Beef Depot Monument During the Civil War, the <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/303">U.S. Army</a> grazed cattle on the grounds of the unfinished Washington Monument, earning the structure the nickname "Beef Depot Monument." In addition to being the seat of the federal government, Washington was on the front lines. The Mall served as a staging area for the quartermasters division which <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/304">provided supplies</a> to the troops, such as beef from the cattle. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.<a href="http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2004680190/"> View original.</a> <a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=45&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Frank+Leslie%27s+Illustrated+Newspaper%2C+%281862+Feb.+1%29%2C+p.+173.">Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, (1862 Feb. 1), p. 173.</a> 1862 <a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=38&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=1860-1889">1860-1889</a>