This Mighty Scourge

Today, the Pennsylvania Gaming Commission held a hearing on the proposed casino in Gettysburg.  The fight is definitely not over and the Civil War Preservation Trust needs your support to fight this abomination.  There is no reason to build this casino adjacent to one of the most hallowed pieces of ground in the United States.  There are several other cities competing to have this casino – let it go anywhere but Gettysburg.

The following linked video, “Our Gettysburg Legacy,” was played during today’s hearing.  Many famous celebrities volunteered their time to make the video.  Please click on the link and watch the video.  If you are able to donate to the Civil War Preservation Trust for this campaign, click HERE.  United, we can win – Divided we WILL lose.  God Bless the USA.

“Our Gettysburg Legacy” featuring Ken Burns, Matthew Broderick, Sam Waterston, Stephen Lang, David McCullough and others.

Good morning folks!  The Civil War Preservation Trust has announced its Brandy Station 2010 Campaign.  This is a great opportunity to save nearly 800 acres of this hallowed ground.  Brandy Station was the site of many engagements during the Civil War.  It also was the site of the largest cavalry battle in North America in June 1863.  This amazing preservation opportunity has a $116 to $1 donation match.  For every $85 donated to the CWPT an acre will be saved.  This is truly amazing.  There is no better time to donate for battlefield preservation.

Click HERE to make your donation!

Click HERE to view my Battle of Brandy Station essay from last year.

Click HERE to listen to my interview with Eric J. Wittenberg, author of “The Battle of Brandy Station.”

Recently the Civil War Preservation Trust released its list of the most endangered Civil War battlefields.  It should be no surprise that the Gettysburg and the Wilderness battlefields lead the list –  however, there are some new additions this year.  Below is the press release that was sent out recently to CWPT members.

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EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE UNTIL
10:00 a.m. EDT, May 13, 2010

For more information, contact:
Mary Koik, CWPT, (202) 367-1861 x7231
Beth Newburger, Epoch, (571) 436-0887

Civil War Preservation Trust Releases Annual Report on Nation’s Most Endangered Battlefields

Best-Selling Author Jeff Shaara Joins Trust to Unveil “History Under Siege” Report

(Washington D.C.) – The iconic Pennsylvania battlefield synonymous with American valor, now facing a second attempt to bring casino gambling to its doorstep; a Virginia crossroads where a single marching order set the Union army on the road to victory, now proposed for a monstrous commercial development; and a rocky Arizona spire where Confederate and Union forces fiercely faced off, now jeopardized by state budget cuts; are some of the nation’s most endangered Civil War battlefields.

At a news conference held at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., the Civil War Preservation Trust (CWPT) unveiled its annual report on the status of the nation’s historic battlegrounds.  The report, entitled History Under Siege™: A Guide to America’s Most Endangered Civil War Battlefields, identifies the most threatened Civil War sites in the United States and what can be done to save them.

“All across the country, our nation’s irreplaceable battlefields – these tangible links to our shared history – are threatened by inappropriate development, misguided public policy, limited financial resources and, in some cases, simple apathy,” said CWPT President James Lighthizer at the report’s unveiling.  “Next year marks the Sesquicentennial of the bloodiest conflict in our nation’s history, and as we prepare for that seminal moment, it is an opportune time to shine a spotlight on the places that tell America’s story.”

Joining Lighthizer at the news conference was best-selling author Jeff Shaara, who also serves on the CWPT Board of Trustees.  The author of nine New York Times bestsellers, Shaara’s novels, including the Civil War-themed Gods and Generals and The Last Full Measure, have been praised by historians for their painstaking research.  His  only non-fiction work, Jeff Shaara’s Civil War Battlefields,  is a unique and personal tour across ten of America’s most hallowed battlegrounds.  In testament to his commitment to historic preservation, Shaara donated the entire advance from the project toward battlefield protection efforts.

“Nothing creates an emotional connection between present and past like walking in the footsteps of our Civil War soldiers,” said Shaara.  “I hope that by drawing attention to endangered Civil War battlefields, Americans will this see hallowed ground in a new way and understand that these sites must be preserved for future generations to experience.”

