A violation
In interpreting what it meant to write graffiti, the character of the buildings marked matters. For Union soldiers, the sites belonged to their enemy; that gave their graffiti "an aggressive and territorial subtext. From the perspective of southern civilians, the graffiti were vandalism, an invasive act. There was a parallel between the soldiers’ occupation of the buildings, and their “appropriation” of the walls."
Katherine Reed
Some of the sites of graffiti were substantial homes belonging to supporters of the Confederacy: Blenheim House, Ben Lomond, Braehead, Chatham Manor.
Other sites were damaged as well as covered in graffiti, linking graffiti with explicit vandalism: Fall's Church, Pohick Church.
"Churches seem to have been a favorite target for soldier graffiti during the Civil War. This was most likely due to the fact that as they did not contain residents, the buildings were unoccupied and thus easy targets for vandalism."
Carving had particular power as an invasive act, creating more physical marks that could not as easily be covered over as those made with charcoal, pencil and sticks.
The content of the graffiti, the regiments and military images, compounded the effect of the writing and drawing as defacing Confederate buildings.
Katherine Reed
"Flags are peculiar as symbols of national identity, arising in a period of national crisis. Once again, Union soldiers can be seen to be claiming Southern territory, marking it for the Union."