Lay the corner stone of a monument which shall adequately bespeak the gratitude of the whole American people to the illustrious Father of his Country. Build it to the skies; you can not outreach the loftiness of his principles! Found it upon the massive and eternal rock; you can not make it more enduring than his fame. Construct it of peerless Parian marble; you can not make it purer than his life. Exhaust upon it the rules and principles of ancient and modern art; you can not make it more proportionate than his character.
SOLDIERS’ HOME
In the United States the founding of a soldiers’ home dates from March 3, 1851, when an act of Congress was passed and approved “to found a military asylum for the relief and support of invalid and disabled soldiers of the Army of the United States.” For years before this, however, the principal officers of the Army, particularly Maj. Gen. Winfield Scott, had given the subject attention and had made special efforts to procure the needed legislation. In February, 1848, General Scott transmitted to the Secretary of War a draft for $100,000 as part of the tribute levied by him on the City of Mexico for the benefit of the Army, and he expressed the hope that it might be allowed to go to the credit of an Army asylum.
This home for the Regular Army was established in the District of Columbia in 1851-52. It is located about 3 miles due north from the Capitol. The original purchase of land was 256 acres. Additional tracts added since the original purchase make a total of 500³⁄₄ acres.
UNITED STATES SOLDIERS’ HOME
The south part of the main building is named for Gen. Winfield Scott, the founder of the home; the addition on the north for Gen. William T. Sherman. Constructed of white marble; it was commenced in 1852 and completed in 1891; is of Norman Gothic design, 251¹⁄₂ feet long by 158¹⁄₂ feet wide, and has a clock tower; it will accommodate 370 members and contains a library and billiard hall.
The old homestead building near to and west of the Scott Building is named after Gen. Robert Anderson, of Fort Sumter renown, to commemorate the fact of his early advocacy of and great interest in the establishment of the home. It was the home of the first members and has frequently been used as the summer residence of the President. President Buchanan occupied it in 1856-1860, President Lincoln in 1861-1864, President Hayes in 1877-1880, and President Arthur in 1882-1884. President Garfield thought of occupying it in the summer of 1881.
The eastern building—especially for members—was the first erected and is called the King Building, after Surg. B. King, for 13 years the attending surgeon and secretary and treasurer of the home.
The brick quarters northwest of the Sherman Building, erected in 1883, is called the Sheridan Building, in honor of Gen. Philip H. Sheridan, who was the president of the board of commissioners when the building was erected.