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L Verge · 08-24-2016, 12:25 PM

In several of our Trivia questions, we have searched for witness roses. In the process of looking for something else yesterday at work, I ran across a historic house (which has become one of those on my "must see" bucket lists), which one source refers to as a witness house -- for good reason!

Located in central Georgia, near the town of Sparta, the home, Glen Mary, dates to the 1840s. Prior to the Civil War, it entertained future Vice President Alexander Stephens, CSA, and his brother, Linton.

In 1864, Sherman's troops destroyed the lands and livestock of the plantation and surrounding area on their famous march, but spared the house. A diarist of the area described the scene: Eliza Francis Andrews, in her diary "The War Time Journal of a Georgia Girl 1864-1865" wrote as she crossed Hancock County on her way to Sparta at the end of the war that "Three miles south of Sparta we struck the burnt country as it is well named by the natives. There was hardly a fence left standing from Sparta to Gordon. The fields were trampled down and the roads were lined with the carcasses of horses, hogs and cattle that the invaders, unable to consume or carry with them, had wantonly shot down to starve out the people and prevent them from making their crop. The stench in some places was unbearable."

In 1865, it sheltered the Confederate Cabinet member Robert Toombs as he fled to Cuba. President Jefferson Davis came within 13 miles of Glen Mary before his capture.

In 1869, it became the retirement home for Gen. and Mrs. Ethan Allen Hitchcock. The General was the grandson of Revolutionary War hero Ethan Allen and had been the commandant of West Point. During the Civil War, he also was in charge of prisoner-of-war camps operated by the Union. After the war, he headed the Union prisoner-of-war exchange.

In April of 1865, Gen. Hitchcock was one of only two men trusted to guard Lincoln's body after the assassination until preparation for lying in state in the White House. He then headed the honor guard at the White House during that lying in state.

Like so many of the lovely Southern homes that remained after the war, Glen Mary faced many financial problems, and by the 1970s appeared to be doomed. It is now a project of Preservation America and has returned to its glory days, but still at the mercy of dwindling funds in the U.S. for historic preservation.

Google Glen Mary Plantation to read more and see photos about this symbol of the past. Make sure you see the glass surround at the front door. It is a magnificent display of overlaid cranberry glass display panels.

Gene C · 08-24-2016, 02:40 PM

(08-24-2016 12:25 PM)L Verge Wrote: Google Glen Mary Plantation to read more and see photos about this symbol of the past.

Or, if your just to lazy, click this
http://glenmaryplantation.org/

L Verge · 08-24-2016, 05:37 PM

(08-24-2016 02:40 PM)Gene C Wrote:
(08-24-2016 12:25 PM)L Verge Wrote: Google Glen Mary Plantation to read more and see photos about this symbol of the past.

Or, if your just to lazy, click this
http://glenmaryplantation.org/

And make sure you click on the Gallery drop down for photos. The very first one is of that magnificent entrance door. If that was there in 1864, bless Sherman's men and bummers for not destroying it. Never thought I would thank Sherman's gang for anything...