Graffiti House facts for kids
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Graffiti House
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | 19484 Brandy Rd., Brandy Station, Virginia |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1862 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| MPS | Civil War in Virginia MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 05001274 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 17, 2005 |
The Graffiti House is a historic building. It is located at 19484 Brandy Road in Brandy Station, Virginia. Experts believe it was built around 1858. It is one of the few buildings from before the American Civil War that is still standing. The house is famous because of the old graffiti on its walls. This graffiti includes names, drawings, and messages left by soldiers.
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History of the Graffiti House
The house was very important because of its location. It was near the Orange & Alexandria Railroad and a main road. This made it a busy spot. The house was likely used as a business and a home. Some of the original graffiti has been lost. But many drawings and writings still remain. New graffiti was even found in 2010!
The Civil War and the House
During the Civil War, James Barbour owned the house. His family's main home was about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) away. Both the Union Army and Confederate States Army used the Graffiti House.
A Field Hospital
Confederate soldiers used it as a field hospital. This is a place where wounded soldiers get medical help. They used it during the Battle of Brandy Station. They also used it after other battles nearby. It might have been a hospital for soldiers from the Battle of First Bull Run. The oldest graffiti found is from August 1862. This was when armies moved through Culpeper County.
A Major Battle Site
The Battle of Brandy Station happened on June 9, 1863. It was the biggest cavalry battle ever in North America. This battle took place right next to the Graffiti House. After the fighting, the house became a Confederate field hospital again. Later that year, Union troops stayed there. This was during the winter of 1863–64. A Union general, Henry Prince, even used it as his headquarters.
Rediscovering the Graffiti
The second floor walls are covered with amazing drawings. Soldiers from both sides left these messages. They used charcoal and pencils. They wrote their names and drew pictures of people. They also wrote about their army units and battles. After the war, the graffiti was covered by paint and wallpaper. People forgot about it.
In 1993, during a renovation, the graffiti was found again! The Brandy Station Foundation bought the house in 2002. They now open it for visitors. The house has a small museum. It also serves as a visitor center for the Brandy Station battlefield.
Soldiers Identified by Graffiti
Here are some of the soldiers whose names and units have been found on the walls of the Graffiti House:
- Sergeant Allen Bowman, Co. E, 12th Virginia Cavalry
- Private Michael Bowman, Co. H 7th Virginia Cavalry
- Private Hamilton Boyd, Breathed's Battery, Stuart Horse Artillery
- Private George Washington Butt, Norfolk Light Artillery (Huger's Battery)
- Private James A. J. Cooper, Co. A, 35th Battalion Virginia Cavalry (White's Comanche's)
- Captain Edwin Dillingham, 10th Vermont Infantry
- Private C. Benton Evans, Breathed's Battery, Stuart Horse Artillery
- Private William Evans, Breathed's Battery, Stuart Horse Artillery
- Colonel John Egbert Farnum, Commander, 70th New York Infantry
- Lieutenant Lyman C. Gale, Co. K, 10th Vermont Infantry
- Corporal Fayette Gibson, Breathed's Battery, Stuart Horse Artillery
- Private Thomas 'Herb' Greenwell, Breathed's Battery, Stuart Horse Artillery
- Private Uriah Haller, Breathed's Battery, Stuart Horse Artillery
- Private William J. Haney, 24th Battalion Virginia Partisan Rangers
- Private Henry 'Hal' Hopkins, Breathed's Battery, Stuart Horse Artillery
- Private William Hopkins, Breathed's Battery, Stuart Horse Artillery
- Private Bob Lewis, Norfolk Light Artillery (Huger's Battery)
- Private George McCabe Jr., Breathed's Battery, Stuart Horse Artillery
- Lieutenant William J. Marshall, Co. E, 12th Virginia Cavalry
- Lieutenant Joseph Moore, Norfolk Light Artillery (Huger's Battery)
- Private Edward Moreland, Norfolk Light Artillery (Huger's Battery)
- Private A Muth, Breathed's Battery, Stuart Horse Artillery
- Private George W. Orrison, Co. C, 35th Battalion Virginia Cavalry (White's Comanche's)
- Private David Owens, Breathed's Battery, Stuart Horse Artillery
- Private Robert Peed, Norfolk Light Artillery (Huger's Battery)
- Private David Owens, Breathed's Battery, Stuart Horse Artillery
- Private Dan Quinlan, Massachusetts Light Battery 'C'
- Private Elijah Russell, Breathed's Battery, Stuart Horse Artillery
- Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart, Commander, Army of Northern Virginia Cavalry
- Sergeant Henry Thomas, Breathed's Battery, Stuart Horse Artillery
- Private Harry Wagner, Breathed's Battery, Stuart Horse Artillery
- Private Harry Wickes, Breathed's Battery, Stuart Horse Artillery
- Private Thomas 'Frank' Yates, Breathed's Battery, Stuart Horse Artillery
Unidentified Graffiti
Some names found on the walls have not yet been linked to specific soldiers:
- Lewis Metta
- Frank E. Kelly
- M Rown
- T.E. Kelly
- Emanuel
- A.L. Brynn
Gallery
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Jeb Stuart's signature
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Lt. William J. Marshall's signature
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Maryland Scroll
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Sgt. Allen Bowman's signature