Also taking the podium at the news conference was Dr. Mark Snell, director of the George Tyler Moore Center for the Study of the Civil War at Shepherd University.  A Civil War scholar and retired army officer, Snell was appointed to the West Virginia Sesquicentennial of the Civil War Commission last summer by Governor Joe Manchin, and was subsequently elected vice-chairman.

“Particularly on the eve of the Civil War’s 150th anniversary, there is no more fitting commemoration of American valor than respectfully protecting the land where our soldiers fought and bled,” said Snell.

For three days in the summer of 1863, 160,000 men in blue and gray fought the Civil War’s largest and bloodiest battle around the crossroads town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. In 2006, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board rejected a proposal to build a slots parlor near Gettysburg’s East Cavalry Field, citing widespread public opposition to the plan. However, earlier this year the same chief investor rolled the dice again and announced plans for another Gettysburg casino.  Although smaller than the previous proposal, this casino would be only one half-mile from Gettysburg National Military Park.

In May 1864, Union Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant’s bloody Overland Campaign began in a tangled mass of second-growth trees and scrub known as the Wilderness, Virginia.  When portions of Grant’s army attacked elements of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee’s army on May 5, 1864, it was the first time the two legendary commanders met in battle.  In August 2009, the Orange County, Va. Board of Supervisors approved a massive commercial center featuring a Walmart and four retailers at the gateway to the historic battlefield.  A lawsuit to block the project is pending.

While most of the battles of the Civil War took place on southern soil, Confederate and Union forces engaged in their westernmost struggle at Picacho Pass, Arizona, on April 15, 1862.  Confederate Capt. Sherod Hunter raised his flag in the small, frontier settlement of Tucson, hoping to take another step toward the Pacific and the creation of an ocean-to-ocean Confederacy.  The Confederate rangers were met by a detachment of Union cavalry under the leadership of Lt. James Barrett near Picacho Peak, a rocky spire 50 miles northwest of Tucson.  Although Picacho Peak State Park is a popular tourist destination, it will close to the public on June 3, 2010, due to drastic cuts in the state budget – less than one year before the sesquicentennial of the war.

The Civil War Preservation Trust is the nation’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving our nation’s endangered Civil War battlefields and to promoting appreciation of these hallowed grounds through education and heritage tourism.  History Under Siege is composed of two parts; one identifying the 10 most endangered battlefields in the nation, and a second section lists 15 additional “at risk” sites also confronted by serious threats.  Sites discussed in the report range from the famous to the nearly forgotten, but at least part of each site is in danger of being lost forever.  Battlefields were chosen based on geographic location, military significance, and the immediacy of current threats.

History Under Siege™ also includes:

Camp Allegheny, W.Va., December 15, 1861: Early in the war, North and South both strove to gain control over the western counties of Virginia, meeting in a number of engagements among the peaks and valleys of the Appalachian Mountains.  Today, the scenic beauty of Camp Allegheny, West Virginia stands to be compromised by a field of 40-story-high wind turbines — 100 feet taller than the Statue of Liberty — to be built within view of the battlefield.

Cedar Creek, Va., October 19, 1864: In the fall of 1864, Union Maj. Gen. Philip Sheridan marched up the fertile Shenandoah Valley, stripping the countryside bare to starve out Confederate forces.  After a daring Confederate surprise attack at Cedar Creek, Union forces launched a crushing counterattack, extinguishing the South’s last hope of recovering the Valley.  In 2008, the Frederick County Board of Supervisors approved a massive expansion of the mine operating adjacent to Cedar Creek, which would destroy nearly 400 acres of battlefield land crucial to telling the story of this decisive struggle.

Fort Stevens, Washington, D.C., July 11-12, 1864: Fort Stevens was part of an extensive ring of fortifications surrounding Civil War Washington, but in July 1864 those defenses were vulnerable to a direct attack by Confederate forces under Lt. Gen. Jubal Early.  President Abraham Lincoln, watching the action from Fort Stevens, came under fire from sharpshooters.  Last year, a church adjacent to the fort applied for a zoning exemption to build an immense community center complex.  The new construction would tower over the fort, significantly degrading the visitor experience.

