It’s sometimes a mistake to become too familiar with a place. Terrain well-trod seems quite usual even when it is very odd indeed. Under the invasive bush honeysuckle and garlic mustard that took years to eradicate, there's a hillock, its center hollow far too large to be the divot left by a fallen tree, even several fallen trees. Down below, a long trench faces northwest and appears to have been intentionally dug, something like a Civil War earthwork.

 

Enter Luke Burke, a management consultant and amateur historian with a special interest in Civil War sites in Arlington. He sees Brandymore Castle and its hillock and trench with new eyes. After reading the letters of both Union and Confederate soldiers about events at Brandymore Castle during the war, he conducts further extensive research and writes a report encompassing much of the more recent history of the site. He has presented it to Arlington County officials with a recommendation for deeper study to gauge the site’s historic value.

 

We hope you find it as interesting and illuminating as we did. We thank Mr. Burke for sharing his valuable research, which answers many questions about the history of our nearest forest. Click here for the full report and bibliography.

 

Author: Jo Allen
Published on: Mar 26, 2022, 4:03 PM