Page 408 [408]
OCR
General William Madison, brother of the Presjdent, is situated along the Rapidan River, at the lower end of Madison County. ‘The exact date of the erection of the dwelling is uncertain, but it | is known to have been in existence in 1785, prior to the separation of what is now Madison from Culpeper County, in 1792. he house is one of the many homes the planning of which is authentically attributed to Jefterson. ‘The plan of the building, drawn by Jefferson, is still in existence. But the accepted family tradition was to the effect that while Jefterson made the sketch for the plans, three Presidents had a hand in the desisning—Jefterson, Madison, and Monroe. It was built for General Madison on the occasion of his marriage, and remained in the possession of his family till the close of the War Between the States. For several generations Woodberry Forest was the center of the social life of the community, drawing to its hospitable doors many whose names were familiar in the early traditions of Virginia. During the War Between the States it was occupied at times by the Confederate, and again by the Union Armies, and was the scene of lively skirmishing, as the various fords on the Rapidan River, lying just below the house, were strongly defended by the Southern forces. This was especially true during the winter of 1863-1864, when Lee’s Army was encamped between Orange and the Wilderness, and the Northern troops were making every effort to reach Richmond. | The house and place suffered, as needs must, from their continued occupation by military forces; outbuildings were destroyed, shots penetrated even into the house; the furniture was broken and [255] LY Jpn: A : / erie. +a CF i - i u. i ate? . . 7 don = fi ki + hi rtl JA NÉ . 1 c i | . F Ags fi : WA 3 ; J k a < E e.