Pickett’s Mill, Ga., May 27, 1864: The Battle of Pickett’s Mill was one of the most stinging Union defeats of the 1864 Atlanta Campaign and the first serious check on Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman’s momentous campaign against this Confederate transportation center.  Although Pickett’s Mill Battlefield State Historic Site is widely regarded as thoroughly preserved and interpreted, the park was forced to reduce its hours significantly due to budget cuts, and last autumn it was inundated by floodwaters that destroyed footbridges and a portion of the historic mill.

Richmond, Ky., August 29-30, 1862: Confederate Maj. Gen. Kirby Smith’s newly-dubbed “Army of Kentucky”—a bearded, shoeless band of rebel soldiers — marched north in the soaring heat of August 1862 and encountered a hastily-formed Union force led by Maj. Gen. William Nelson.  The ensuing battle became one of the most decisive Confederate victories of the Civil War.  Although the battlefield has been well protected to date, future preservation efforts will be complicated by the addition of a new highway interchange, paving the way for significant commercial growth in an area that has previously experienced little development pressure.

South Mountain, Md., September 14, 1862: In early September 1862, Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee launched an audacious invasion of the North.  But when a copy of his orders was discovered by Union soldiers in a field, wrapped around cigars, federal commanders were able to move quickly against the vulnerable Confederates at the Battle of South Mountain.  In December 2008, Dominion Power purchased 135 acres of battlefield land for a proposed $55 million natural gas compression station, a plan that has been subsequently suspended with an option to re-file.

Thoroughfare Gap, Va., August 28, 1862: Although a relatively small engagement, the Battle of Thoroughfare Gap was of immense strategic significance, setting the stage for the battles of Second Manassas and, ultimately, Antietam.  In February, consultants began seeking comments from the preservation community regarding a proposal to build a 150-foot-tall communications tower within the core battlefield area at Thoroughfare Gap.  Although construction of Interstate 66 in the 1960s saw portions of the mountain gap widened, the area retains much of its rural, scenic beauty.

With 55,000 members, CWPT is the largest nonprofit battlefield preservation organization in the United States.  Its mission is to preserve our nation’s endangered Civil War battlefields and to promote appreciation of these hallowed grounds.  CWPT has preserved more than 29,000 acres of battlefield land across the nation. CWPT’s website is www.civilwar.org.

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(For additional materials, visit us online at http://www.civilwar.org/historyundersiege)

I recently finished reading Eric J. Wittenberg’s newest book, “The Battle of Brandy Station.”  Thoroughly researched and well written, the book is up to the high standards that Wittenberg has established with his previous titles on Civil War cavalry.  Jim Lighthizer, president of the Civil War Preservation Trust, penned the foreword for the book.

“The Battle of Brandy Station” starts quickly with background information on events following the debacle of US Major General Joe Hooker’s Battle of Chancellorsville.  The author next discusses the changes in command of the Federal Cavalry Corps that took place when US Major General George Stoneman takes sick leave and is replaced by Major General Alfred Pleasanton who will command the cavalry until he is replaced by Major General Philip Sheridan prior to the Overland Campaign.  A brief amount of space is next given to Pleasanton’s actions in the Northern Neck of Virginia that the author explains provides a boost in morale for the Federal mounted arm.

Next, Wittenberg provides expert appraisals of the cavalry commanders.  In this discussion, he provides his reviews on Pleasanton, J.E.B. Stuart, John Buford, David Gregg, Alfred Duffié, Charles Whiting, W.H.F. “Rooney” Lee, Wade Hampton, William E. “Grumble” Jones and Beverly Robertson.  I found this analysis fascinating.  It provided me the background knowledge I needed to understand the strengths and weaknesses of each commander and how they impacted their actions at Brandy Station.

No narrative of Brandy Station would be complete without a discussion on J.E.B. Stuart’s grand reviews.  The last grand review took place on June 8, the day before the battle, with Robert E. Lee in attendance.  Wittenberg describes in detail Stuart’s reviews and the controversy surrounding them.  I found “Grumble” Jones’ reaction to the final grand review particularly interesting.

