Stratford Hall

Stratford Hall

 

The Homestead to the Lee family of Virginia.  Richard Henry Lee and Frances Lightfoot Lee signed the Declaration of Independence.  Robert E Lee was born and lived here until he was 4 years old. 

 

Unfortunately, we were not allowed to take pictures inside the home, so I am unable to provide you with a glimpse into their lives.  It was, nonetheless, a fascinating look into the top 1% wealth of Colonial Virginia. 

 

The house is quiet expansive and made of brick which was quite expensive in its day.  The land was purchased by Thomas Lee about 1730 and construction began.  He owned 16,000 acres and created a successful tobacco plantation.  Thomas grandson Lighthorse Harry Lee, Signer, married Ann Hill Carter of Shirley Plantation (another wealthy plantation) and had their son, Robert E. Lee.  However, he couldn't inherit the plantation because he wasn't the first born son.  At 4 years old the family moved out of Stratford and to Alexandria.  

 

The Potomac River in the background

Battle of Richmond Kentucky

The Visitors Center was the home of Adam Rogers and was built around 1811.  Mr. Rogers owned several hundred acres surrounding the house, had several outbuildings and according to the 1860 census there were also twenty enslaved people on the plantation as well.  On August 29th, 1862, Union and Confederate soldiers battled around the area.  Brig. Gen. Mahlon Manson used this house as his headquarters.   The wall sustained cannon ball damage, where the lighter color brick is.

 

 

Brig. Gen Manson and some of his personal belongings.

The Historical Society has done some incredible research on the men who fought in this battle.  They have tracked down the pictures of several hundred officers and soldiers who took part in the Battle of Richmond and placed their photos throughout the house.

 Left to Right- Brig Gen J. Jackson, Brig Gen J. Williams, Brig Gen W. Barrow

 The surrounding battlefield now countryside

 

Mt. Zion Church

was built about 1852 and became a field hospital during the battle. 

 Not the original medical equipment of the battle but instruments like these were typical of the time period. 

 

Pleasant View Farm

Just a few miles from the Rogers house is the home of Joseph Barnett, a large wealthy landowner of Madison County.  He built his home in 1825, owned nearly 600 acres and approx. twenty slaves. In 1860, just before the Battle, Barnett sold the property to Kavanaugh Armstrong, continued farming and added tobacco. 

 Not an original slave quarter, though archeology and excavations revealed the foundation of a slave quarters.  The original was also made of brick, which was a little unusual for the time period, as most quarters were made of wood. 

 Tobacco barn

 Standing on the porch looking toward the road and circular drive to greet guests.  The Carriage steps still remain.

 Standing on the porch looking towards the farm outbuildings.  I was the only visitor that day.  You can see my little Mustang in the parking lot.  As of this day, she and I have traveled 190K miles together and she is seen in many of my former postings :)

Madison County Courthouse

 Mount Pleasant

This house was built in the 1830's and owed by Mr. Solomon Smith.  It served as Confederate Headquarters after the Battle of Richmond for Brig Gen Henry Heth.  Today it is owned by the City of Richmond with the hopes that Madison County Historical Society can raise the needed funds to renovate it.  It is closed to the public.