Saved - 49 Acres at Gettysburg!

Dear Friends and Guardians of American Heritage,

Imagine what it would’ve been like to witness portions of all three days of the Battle at Gettysburg unfold before your very eyes at most of Gettysburg’s famous hills. Today I write to you with news of our most recent victory — nearly 49 acres! — at the famed Pennsylvania battlefield, featuring land that yielded such views in 1863 of Big Round Top, Cemetery Hill and Culp’s Hill.

If you hadn’t stepped up to support this effort, the largest of these properties would’ve likely become a housing subdivision of large-lot “McMansions” that obstructed the view of Big Round Top. This campaign was an instance where every donation made a tangible difference — one that allows this and future generations to experience the historical landscape through a broader and more gratifying lens.  

But that’s not all! That large 46.8-acre, property, on which the battle flowed around and over, is accompanied by two other small tracts that the Trust has now preserved in perpetuity. At 1.1 acres, the larger of those includes the historic James McKnight House. Mr. McKnight could’ve never imagined that when he purchased the house — along with a barn and five acres of land — in 1860, that the largest battle ever fought in North America would sweep over his property three years later.

Located on the slopes of East Cemetery Hill, tens of thousands of Union troops marched right in front of, paused on, passed over, fought on and were buried on McKnight’s farm on July 1 and 2. The Union made sure to strategically station the vital 5th Maine Battery on McKnight’s Hill on July 1, and when Confederate troops under Gen. Jubal Early made their fierce attack on East Cemetery Hill on the evening of July 2, the battery held and secured ample time for Union reinforcements to come on scene and push the Confederate forces fully back.

Knowing that this whole area along the Baltimore Pike is threatened by development, we pursued the big-picture goal and secured an additional .63 acres immediately south of the McKnight House. All of this land could easily have been lost to development if generous Trust members had not stepped forward. But, with you on our side, our fight to keep history intact is as successful as it’s ever been! And our success rate is recognized by the continued assistance of the American Battlefield Protection Program, as their support toward these efforts at Gettysburg, as well as a landowner donation and a handful of large gifts, allowed us to match donor contributions at an impactful $5.48-to-$1.

Thank you for keeping the fight for battlefield preservation alive and well, as each victory is a testament to your fighting spirit! 

With Deepest Gratitude,
David N. Duncan
President

60 Acres Saved at Fort Blakely

Dear Friends and Battlefield Champions,

It’s always exciting when I get the chance to share news of the latest Trust victory, because YOU are the key that has enabled us to pursue preservation efforts at countless battlefields across the nation! And today, I would like to highlight the history has been saved forever at the Fort Blakeley Battlefield in southwest Alabama.

Make no mistake, this was truly a team effort. The Trust worked with The Conservation Fund and the University of South Alabama —and received considerable funding from the American Battlefield Protection Program — to ensure the protection of roughly 60 acres at the remarkable Civil War site. The collaboration of these varied interests stems from the multilayered significance of the property known as Blakeley Bluff...

• The concentration of United States Colored Troops engaged here was among the highest of any Civil War battle.

• The land is expected to contain archaeological data that can further our understanding of these Black soldiers’ experiences.

• It is home to one of Alabama’s most endangered ecosystems and features everything from some of the highest bluffs in the state to hardwood cove ravines, blackwater swamps and pine uplands.

This newly acquired acreage was the landscape on which the Federals, composed of nearly one-third U.S. Colored Troops, overran Confederate defenses in a raging assault — on the same day that Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox Court House. The Union triumph at Fort Blakeley unfolded in a matter of mere minutes!

Eager to unearth this history, the University of South Alabama plans to use the site as a unique classroom, at which scholars can embark on archaeological digs and conduct historical research. The university will also serve as stewards of the conservation easement on this property, granted by The Conservation Fund, which owns the site. This easement will restrict any future development of the property, supporting our goals for historic preservation, the university’s ongoing research, and The Conservation Fund’s maintenance of a unique and at-risk ecosystem.

Victory at Fort Blakeley – both in the Civil War past and the preservation present – epitomizes teamwork. Of the 16,000 Union soldiers engaged at Fort Blakeley, 5,000 Black soldiers charged forward with their brothers in blue, proving their mettle while fighting for freedom and a more perfect Union. And so, with your enduring support for preserving our nation’s formative past, the essential stories engrained in battlefields, like Fort Blakeley, can teach generations of Americans about the value of teamwork.

With Deepest Gratitude,
David N. Duncan
President

Wilderness Battlefield Preservation

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

Donations needed to Preserve the "Slaughter Pen Farm"

From the American Battlefield Trust….

Please give now to continue the fight to help save the Slaughter Pen Farm at the Fredericksburg Battlefield!

In 2006, the farmer who owned this 208-acre property had recently passed away, and his heir put the farm up for sale on the open real estate market. Even though it was still farmland and mostly unchanged since the battle, the property had been rezoned and was advertised as the “prime light industrial development site in the Commonwealth of Virginia.” 

