William Fitzhugh built Chatham Manor between 1768 and 1771. Chatham sits on the heights across the Rappahannock River from Fredericksburg. The front of the house has a lovely view of both the river and that town.
Fitzhugh hosted George Washington in this house on at least two occasions. Fitzhugh's daughter, Molly, married Washington's step-grandson, George Washington Parke Custis. Their daughter, Mary Anna Custis, married Robert E. Lee. Lee also visited Chatham.
During the Civil War, Union officers first used the house as their headquarters. In April 1862, President Abraham Lincoln met with General Irvin McDowell and his officers in this house. It is one of only three buildings visited by both Lincoln and Washington. Thomas Jefferson also visited this house in 1793.
In December 1862, following the disastrous battle of Fredericksburg, Chatham served as a Union hospital. Clara Barton served as a nurse here and Walt Whitman visited the wounded and wrote letters home for them. More than 130 Union soldiers died and were buried here. All but three were moved to Fredericksburg National Cemetery. The graves of the three remaining soldiers are marked on the grounds.
The house and grounds are now managed by the National Park Service.
@davydo Thanks, Dave! Perhaps next time you and Debbie are here, we could visit this place. The interior is not decorated to the early time period, but it's free and has fascinating history exhibits.
Very cool posting -- what a great area you live in! I enjoyed reading your commentary, and think you've captured the grandeur of the home as well as its history.
Fabulous historic site! Thank you for including the story behind it. I knew that Walt Whitman wrote letters home for wounded soldiers, but it is cool to see the building where he did so.
