Hold The Line! Help Us Save 36 Acres of Wilderness Battlefield
From the Central Virginia Battlefield Trust…
Battlefield preservation usually works best with cooperative endeavors and efforts resulting in win-win situations. Today, I’m writing to you with a special opportunity to join a collaboration and save core battlefield land and help close a fundraising gap to change the outcome.
In 2019, the American Battlefield Trust began preservation work on an important 36-acre tract on the Wilderness Battlefield. With the closing deadline looming on April 2, 2021, there’s still $49,000 left to raise to save this piece of historic land. When President David Duncan from American Battlefield Trust called to see if Central Virginia Battlefields Trust could raise half of the remaining funds (just $24,500), I quickly responded with a hearty “yes!”
The 36-acre tract that Central Virginia Battlefields Trust is partnering with American Battlefield Trust to save forever sits near the western edge of the National Park, bordering State Route 20 (Orange Turnpike) and hemmed in by Lake of the Woods subdivision to the north and privately held tracts to the west and east. The land is within the designated Core Battlefield Area and was a key point for the unfolding combat in Saunders’ Field on May 5, 1864. I hope you will take some time to examine the map showing the property to save and explore the detailed history on our website about what unfolded on and around this land.
With your generous support, I am confident that Central Virginia Battlefields Trust will quickly rally and raise our portion of the amount to help the American Battlefield Trust close on this tract of hallowed ground. We need to raise $24,500 by April 2 to fulfill this commitment and join our resources to the grants and fundraising already in place to “swing and close the gap,” making the difference between “history saved forever” or land lost to continued development.
Can I count on you to help “hold this line” and preserve another piece of the Wilderness Battlefield?
Sincerely,
Tom Van Winkle
CVBT President