ANNANDALE, Va. — At an ordinary intersection I drive through regularly, a historical marker tells a fascinating Civil War story involving Robert E. Lee’s family, military occupation, and a daring band of Confederate Rangers.

The historic Ravensworth marker in Annandale, Virginia, tells the story of Ravensworth, the home of Anna Maria Fitzhugh. Built around 1796, the mansion later provided a temporary safe haven for Mary Randolph Custis Lee, the wife of Confederate General Robert E. Lee, at the beginning of the Civil War in 1861.

As the war unfolded, Ravensworth found itself caught between two armies. The property endured military occupation, the seizure of resources, and the challenges of living so close to the nation’s capital during a time of deep division. Confederate Major John S. Mosby and his Rangers even slept in a haystack on the property in 1863. The historic home ultimately burned in 1926.

Standing at this marker today, amid the everyday activity of Northern Virginia, I’m reminded of how much history lies along our daily routes. The past isn’t always found in museums or preserved buildings—sometimes, it’s right beside a busy road.

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