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graffiti house
THE GRAFFITI HOUSE, A RED, TWO-STORY, FRAME STRUCTURE,
is located adjacent to the Brandy Station
Battlefield, and is believed
to have been
built in 1858. It was built directly beside the railroad tracks, suggesting
that
its function
included some type of commercial aspect. Proprietors of whatever business
was likely here may have also resided in the building. While  research
on the history
of the structure is still needed, and verification of its uses through
time, including documentation of its use during the Civil War has yet
to be done,
history suggests that the building was used as a hospital by both Union
and Confederate forces. The walls of the second floor contain over 200
inscriptions, drawings, messages, and signatures of Civil War soldiers,
hence
the name "Graffiti
House."
The graffiti could have been made by soldiers recuperating in the hospital,
by other soldiers posted at Brandy Station, or by soldiers passing through
the town. Brandy Station was strategically located at the junction of the Orange
and Alexandria Railroad, and at roads leading to Kelly's Ford and Beverly's Ford on the Rappahannock River. Fleetwood Hill provided high ground suitable for both observation and a defensive position.
Previous owners acknowledge that some of the graffiti has been destroyed, and other pieces have been removed by parties unknown. However, much of the graffiti still survives and these writings are believed to be one of the most extensive collections of Civil War era graffiti discovered in recent decades.
The building was apparently owned by James Barbour during the Civil War.
Barbour's home was the prominent structure known as Beauregard, which still
stands today about 1-½ miles to the north of Brandy Station. Barbour initially
argued against secession, but when Lincoln's inaugural address failed to include
certain concessions that Lincoln cabinet members had led Barbour to believe
would be contained within the address, Barbour ardently supported the
withdrawal of Virginia from the Union. After the First Battle of Manassas,
fought July 21, 1861, Confederate casualties were evacuated by train, and
Brandy Station became a hospital site. This is likely the first time that
the Graffiti House was used as a hospital. Barbour's home was also used as
a hospital, and one of the patients recovering there was Major Roberdeau Wheat,
commander of the Louisiana Tigers. Major Wheat requested that Barbour change
the name of his home to "Beauregard" in honor of Confederate General
Pierre G. T. Beauregard, who directed the Battle of First Manassas.
 During the Battle of Brandy Station, the Federal cavalry division of David McMurtrie Gregg arrived in the town of Brandy Station late on the morning of June 9, 1863. His troops formed up within view of the Graffiti House and charged Fleetwood Hill, also visible through the windows of the house. Some of the graffiti identified on the walls are from soldiers known to have been wounded in that battle. While we cannot be certain, there is a possibility that these troops could have recovered in the Graffiti House and scrawled their names upon the walls.
The earliest date thus far deciphered (and still present on the Graffiti House walls), is for mid-April of 1863. At that time Federal cavalry crossed the Rappahannock River at Beverly's Ford, to initiate the Chancellorsville Campaign. A rain and hail storm, as well as resistance from Confederate cavalryman in Fitzhugh Lee's brigade, forced the Federal force to withdraw, and one of Lee's men is likely to be the person who scrawled a brief account of the action by stating that "Yanks caught hell."
The structure was purchased by the Brandy
Station Foundation in August 2002, and has recently been renovated. It serves as the headquarters for the Brandy Station Foundation as well as a visitor center.
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The Graffiti House
19484 Brandy Road,
Brandy Station, VA 22714
Phone: (540) 727-7718
E-mail: director@brandystationfoundation.com
Website: www.brandystationfoundation.com
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Hours: April through October 2010:
The Graffiti House is open to visitors from 11:00 to 4:00 every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Also open Mondays on major holidays from 11:00 to 4:00
November 2010 through March, 2011
The Graffiti House is open to visitors from 11:00 to 4:00 every Friday and Saturday. Closed on holidays.
Closed Easter and between Christmas & New Years
Group fees:
Full-size buses: $100 per bus
Mini-buses (over 15 persons): $50 per mini-bus
Other groups: $3 per person
*Tax deductible donations to support the Brandy Station Foundation are requested |
Driving Directions:
The Graffiti House is located just off Route 15/29, between Warrenton and Culpeper, about 5 miles west of the Rappahannock River. Upon reaching Brandy Station on Route 15/29, turn south on Alanthus Road. Go approximately 200 yards to the intersection with Brandy Road. Turn left and then proceed straight on Brandy Road to the Graffiti House. Brandy Road dead ends and the Graffiti House is located next to the old church on the right side of the road.
Services:
Information - on the Brandy Station Battlefield and other (civil war as well as general) points of interest in Culpeper County.
Exhibits - exhibits depicting the civil war history of the Brandy Station area of Culpeper County are located within the Graffiti House.
Lectures - held the last Sunday of every month at the Graffiti House. Call for details.
Battlefield Tours - held every other Saturday beginning April 9th through October 22nd. Call for details.
Group Services - For information contact Gary Wilson at (540) 547-4106, or email him at bsfjune91863@aol.com. Groups wanting to tour the Graffiti House or otherwise arrange services that the BSF offers must provide a minimum of 30 days advance notice before the date of the visit. The BSF will have four volunteers available at the Graffiti House for each group tour.
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