“From the Archives” Impact of the Civil War on One Parish Family

Although no battles took place in Alexandria during the Civil War, the city, its residents and Saint Mary parishioners did not survive the conflict unscathed. The chronicle of the Roach family is an example of parishioners who suffered grievously during the war.

James Roach was a prosperous Alexandrian when the war began. The third generation of his family to belong to Saint Mary, his grandfather Philip Roach came from County Wicklow, Ireland, in the late 18th century. During the pre-Civil War period when the Alexandria Canal and Alexandria, Loudoun and Hampshire Railroad were constructed, James Roach went into the brick and stone business. He provided most of the building materials for these projects and for the Aqueduct Bridge across the Potomac into Washington, D.C.

He and his wife Elizabeth Carson Roach and their nine children lived in a lovely Greek Revival home, Prospect Hill, near the site of the Pentagon. They were active and generous members of Saint Mary parish. After the war started, the Union army built Fort Albany, one of many masonry forts on hills overlooking Washington, D.C, adjacent to Prospect Hill. The army took possession of the Roach home in 1863. Roach and his 14-year-old son, James Carson Roach, were taken prisoner, suspected of being Confederate spies or supporters. Another son, Philip, was a student at Georgetown College. He left the campus after hearing his father and brother had been arrested. He was arrested and sent to the old Capitol Prison. He was eventually sent to Fort Warren, in Boston Harbor, and held there until 1865.

James and his son were not permitted to leave their home to attend church, but a priest from Georgetown did obtain permission to visit and celebrate Mass at their home. Mrs. Roach had to swear allegiance to the United States flag (i.e., the North) in order to have a pass to go into Alexandria for Mass or any other purposes.

Union soldiers destroyed everything the Roach family had, even allowing government cattle to graze on the grounds around the house. Many nights they were awakened by soldiers trampling through the house looking for weapons or valuables that might be hidden there. All their trees were cut down when Forts Albany and Runyon were constructed. Their gardens were destroyed.

Elizabeth Roach and one of their daughters, Ursula Jane, both died during the war. James died in 1867,   four years after his wife. It is said that he simply lost his will to live.  The Alexandria Gazette had this to say:

Mr. James Roach, 50, left orphan children…The war, whatever it may have done for others, has brought woe in its train to this once happy household.  His beautiful household on Prospect Hill, adjoining Arlington, has had to undergo the ravages of military necessity, Fort Albany having been erected within 100 feet of his house…He had a heart as open as day to melting charity.

The younger Roach children were sent to live with relatives and several remained in Alexandria. Mary Ann Roach was a teacher and principal of the Mount Vernon Institute on Washington Street. “Lizzie” also became a teacher. The names of the Roach sisters appear frequently in Saint Mary parish activities.

– Kitty Guy, Parish Historian

Historic marker erected in 1969 at the site of Prospect Hill, home of James Roach and family, on South Arlington Ridge Road in Arlington, VA.

Throughout 2020, the Basilica of Saint Mary will present “From the Archives.” It is a weekly feature online and in our bulletin spotlighting the history of the parish. All of our “From the Archives” features are located here.