The purchase price: $12 million. 

This wasn’t just any Virginia farm. This land, on December 13, 1862, was turned into something known forever after as “the Slaughter Pen Farm.” On that fateful day, Union forces led by General Ambrose Burnside attempted to make a frontal assault over an open plain against the Confederate line commanded by General Robert E. Lee. 

Robert E. Lee, scanning the carnage and chaos of the battlefield through his field glasses from his command post, was looking at the Slaughter Pen Farm sector of the battlefield, deeply moved by the thousands of dead and wounded soldiers of both sides falling, their lifeblood pouring out onto that ground, when he uttered his famous quote: “It is well that war is so terrible; we should grow too fond of it.”

This hallowed ground where 9,000 soldiers were killed, wounded, or captured, could have become an industrial nightmare.

In 2006, we looked at this crisis and said “No! We cannot lose those stories or these critical pieces of our country’s history!” We took the calculated risk and decided that together, we must do whatever it takes to save this battlefield! 

We’re making progress, but until the remaining debt is paid off completely, this battlefield is not truly “saved.” It's like a mortgage on a house; if we don’t make the payments, we lose the property! 

This $12 million transaction remains to this day the biggest transaction the Trust has ever attempted and we still have $2.7 million to go. 

It will take several more years to fully pay off the loan and our annual payment is currently scheduled to go up to $400,000 per year beginning in 2022, until it is fully paid off. 

Luckily, a group of very generous donors is looking to help accelerate payments to the debt and this year, several members stepped up with a dedicated dollar-for-dollar match, up to $150,000.

This means that your gift to save this hallowed ground will be doubled!

We've come so far together on this worthy endeavor. I hope that you will continue to build on your legacy at the Slaughter Pen Farm in Fredericksburg by making your most generous gift today.

Please know that you have my deepest thanks for all you are doing to save our nation’s history. You will always be a hero in my book.

'Til the battle is won,

David N. Duncan
President 

P.S. I truly have no substitute for your generosity and hope that you will continue to build upon your personal legacy at the Slaughter Pen Farm in Fredericksburg by making your generous gift today. If you and 1,499 members answer my call for help today with a gift of $100, we will raise enough to assure the $150,000 match we need to make this year’s payment!

22 Acres Preserved at New Market Heights

News from the American Battlefield Trust February 4, 2021

Every piece of preserved battlefield land comes with a reason for celebration, but today’s victory is a particularly humbling one. In the quickly developing Richmond suburbs, the American Battlefield Trust has secured 22 acres at New Market Heights, bringing the total holdings at the Virginia site to 88 largely contiguous acres. 

With a historic marker on the north side of the road just east of Interstate 295, many have driven past the New Market Heights Battlefield without ever hearing of the heroics that took place there on September 29, 1864. A story of true grit and sacrifice, some 2,000 Black soldiers of the United States Colored Troops (USCT), dove into battle at the site — fighting through formidable obstructions, swampy terrain and a searing fire in order to divert Confederate attention from Union movement around Petersburg.  

The bravery demonstrated that day resulted in 14 USCT soldiers receiving the nation’s highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor — only a total of 25 Black men were awarded this distinction during the entire Civil War. Two white officers leading USCT units — a bold commission to carry into battle — also received the honor. This is a story that needs to be told... and we believe that preserving this battlefield is an important step to making this often-untold piece of the Civil War history common knowledge for all Americans. 

The 22-acre tract you’ve helped us save is an integral portion of the New Market Heights Battlefield, a landscape that felt the resolute footsteps of Col. Samuel Duncan’s and Col. Alonzo G. Draper’s brigades of Black soldiers as they pushed northward toward Four Mile Creek and the Confederate earthworks in a morning “fog that enwrapped them like the mantle of death.” The 2,000 Black soldiers involved sustained 800 casualties. The dauntless valor of these men is engrained in this hallowed ground, and its preservation opens doors for expanded interpretation at a site that will become an outdoor classroom for current and future generations of Americans. 

This achievement wouldn’t have been possible without your continued investment in America’s battlefields, including sites that have the power to speak for those whom the historical narrative has too-often overlooked. Recognizing the special, historical value of the project, the Virginia Battlefield Preservation Fund awarded a substantial matching grant. The fund has been instrumental in helping the Trust save thousands of acres across the Commonwealth. 

And so, while we celebrate the addition of 22 acres at New Market Heights, the Trust remains committed to preserving an array of sites where Black soldiers fought for the growth and unity of a nation — as well as their own freedom. We wish to promote these stories of service not only this Black History Month, but all year round.

