Newport News - Lee Hall Museum

In Newport News, Ms. Edwards visited the above house. It was known as the Lee Hall Mansion. She learned the following information from visiting the house:

• Lee Hall is the only large antebellum plantation house in the lower Virginia Peninsula.
• It was completed in 1858 and lived in by planter Richard Decauter Lee. (No relation to Robert E Lee.
• The Lee's were forced to leave their house in 1862.
• The house was used as a Confederate headquarters by Major General John B. Magruder and General Joseph E. Johnston. They directed the defense of the Peninsula. They were able to delay the Union advance for three weeks. (Major General George B. McClellan)
• On May 4, 1862 a small skirmish was fought on the property.
• The Lee's returned to their house at the end of the war and lived their until 1871.
• The museum is currently owned by the City of Newport News and is a museum to the 1862 Peninsula Campaign.

Below is a picture of the kitchen. It was a two story building. the first level was for the slave to complete all the cooking in. The second floor was her living space.