Clover Hill (Culpeper, Virginia)

General Custer and staff at Clover Hill, 1864

Clover Hill is a decaying 18th-century plantation house near Culpeper in Culpeper County, Virginia.[1] Clover Hill is best known for serving as the headquarters for Brigadier General George Armstrong Custer during the American Civil War.[1][2] Clover Hill was home to James Barbour (26 February 1828 – 29 October 1895), a prominent American lawyer, planter, delegate from Virginia to the 1860 Democratic National Convention, delegate to the 1861 Virginia secession convention, and a major in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.[3][4]

The house as it appeared in June 1986

History

The house at Clover Hill was constructed in 1775.[1]

During the American Civil War, Clover Hill was used by Brigadier General George Armstrong Custer as his headquarters.[1][2] Custer and his new bride Elizabeth "Libbie" Bacon honeymooned at Clover Hill during the Winter of 1864.[1][2] Custer named his encampment "Camp Libbie" in his bride's honor.[2]

Architecture

Clover Hill exhibits a steeply pitched gabled roof with false dormers and arched windows.[1] Clover Hill is clad in a tongue and groove siding.[1] The home's architect is unknown.[1]

Current Status

The house has fallen into serious disrepair due to the owner's neglect. A picture from 2012 can be viewed here:

According to the Culpeper County GIS, the property has been owned by the S.W. Rodgers (S.W. Rodgers Construction) family of Warrenton, VA for several decades. Sadly this historic house has been allowed to fall into serious disrepair. In spite of the efforts of preservationist groups to purchase this home and restore it on multiple occasions, the Rodgers Family demonstrated their lack of patriotism and concern for historic preservation. They rebuffed the preservationists stating they would neither sell nor restore this historic property even though they are extremely wealthy. They are content to let this structure fall into the ground and history be damned. Furthermore, they accelerated the decay of the structure by gutting and removing architectural details and interior components and windows with a chain saw.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Zann Miner (December 7, 2008). "Taking a home tour down old Route 3". Culpeper Star-Exponent. Retrieved 2009-04-05. External link in |publisher= (help)
  2. 1 2 3 4 Town of Culpeper/Tourism Department. "A Driving Tour of Civil War Culpeper" (PDF). Town of Culpeper/Tourism Department. Retrieved 2009-04-05. External link in |publisher= (help)
  3. ↑ The Political Graveyard (March 24, 2009). "Barbour family of Virginia". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved 2009-04-05. External link in |publisher= (help)
  4. ↑ Find A Grave (Apr 26, 2004). "Maj James Barbour". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved 2009-04-05. External link in |publisher= (help)

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