Yes. The Quartermaster General during the Civil War commandeered it for a cemetery for the Union dead. I think the US government paid the Lee family years later.

The Drunk History episode on this is great! 😆

Quartermaster General, Montgomery Meigs was tasked with setting up new cemeteries for Union War dead. His own son had recently been killed. Meigs, chose Lee's Arlington Estate. The first bodies were buried right outside the front door.

Yeah buddy we occupied that seccesher’s land right away and turned into a cemetery to honor heroes. Good stuff.

His wife’s yard. Of course women weren’t allowed to own property.