The Virginia Home of John Minor Botts

This beautiful old Virginia mansion was the abiding-place in Culpeper County of John Minor Botts. The most conspicuous arrest made under the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus was that of this citizen, who had been prominent in the political life of Virginia for thirty years, having served as a member of the State Legislature and in the United States House of Representatives. He had been a determined opponent of secession, declaring that the State had no right to secede, and that the leaders in the South were "conspirators." After the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus, he was arrested March 2, 1862, in his home in Richmond, and confined for several weeks. Through a personal interview with Secretary of War George W. Randolph, he finally obtained permission to remain in his own home in Richmond, upon taking an oath to say nothing "prejudicial to the Confederacy." Tiring of confinement in his house, he purchased a farm in Culpeper County and removed there in January, 1863, where he denounced and criticised secession and the seceders to the Confederate officers who often were his guests. His home was always full of visitors, and Confederate officers and Union generals often sat at his table. He was arrested once again by order of General J. E. B. Stuart, October 12, 1863, but was released the same day and was not further molested.