All my thanks,
David N. Duncan
President, American Battlefield Trust

Bloody Ravine at Williamsburg Civil War Battlefield Preserved for Posterity

‘BLOODY RAVINE,’ 29-ACRES AT THE HEART OF WILLIAMSBURG’S CIVIL WAR BATTLEFIELD, PROTECTED FOR POSTERITY 

American Battlefield Trust’s acquisition of Colonial Williamsburg Foundation tract was made possible by federal and state matching grants and private contributions

(Williamsburg, VA) – Dec 23, 2020 - Although the city is synonymous with the colonial era, Williamsburg’s significance to American history extends well beyond the 18th century. Thanks to a partnership between the American Battlefield Trust and The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, supported by the National Park Service’s American Battlefield Protection Program and the Commonwealth of Virginia, 29 acres that played a critical role in the Civil War will be protected forever.

“Sometimes the stars align, and that certainly felt like the case with this project,” said American Battlefield Trust President David Duncan. “Zoned for commercial uses and in a sought-after location, the fair-market value of this land was eye-popping. But The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation is a partner that shares our vision for creating places where American history is alive and tangible. Together, we were able to create a scenario, supported by government partners who recognized the extraordinary significance of this land, that will preserve this historic ground forever.”

Acknowledging the Foundation’s important role, Colonial Williamsburg President and CEO Cliff Fleet said, “The story of America is dynamic, and Greater Williamsburg is rich with places that figure prominently in that story. It was our honor to ensure that this historic landscape is safeguarded by an organization uniquely situated to interpret it. The work of the American Battlefield Trust to preserve this important piece of Civil War history adds to the diversity of offerings for visitors interested in a more complete understanding of the Battle of Williamsburg and provides an economic boost to local businesses.”

When the Trust announced the project in May 2020, it emphasized the extraordinary investment that the opportunity represented. Between a donation of value being made on the part of the seller and anticipated grants from the federal and state governments, each dollar donated by Trust members would be matched $220-to-$1. Also notable, the land represented a pristine pocket of battlefield in a highly developed area. It provides an opportunity to honor seven American soldiers who earned the Medal of Honor for their valor at Williamsburg: Cpl. Robert Broody (40th New York), Sgt. Martin Conboy (37th New York), Sgt. John Nicholas Coyne (70th New York), Pvt. Michael Dillon (2nd New Hampshire), Pvt. Thomas Timothy Fallon (37th New York), Sgt. John Haight (72nd New York) and Capt. George Washington Mindil (61st Pennsylvania).

Having a sizable portion of the battlefield protected also offers the opportunity to tell important stories of often overlooked African American involvement in the Civil War. The outcome of the Battle of Williamsburg was greatly influenced when enslaved persons offered the Union army intelligence about unoccupied Confederate fortifications, enabling them to gain a protected foothold on their opponent’s flank. Slave labor had been used to construct these fortifications, and some of the same men who built them clandestinely led soldiers through the woods to exploit them. As the war progressed, enslaved persons in the region pursued self-emancipation by journeying to Fort Monroe, where they might be declared contraband and under Union protection. Subsequently, many Black men from the Williamsburg region enlisted in the United States Colored Troops as the war progressed.

Although the Trust is typically able to generate matches that double or triple the impact of private gifts, the massive multiplication factor drew immediate attention and the Trust swiftly raised the amount necessary to secure the property. With the fundraising completed and state and federal grants awarded this autumn, the transaction was completed this week.

The newly protected land will provide both environmental and economic benefits to the local community, noted Drew Gruber, interim president of the Williamsburg Battlefield Association. “Conservation of this green space will not only ensure the quality of life for regional residents but will help our economy by diversifying our tourism profile. Adding a Civil War amenity will attract that large audience which literally drives past Williamsburg each year in search of these sites and stories.”

The Battle of Williamsburg was fought on May 5, 1862, and marked the largest engagement fought in Virginia up to that time, after First Manassas the previous July. Departing from Fort Monroe, the Union Army moved up the Virginia Peninsula, hoping to threaten Richmond. The two forces had settled into a weeks-long siege at Yorktown, another site more often associated with the Revolutionary War. When the Confederates withdrew from their entrenchments, Union Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan was slow to mount a pursuit but made contact with Confederate Gen. Joseph E. Johnston‘s rearguard brigades four miles southeast of Williamsburg on the rainy morning of May 5.

One of the key geographic features of the morning fighting came to be known as the “Bloody Ravine,” as the forces occupied opposite sides of the divide and hand-to-hand combat was recorded between the lines. Later in the day, Union Brig. Gen. Joseph Hooker assaulted Fort Magruder, an earthen fortification alongside the Williamsburg Road, but was repulsed. Confederate counterattacks, directed by Maj. Gen. James Longstreet, almost overwhelmed Hooker’s men, but reinforcements stabilized the Federal left. It was in this fighting that Brig. Gen. Winfield S. Hancock earned his nickname “Hancock the Superb.”

That evening, Johnston continued his withdrawal up the peninsula. McClellan claimed the battle at Williamsburg was a “brilliant victory” over superior forces, but neither commander had committed his entire army to the fight; nearly 41,000 Federals and 32,000 Confederates slugged it out, inflicting a total of 3,800 casualties on both sides.

