is the Arlington National 
Cemetery, in which many of those who served and died in the war of 
1862-65 have been buried. Sheridan's grave is here and many thousands 
lie around him, their tombs marked by small headstones. All remains 
of the dead were brought here at the end of the war from the various 
battle-fields, and it says a great deal for the respect with which a 
nation has treated its soldiers and for the general administration of the 
army, that it should have been possible to have thus registered and 
marked the graves of so many private soldiers who, in the first instance, 
had been hurriedly buried where they fell. With the exception of 
those who were killed in the fighting round Richmond, most have been 
given a separate grave, marked by a neat headstone, while the remains 
of those killed at Richmond, have, for want of registration at the time 
of the original burial, been buried in large vaults, the slabs over which 
record the fact that in some cases, from 2000 to 3000 soldiers, whose 
memories deserve the respect and gratitude of their country, lie 
buried beneath. 
It is a strange fact that the family mansion of General Lee, the 
Commander-in-Chief of the Southern Army, stands in the ground 
which has now become the National Cemetery, while close to the house 
are the graves of General Sheridan and of other of Lee's keenest oppo¬ 
nents. All of this portion of the Arlington Heights was included in 
General Lee's property, and was in consequence confiscated at the time 
of the war, though eventually on the land being taken up as a Na¬ 
tional Cemetery, some compensation was given to the heirs of the 
estate. 
Bull Run is easily reached from Washington. The best way to see 
both battle-fields is to take the early train to Manassas Junction. 
There it may be possible to hire a wagonette or some kind of convey¬ 
ance, but this is doubtful; under any circumstances, however, much 
more of the country could be seen when travelling on foot than from a 
carriage. Starting from Manassas, the road leading westwards to 
Henry House should be taken, it is impossible to mistake the way, as 
with the exception of a few small bye lanes running towards Black¬ 
burn's Ferry and other points on the Bull Run River, this is the only 
main road towards the west. Henry House may be taken as the most 
central spot on the battle-field, it is six miles from Manassas, and the 
road connecting the two places is that by which the largest portion of 
the troops marched to the first and second battles. Should the season 
be wet, the soft mud into which one sinks well above the ankles, will 
give a slight idea of the difficulties, under which both armies and still 
more so their baggage, moved. 
Some of the hardest fighting of the American War took place around 
Henry Hill; a road leads direct thence to Sudley Springs, where 
the right of the Northern Army crossed the Bull Run River, in their 
attempt to prevent the junction of the Southern forces. There is also 
a cross-country road which can be taken to Gainsville, where the line 