Wittenberg next moves to the tactical actions of the battle.  Brandy Station is fascinating because of the complexity of the action.  The author is able to make you feel as if you are taking part in the charges, all the while keeping the actions framed in the larger scope of battle.  While complex, Wittenberg breaks the battle down into easily understood segments, each being given their own chapter:

• Chapter 6 –  Buford’s Assault and the Death of Grimes Davis
• Chapter 7 –  The Fight for the Guns at St. James Church
• Chapter 8 –  The Action Shifts (a description of the fight on Rooney Lee’s front)
• Chapter 9 –  Gregg’s Command Arrives
• Chapter 10 –  The Fight for Fleetwood Hill
• Chapter 11 –  The Duel on Yew Ridge
• Chapter 12 –  Duffié at Stevensburg
• Chapter 13 –  The Great Battle Ends

The final chapter provides the author’s expert analysis of the battle.  As you would expect from one of the foremost authorities on Civil War cavalry, Wittenberg is able to wrap up all the loose ends and put them in one nice tidy package of eleven pages that places North America’s largest cavalry engagement in context with previous actions and the upcoming Gettysburg Campaign.  The epilogue, “A Tale of Two Soldiers,” is very enjoyable and makes the book even more valuable to any Civil War student.

While often overlooked by readers, the appendix’s of the “Battle of Brandy Station,” provide additional useful information on the battle.

• Appendix A –  Order of Battle
• Appendix B –  A Walking and Driving Tour of the Battle of Brandy Station (the author includes GPS coordinates for points of interest making this quite valuable for anyone planning a trip to the battlefield)

I highly recommend “The Battle of Brandy Station” for any serious student of the Civil War.  It provides more than enough detail for the avid reader while at the same time providing the necessary background information for the casual reader.  For more information on Eric Wittenberg, or to purchase his books, check out his website by clicking HERE.

I recently had the opportunity to speak with Eric about “The Battle of Brandy Station.”  In this 75 minute interview Wittenberg speaks candidly about his newest book.  It is quite revealing and highlights his expert knowledge on Civil War cavalry.  I have edited the interview into smaller segments that allow you to listen at your leisure and return to the next part without losing your place.  This is my second interview with Eric.  Last September I spoke with him about his book, “Like a Meteor Blazing Brightly: The Short but Controversial Life of Colonel Ulric Dahlgren.”  You can listen to this interview by clicking HERE.

Details about “The Battle of Brandy Station”
Written by: Eric J. Wittenberg
Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: The History Press
Date of First Edition: March 2010
ISBN-10: 159629782

Eric J. Wittenberg Interview – 11 Parts
“The Battle of Brandy Station”
Interview Date: May 10, 2010
Total Time: 1 hour 14 minutes 07 seconds

Part 1:

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Time: 6:17
Contents: Welcome and introductions | How Eric got involved with The History Press | Why write about Brandy Station? | The Battle of Chancellorsville and the lead up to Brandy Station | The raids on the Northern Neck of Virginia in May 1863 | About Alfred Pleasanton

Part 2:

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Time: 8:23
Contents: Federal cavalry scouting in Culpeper County, Virginia | US Major General Joe Hooker’s concerns about a Confederate cavalry raid in Northern Virginia | The Federal failure to detect Robert E. Lee’s movement to the north | Hooker is again plagued by indecisiveness | The tactical deployment of the opposing cavalry forces | Pleasanton’s intelligence is flawed with regards to the position of Stuart’s cavalry | Pleasanton’s tactical plan

Part 3:

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Time: 6:10
Contents: Wittenberg’s assessment of J.E.B. Stuart and a comparison to Alfred Pleasanton | Stuart’s actions during the Battle of Brandy Station | An assessment and background of US Brigadier General John Buford

Part 4:

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Time: 7:52
Contents: Wittenberg’s assessment of Pleasanton’s subordinate commanders | J.E.B. Stuart passed over for infantry corps command

Part 5:

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Time: 5:46
Contents: Eric’s assessment of J.E.B. Stuart’s brigade commanders | J.E.B. Stuart’s final cavalry review – did it provide essential intelligence for Pleasanton? Was this intelligence properly used?