The American Battlefield Trust is dedicated to preserving America’s hallowed battlegrounds and educating the public about what happened there and why it matters today. The nonprofit, nonpartisan organization has protected more than 53,000 acres associated with the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War. Learn more at www.battlefields.org.

Help Save Land at the "Gibraltar of the Valley" - FOR ONLY $20,000!

Help Save Land at the "Gibraltar of the Valley"

402 acres of battlefield can be saved for just $20,000!

We have the opportunity to protect 402 critical acres of the Fisher’s Hill Battlefield, and thanks to the generosity of the family who owns the land, we don’t have to buy the protective easement – we only have to raise the $20,000 it will cost to get the easement done and recorded! This is an amazingly generous offer that enables us to preserve 402 acres that otherwise would remain unprotected – risking not only this property but the viewshed of almost the entire battlefield.

If we can raise the funds needed to pay for the survey appraisal, legal fees, and other costs and fees for creating and recording this easement, the landowners will donate the value of the easement itself! This is a donation worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

So what ground are we talking about? These 402 acres are on the western end of the Fisher’s Hill Battlefield, on high ground along Little North Mountain. It was the site where the Army of West Virginia, under the command of General George Crook, arrived after their secretive flank march and from where they launched an attack that would crush the Confederate left and win the battle for the Union. If you look at the map for this project [see above], a quick look will clearly show the importance of this property. You’ll see several parcels marked as ongoing projects, and even more marked as already preserved. When combined, all of these parcels represent the amazing effort that you and all of our friends across the country have been making to save the Fisher’s Hill Battlefield. We’re slugging it out daily to complete the projects that we already have underway, but this new opportunity is too good not to bring it to you and ask for your help.

If we can come together to raise the $20,000 needed, we are going to partner with the Land Trust of Virginia to co-hold a perpetual preservation easement on this battlefield property and the pre-war structures situated there. The Land Trust of Virginia is a fantastic and well-known conservation organization that has protected thousands of acres across the Commonwealth. This will be the first project that we will complete together, and represents a partnership that brings the strengths of both organizations to bear in a way that provides optimal protection and stewardship for this property.

Think about it – an easement on 402 acres, the value of which is over $1.3 million – and all we have to come up with is $20,000.

When you stand on that hillside today and peer down through the woods you can almost hear the West Virginians yelling as they attack. We have to save this property – protect this hallowed ground – and keep future development on this high elevation from ruining the historic integrity of the rest of this battlefield...

DONATE NOW

Gaines' Mill and Cold Harbor Preservation Opportunity

Twenty years ago, when I first joined the staff of the Trust, I asked my then-boss Jim Lighthizer, “What is the most important unprotected battlefield land in the country?” 

Without a second’s hesitation, Jim told me about a nearly one-square mile farm outside of Richmond, Virginia, that was the site of two major Civil War battles, Gaines’ Mill in 1862, AND Cold Harbor in 1864. 

Holding up his left hand horizontally to show me how the contending troops were positioned east-to-west at Gaines’ Mill, Jim then held up his right hand vertically to show how the armies were oriented north-to-south at Cold Harbor. 

He stacked his hands, one on top of the other, to show that this huge, intact, and still-pristine farm was represented by the area where his hands overlapped, at the heart of both battlefields. 

There's only one place in America where nearly one square mile of a “double battlefield” can still be preserved. And there's only one place where that nearly one square mile of hallowed ground is essentially as pristine as it was on each day of those historic battles. 

With more than 20 years of determination, cultivation, and negotiation, it is my honor and pleasure to inform you that, with your help, we have the opportunity to save this twice-hallowed battleground! 

80 to 1 Match for Southern Revolutionary War Battlefields

Today, we have a unique opportunity to save essential land at three sites critical to telling the story of the Southern Campaign of the American Revolution. 

Nearly 245 years after the first of these battles, we have the chance to preserve forever: 

• 31 acres at Parker’s Ferry in South Carolina — the site where small-unit warrior of the Revolutionary War — General Francis Marion — launched one of his most strategically successful ambushes against the British.

• 1 key acre at Great Bridge in Virginia — the site of an early Revolutionary War battle that proved that the Patriots were a force to be reckoned with.

• 8 acres at Port Royal Island in South Carolina — the site of an important American victory that demonstrated Patriot mettle early on in the Southern Campaign.

Together, we can save 40 acres that tell critical, if little-known stories of our nation’s founding conflict, where citizen-soldiers fought and died for American Independence.

If we act now, we can save these three tracts — a total transaction value of $2,335,630 — for only $30,630! In other words, we only need to raise the final 1.3% of the total transaction to save priceless pieces of American history for all time. 

Any gift you give today will be multiplied by a factor of 80! That’s an $80-to-$1 match! 

This is a preservation opportunity we simply can’t pass up, especially since these properties are highly threatened. The tract at Great Bridge, for instance, was being marketed as an ideal site for a retail strip shopping center until the Trust secured a contract to preserve it! 

