Celebrating the 150 Anniversary of the Ending of the Civil War
By Robert Hudson Westover
By Robert Hudson Westover
With the 150th Anniversary of the ending of the
Civil War just around the corner (April 9, 1865 - with Lee's surrender to
Grant or May 9, 1865 via official Congressional declaration) my husband, Tom, and I are
honoring Union Army Officer Lieutenant George Carr Round.
After moving into our new home in Old Town Manassas, Virginia, we discovered that its purported builder, George Carr Round, had quite an illustrious history. In fact, Lt. Round was a hero of both the Civil War and the years of reconciliation that followed.
After moving into our new home in Old Town Manassas, Virginia, we discovered that its purported builder, George Carr Round, had quite an illustrious history. In fact, Lt. Round was a hero of both the Civil War and the years of reconciliation that followed.
Among Mr. Round’s many efforts to bring
reconciliation to the emotional wounds caused by the horrific fighting between
the armies of the North and the South (which lasted for generations after the
war) was the 1911 Manassas National Jubilee of Peace*.
The Jubilee of Peace was a week-long event that, for the first time, brought surviving veterans from both sides of the conflict together for a
celebration of national reconciliation. The event was deemed so important nationally, that
President Taft attended and delivered a twenty minute speech on the closing
day ceremonies.
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| George Carr Round (Photo: The Manassas Museum) |
Born and raised in Pennsylvania, Lt.
Round moved to Manassas shortly after the Civil War almost by accident. He had
intended to move to North Carolina, but got off the train to stay the night in
Manassas. He was headed further south because some of his family were living in the Carolinas. But aside from relatives, North Carolina held a special significance for Mr. Round. It was on the dome of the state capital building that by order of General Sherman, Round climbed to the top and set off a signal for the troops.
He nearly lost his life doing it when one of the flares exploded while he was handling it. Round survived with a minor injury and, undaunted, quickly sent off what would be the last signal message of the Civil War which spelled out in bright lights: Peace on Earth Good Will to Men.
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| Lt. George Carr Round as a Union Solider (Photo: The Manassas Museum) |
George Round
bought the Bennett plantation and married Emily Bennett. There is some discrepancy over the
actual date of the building of our home. The National Register of Historic Places records it being
built in 1908, but a wood plaque found while doing remodeling in the kitchen
attributed the building of the house to 1902. We have since met with the grand daughter of the original owners and she said the home was built in 1905 for the Haas family who lived there until the late 1950s.
At nearly 5000 total square feet, our home was a mansion by turn of the Nineteenth Century standards, when the average American home was only about 600 square feet. In fact it was even larger than the nearby Liberia Plantation house which once dominated the small farming community.
At nearly 5000 total square feet, our home was a mansion by turn of the Nineteenth Century standards, when the average American home was only about 600 square feet. In fact it was even larger than the nearby Liberia Plantation house which once dominated the small farming community.
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Tom Fulton and Robert Westover's home in Old Town Manassas was believed to by built by Civil War veteran Lt.
George Carr Round for the Haas family. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. (Photo: Robert Westover)
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During the Jubilee of Peace there’s little doubt that our home played a major role as the location for many events. The home is very close to the central activities of the Jubilee and has large and accommodating rooms and an expansive lawn for garden parties.
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| George Carr Round orchestrated The Manassas National Jubilee of Peace and is seated to the left of President Taft (standing center) during the official ceremony |
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| The North and the South meet in peace. Round (right) represents the Union Army and the man on the left is an unknown Confederate soldier. |
*It is important to point out that the 1911 Peace Jubilee did nothing to reconcile, heal or overcome the horrific and brutal pale of Jim Crow laws over which much of the South was governed until the 1960s.
(The links below lead to articles that pay thoughtful tribute to Mr. Round.)
Smithsonian Magazine: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-weve-commemorated-the-civil-war-1440764/?no-ist
The National Park Service: http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/online_books/mana/adhi1b.htm
North Carolina Histories: http://www.nchistoricsites.org/capitol/stat_cap/civwar.htm