This opportunity is also unique because of the partnership that’s making it possible — a never-before-dreamed-of fusion of federal, state, county, and local grants, as well as a grant from the U.S. military, support from our great partners at the South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust and the Great Bridge Battlefield & Waterways History Foundation, and even a landowner donation! 

Will you join us to help save these 40 acres of American Revolution Battleground by giving a gift today?

‘Til the battle is won,  

David N. Duncan
President 

Update on Gettysburg NMP Work Day for 2021

2019 Work Day at Gettysburg NMP

At this time Gettysburg National Military Park is not scheduling volunteer activities such as brush cutting and painting for 2021.

Hopefully these restrictions will be reviewed and changed in the coming months.

Stay tuned for possible developments.“

American Battlefield Trust Announces 2 Preservation Opportunities

I have some wonderful news about our two newest preservation opportunities in the Western Theater — one at the famed battlefield of Lookout Mountain and the other at the historic Franklin Battlefield.  

Let’s turn for a few moments to the background of these tracts, beginning with Lookout Mountain... 

“Battle Above the Clouds” at Lookout Mountain – 301 Acre Tract 

This parcel provided the only possible approach on Lookout Mountain that allowed Union General Joseph Hooker to execute his unexpected and wildly successful maneuver against Confederate General Braxton Bragg’s forces on Lookout Mountain. It is one of the single largest tracts of land that can still be saved on the Chattanooga Battlefield.

This effort marks one of the biggest land transactions at this battlefield since Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park was dedicated as America’s first national military park in 1895. We will be making preservation history! 

Thanks to a generous landowner donation and anticipated federal and state grants, with your help we will be able to protect this land with a conservation easement worth $3.8 million for just $50,000! 

Franklin Battlefield – 2 Acre Tract 

This 2-acre parcel located along the Lewisburg Pike witnessed heavy combat on November 30, 1864. Confederate General Thomas Scott’s brigade of Louisiana, Alabama and Tennessee troops charged across these acres making a final push towards the Federal defensive works on the left flank of the Union line as the battle raged around them. Scott’s troops faced withering fire from Federal artillery and muskets and suffered heavy casualties. 

This parcel of land is so important that Chief Executive Officer for the Battle of Franklin Trust and author of this generation’s best history of that battle, Eric Jacobson, described it as “one of the last available, most important unpreserved properties in Franklin.”  

The Trust has committed a grant of $25,000 to help make this transaction possible and to secure this important piece of the battlefield for all time! 

However, we can’t fulfill these commitments without your support! Can I count on your gift to help preserve two tracts at Lookout Mountain and Franklin in Tennessee?

Thanks to you, we can protect our country’s future by preserving its past. 

‘Til the battle is won,  
David N. Duncan
President 

Saved: Three Acres in the West Woods at Antietam

In his last announcement as president of the American Battlefield Trust, James Lighthizer warmly relayed that we were victorious in saving three history-filled acres in the West Woods at Antietam, his favorite battlefield. The accomplishment was a testament to the quick response and overwhelming generosity of the Trust’s members, after the opportunity became public in mid-August. Other donors participated in this project by virtue of gifts made to the Lighthizer Legacy Fund in tribute to the 20 impactful years that Jim spent leading the organization. With this latest victory, the Trust has saved a total of 463 acres at Antietam to date!

The West Woods was of one of the most heavily contested areas of one of the Civil War’s bloodiest battles. This acreage marks where numerous Confederate brigades launched their advances into the West Woods and toward the Dunker Church. In what can be described as a soldier’s worst nightmare, it was at one point seen as a “no-man’s land” with artillery from both sides flying overhead.

To truly illustrate the history that took place on this property, you can turn to the photography of Alexander Gardner, the sketches of Alfred Waud, and, of course, the accounts of the men who fought there. The words of Sgt. William Andrews of the 1st Georgia paint a haunting picture: “You could hear laughing, cursing, yelling and the groans of the wounded and dying, while the awful roar of musketry was appalling. Where the line stood, the ground was covered in blue, and I believe I could have walked on them without putting my feet on the ground.”

The preservation of this hallowed ground will prevent future development from infringing on the solemnity of the battlefield and lay the groundwork for its future transfer to the National Park Service. The addition unleashes the potential for accounts like that of Sgt. Andrews to carry greater weight and expand the park’s interpretation.

Preservation successes like this one create vast momentum and inspire this organization to continue pushing boundaries in the name of saving America’s hallowed ground. It is, without a doubt, integral to note that your support allows us live out our creed: “Preserve. Educate. Inspire.”

American Battlefield Trust

35 Acres of Barlow's Knoll Transferred to Gettysburg NMP

Civil War Trust donors rallied to raise $400,000 to secure the site and ensure its permanent protection

July 1, 2020

Gettysburg, PA — Many of the events and activities that are typically scheduled to mark the anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg have gone digital in 2020, but there is at least one tangible and permanent legacy of the commemoration, as the American Battlefield Trust marks the occasion by transferring a critical 35-acre tract at Barlow’s Knoll to the National Park Service. Protection of this land had been a top park priority for decades when in 2016, the Trust had the opportunity to acquire it from Adams County.

“Among the dozens of battlefield properties that we protect each year, a small number rise above the rest because of their iconic nature,” said Trust President Jim Lighthizer. “Barlow’s Knoll at Gettysburg is certainly in that category. For years and decades to come our members will be able to walk this land and tell their children and grandchildren that ‘I helped do something special by saving this forever.’”

During the fighting on July 1, 1863, the area that became known as Barlow’s Knoll was the far right of the Federal line. This sector of the battlefield was commanded by Brig. Gen. Francis Barlow, whom celebrated historian Bruce Catton described as a “slim, clean-shaven young New York lawyer who had gone into the war as a militia private, and now commanded a division.” Barlow’s two brigades initially deployed in the fields before he made a controversial decision to advance them across the land protected by the Trust and now transferred to the Park, and onto a small rise about 700 yards distant. Barlow had hoped that the elevation would provide an advantage to his artillery, but he overextended his force and was dislodged from the position.

Retreating toward the Adams County Almshouse, again across the Trust-purchased property, Barlow attempted to rally his men, but was badly wounded. On the ground as the battle continued around him, Barlow’s location was overrun by Confederates. Although the popular tale that he was offered assistance by Gen. John B. Gordon is apocryphal, at least one Southern officer did tend to Barlow, likely on the transferred property.  

“Gettysburg National Military Park and the American Battlefield Trust have a long and successful history of partnership,” said Park Superintendent Steven Sims. “They are a constant ally and aid in our work, with this land transfer at Barlow’s Knoll being just the latest example. I look forward to many more instances of cooperative preservation”

Because the Barlow’s Knoll tract was entirely within the National Park’s boundary, it was ineligible for federal matching grants designed to create public-private partnerships for battlefield preservation. This meant that the Trust had to raise the full $400,0000 purchase price in private donations. But members quickly answered to the call, responding to the land’s tremendous interpretive value, which National Park Service Chief Historian Emeritus Ed Bearss summarized eloquently: “To me, this property is as important to understanding the first day at Gettysburg as Sickles’ position in the Peach Orchard is on the second day of the battle.”

Seeking the permanent preservation of the land was a meaningful decision according to County Commissioner Randy Phiel. “Adams County's heritage has two significant qualities that stand out —. our history and our agricultural traditions,” he said. “When Adams County sold this tract of land bordering Barlow's Knoll in 2017 to the American Battlefield Trust, the Board of Commissioners ensured that both of these qualities would be preserved for future generations in perpetuity on this historic tract. The National Park Service is an appropriate steward of this land preserving our Adams County and national history; while allowing agricultural practices to continue in the best tradition of Adams County.”  

The Battle of Gettysburg was the bloodiest engagement of the Civil War and widely considered a turning point of the conflict. In the summer of 1863, Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee launched his second invasion of the Northern states. Lee sought to capitalize on recent Confederate victories and defeat the Union army on Northern soil, which he hoped would force the Lincoln administration to negotiate for peace. Lee also sought to take the war out of the ravaged Virginia farmland and gather supplies for his Army of Northern Virginia. But after three days of intense fighting, culminating in the massive frontal assault known as Pickett’s Charge on July 3, and 51,000 combined casualties, Lee’s second invasion of the North collapsed in failure. Four months later, President Abraham Lincoln came to Pennsylvania to participate in the dedication of a cemetery for those killed in the battle, delivering his famed Gettysburg Address during the ceremony.

Today, Gettysburg National Military Park protects more than 6,000 acres of that battlefield and welcomes 1 million visitors annually. The American Battlefield Trust has preserved a total of 1,183 acres at Gettysburg, much of it subsequently transferred into the national park for permanent stewardship and interpretation. The Trust’s highest profile effort at Gettysburg has been the purchase and restoration of the site that served as Lee’s Headquarters during the battle, multimillion dollar project that included removing a hotel complex and subsequently returning the landscape to its wartime appearance.

The American Battlefield Trust is dedicated to preserving America’s hallowed battlegrounds and educating the public about what happened there and why it matters today. The nonprofit, nonpartisan organization has protected more than 52,000 acres associated with the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War — including 1,183 acres at Gettysburg. Learn more at www.battlefields.org.

101 Acres Saved at Four Civil War Battlefields

The year 1862 was transformative. In the spring, the Federals strung together an impressive series of victories in the Western Theater. Yet, before summer arrived, Robert E. Lee assumed command of the Army of Northern Virginia and, in a matter of weeks, shifted the balance of power in the Eastern Theater. The year brought major battles, key turning points, and political decisions that would forever change the course of history. It’s a fascinating snapshot of our nation’s story. And 158 years later, I am thankful that you agree we should preserve the places where these events took place.

In recent months, I’ve written to you several times to ask for your help in saving hallowed ground associated with battles that took place in this seminal year. The first opportunity was our effort to preserve 28 acres on three battlefields — Shiloh in the west, and Glendale and Fredericksburg in the east at a $4.85-to-$1 match of your generosity.

More recently, I asked for your generosity to preserve 73 key acres at Shiloh and South Mountain. Like the former opportunity, these battlefields represent different theaters of the Civil War, but share the distinction of having played an important part in shaping the history of our great nation.

Today, because of you, we can declare victory on these five tracts of land! You and your fellow supporters helped us to reach our fundraising goal for both efforts, and we were able to leverage your generosity with state and federal matching grants and a tremendous landowner donation. Thanks to your support, 101 acres of 1862 Civil War history are now protected, forever.

More specifically, preserving those combined 61 acres at Shiloh means you have helped to save an astounding 1,378 acres from this April 6-7 battle – an accomplishment for which you should be incredibly proud. Thanks to you, future generations can walk this land and learn the now famous words that Confederate General Albert Sidney Johnston spoke on the eve of the battle:

"We shall attack them at daylight tomorrow."

You know the story well: Attack at daylight they did, and after hours of bloody fighting and thousands of casualties on both sides, Johnston's foe in battle, Union General Ulysses S. Grant, echoed those same words. Counseled by advisors to retreat, Grant declared, "Retreat? No! I propose to attack at daylight, and whip them."

The two days of fighting at Shiloh resulted in horrific carnage. Nearly 24,000 casualties — killed, wounded, missing, or captured — made Shiloh the bloodiest battle in all American history up to that time.

Of course, months later, the Battle of Antietam became – and remains – the bloodiest day day in American history. And leading up to that infamous September day was the Battle at South Mountain, where, thanks to this preservation victory, you are adding 18 acres to the 686 you have already helped to save.

I encourage you to visit our website to learn more about these individual parcels of land that help to tell the story of the year 1862. For many of these battlefields, development is a real and present threat. Thank you for ensuring that the land you have worked so hard to protect is not compromised.

‘Til the Battle is Won,

Jim Lighthizer
President
American Battlefield Trust

An Opportunity to Save Acres at Missionary Ridge and Brice Cross Roads

Preservation Opportunity from ABT…

“Civil War soldiers were so stupid.” I have heard this statement muttered on battlefields for decades. And the words are usually said by someone who is certain that if only they were alive at the time, that they would have come up with a better way to outflank and defeat the enemy. Well, it wasn’t that easy. You see, defenders didn’t want to be outflanked and defeated, so they came up with ways to prevent those possibilities.

As most of you know, soldiers didn’t just stand up in a random field and start shooting. They marched and fought with purpose as laid out by their commanders, usually to accomplish some tactical or strategic good for their army. Of course, some situations required blunt frontal assaults or flanking maneuvers. Sometimes one or both of were successful, and sometimes neither.

Today, I am hoping you will join me to preserve 42 acres at two battles that saw unconventional attacks that succeeded—at Chattanooga’s Missionary Ridge (November 1863) and at Brice’s Cross Roads (June 1864) in Mississippi. Let me tell you more about the fascinating turn of events that took place at these two western battlefields.

At Missionary Ridge, the Union first attacked the wrong hill (the main body of Confederate soldiers were actually on another hill). When they advanced anew, legendary Confederate General Patrick Cleburne’s troops held firm on the north end of Missionary Ridge. That’s when things got strange—a Union diversionary attack went off course and turned from a diversion into the real deal attack as decided by Union General George Thomas’s troops themselves. Pushing Confederate troops up the hill, they raced up behind the retreating Southerners, all the way to the crest. After purposeful (and very real!) attacks on one part of the ridge failed, the “fake” attack on the other succeeded. The Southerners were swept off the ridge, out of Chattanooga, and back into Georgia whence they came.

The unconventional attack at Brice’s Cross Roads was more… expected to succeed. Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest faced a larger force under General Samuel Sturgis. Undeterred, Forrest opened a fight with Sturgis to lure in and tire the Union infantry. Forrest then pounded the Union center with artillery while moving around the Yankee flanks with fast-moving cavalry, threatening the Union’s route of retreat. The Union had lost by then, but had to keep fighting just to be able to retreat, suffering some five times the casualties as Forrest’s men.

So, you see, attacks came in many shapes and sizes and sometimes the blunt tool worked best, while others required a sharper approach. The diversity in approaches also speaks to our need to preserve these places so that current and future generations can walk the hallowed ground and find as much fascination and wonder as you and I do.

The 42 acres at stake include core battlefield land at Missionary Ridge, key area along Tishomingo Creek at Brice’s Cross Roads as well as a small but crucial tract in the heart of the battlefield.

By joining this effort, you will help to add to the 1,459 acres you have already saved at Brice’s Cross Roads and substantially complete the preservation puzzle we have been working on for years at this battlefield.

In total, we will be able to cover the costs for 80% of this land. We need your help to raise the remaining $56,659, at a $5.17-to-$1 match of your donation dollar!

Please read more about this land on our website and make your most generous gift today to preserve this fascinating history, forever ‘Til The Battle is Won,

Jim Lighthizer
President
American Battlefield Trust

P.S. Two battles. Two unconventional attacks that worked. Two preservation opportunities. Your support is needed to help us raise the final funds needed to save 42 acres at Missionary Ridge and Brice’s Cross Roads today.

A Chance to Save 29 Acres at Williamsburg Battlefield

You and I now have the chance to preserve 29 key and pristine acres from the 1862 Battle of Williamsburg in Virginia at – get this – a $220-to-$1 multiplier of your generosity!

The transaction has a value of an eye-popping $2,743,000, due to the land’s market value as a property zoned for commercial use. Amazingly, between significant federal and state matching grants and a donation of value from the owner of the property, you and I can save this land for just $12,500! That’s right: for just $12,500, you and I can save some of the most important land associated with this key battle of the 1862 Peninsula Campaign, land that was destined to be developed and lost forever.

Some scattered parcels have been preserved over the years, but as you can see above on the battle map, this is the first time any part of the main action near the famous “Bloody Ravine” has been targeted for preservation. Even though the economy has recently plummeted, many developers are sitting on piles of cash and ready to take tracts as this one.

Take a look at this photo to see how pristine this part of the Williamsburg Battlefield is. When you see the land for yourself, it is shocking to think that this hallowed ground is zoned for commercial development. Look closely on the left of the photo below to see if you can spot the small fawn lying in the grass. Hint: look for two ears!

Can you find the fawn in this photo of Williamsburg Battlefield? Click to enlarge.

This photo is a reminder that saving battlefields does not only mean creating outdoor history classrooms. Battlefields also serve as homes for wildlife and breathtaking open spaces where one can experience and enjoy nature.

And today, I am asking for you to help keep this land as pristine today as on the day of the battle 158 years ago. Will you join me to help us raise the $12,500 we need to save these acres of this battlefield forever?

‘Til The Battle is Won!
The American Battlefield Trust

Good news for Civil War battlefield preservation!

Good news for Civil War battlefield preservation this week!

On April 30, 2020, the National Park Service announced that $923,314 in grants from the American Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP) would be used to protect 207 acres of America’s Civil and Revolutionary War battlefields. The grants will be used to acquire portions of Vicksburg Battlefield in Mississippi, Fort Ann and Newton Battlefield in New York, Bentonville Battlefield in North Carolina, and Cedar Mountain Battlefield, Trevilian Station Battlefield and Peebles’ Farm Battlefield in Virginia.
The Battlefield Land Acquisition Grant program, administered by the American Battlefield Protection Program, provides up to 50% in matching funds for state and local governments to acquire and preserve threatened Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War Battlefield land through the purchase of land in fee simple and permanent, protective interests in land. Eligible battlefields are listed in the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission’s 1993 “Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields” and the 2007 “Report to Congress on the Historic Preservation of Revolutionary War and War of 1812 Sites in the United States.”

For complete details about each battlefield’s new acquisitions, please see the original press release: https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1207/04-30-20-nps-awards-grants-to-protect-historic-battlefields.htm

Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Acting to Preserve Cedar Creek

Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation is requesting help to preserve 72 acres of core battlefield at Cedar Creek.

Read the information below and check out the map to see how you might respond.

Grant to preserve around 111 acres of Civil War battlefield sites

March 14, 2020  WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News Staff

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Two West Tennessee Civil War sites are to receive a portion of a $900,000 grant.

A news release from the Tennessee Historical Commission says sites in Hardin, Henderson, Rutherford and Hamilton Counties will be receiving grant funds through the Tennessee Civil War Sites Preservation Fund.

Shiloh National Military Park will be receiving $51,000 to help purchase 53 acres of privately owned land inside the park, according to the release.

Parkers Crossroads will also be receiving $125,000 for the purchase of a half-parcel acre to help preserve the historic crossroad itself, according to the release.

The release says the grant will help preserve almost 111 acres of endangered Civil War battlefield sites across the state.

An Opportunity to Save 72 Acres at Cedar Creek Battlefield.

Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Trust has announced the opportunity to save 72 acres of land at Cedar Creek battlefield.

Located at the southern end of the fighting area and on bluffs above the creek, this land saw the clash of Confederate General Joseph Kershaw’s division with Union General George Crook’s units on the foggy morning of October 19, 1864. The tract of land lies at the center of already preserved property, making it a key piece to opening this part of the battlefield for interpretation and ensures that no developments will be allowed at the center of this battleground.

The property’s owners, Byron Brill and Kathy Cantor, have agreed to donated $400,000 of the property’s value. In addition to state grants, SVBF is seeking to raise $300,000 to save the 72 acres valued at $1.4 million.

More information about this preservation opportunity and how to donate is available here: http://www.shenandoahatwar.org/help-save-72-acres-at-cedar-creek/