Part 6:

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Time: 8:04
Contents: Pleasanton’s use of infantry units | How did Pleasanton not know the disposition of Stuart’s forces? | The Battle of Brandy Station opens on Buford’s front | The death of Benjamin “Grimes” Davis | The gallant charge of the 6th Pennsylvania and 6th U.S. Regular cavalry against Beckham’s cannons

Part 7:

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Time: 6:24
Contents: Eric’s use of firsthand accounts and how he approaches his research | The arrival of David Gregg’s Federal cavalry division | John Buford’s frustration at being held back | J.E.B. Stuart reacts to Gregg’s attack | Beverly Robertson’s Confederate brigade’s performance at Kelly’s Ford

Part 8:

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Time: 6:40
Contents: The battle for Fleetwood Hill | The charges of the 1st New Jersey and 1st Pennsylvania cavalry regiments | Captain Joseph Martin’s Federal artillery endures an attack by the 6th Virginia Cavalry and the 35th Virginia Cavalry Battalion | The actions of Pierce Young’s CSA Cobb’s Legion at St. James Church and Fleetwood Hill | The actions of Calvin Douty’s 1st Maine Cavalry at Fleetwood Hill

Part 9:

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Time: 7:27
Contents: A description of the fight for Fleetwood Hill | Lunsford Lomax’s 11th Virginia attacks Martin’s Federal battery – Martin’s gunners valiant effort to save their guns | Buford’s division is turned loose against Rooney Lee’s Confederate cavalry brigade | The 3d Wisconsin and 2d Massachusetts infantry attempts to flank Rooney Lee | The 6th Pennsylvania and 6th U.S. cavalry and the duel for Yew’s Ridge | 2d U.S. Cavalry goes into the fight | Rooney Lee commits his reserve and is wounded by Captain Wesley Merritt | Thomas Munford’s troopers (Fitzhugh Lee’s brigade) arrive on the field in time to rescue Rooney Lee | Buford’s retreat across the Rappahannock River

Part 10:

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Time: 7:17
Contents: Alfred Duffié finally arrives | The death of Will Farley and Frank Hampton | An analysis of Alfred Duffié | The implications of battle on the home front | The maturation of the Federal mounted arm | An analysis of the Battle of Brandy Station and its implications during the Gettysburg Campaign

Part 11:

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Time: 3:47
Contents: Future projects Wittenberg is working on | Wrap up and closing

As many of you know, I have more than a passing interest in the Battle of Franklin.  I have visited the battlefield many times, and have always been in awe of the sacrifice made there by the soldiers on both sides.  The battle was ferocious and has often been called Pickett’s Charge of the West.  I would disagree – it was far more brutal.  The multiple charges that CSA Lieutenant General John Bell Hood’s Army of Tennessee made were over very open ground, made from a greater distance and repeated multiple times.  At one point CSA Major General Frank Cheatham’s Corps actually broke through the lines and were only repulsed because of the quick reactions of US Colonel Emerson Opdycke.  He would quickly send his brigade to the breach in the lines and through brutal fighting would repulse the Confederate forces – saving the day for US Major General John M. Schofield’s army.  Today, we have an opportunity to save 1.07 acres of this hallowed battlefield – the same ground Opdycke’s brigade fought to save.  At the bottom of this post, is the email I received yesterday from Jim Lighthizer, president of the Civil War Preservation Trust, announcing this new campaign.  Through matching grants, every $1 you donate is increased by over $6.  For those of you interested in learning more about the Battle of Franklin, I encourage you to check out the following two blog articles I recently wrote.

* The Battle of Franklin – John Bell Hood’s 1864 Franklin-Nashville Campaign
* Thomas Y. Cartwright Interview at the Famous Lotz House

You may also be interested in my photo essay on the Battle of Franklin.  It can be found on my Flickr website by clicking HERE.

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Help Save the Franklin Battlefield
Let’s Reclaim a Key Section of the Franklin Breakthrough

“The most desperate fighting imaginable.”

There were many horrifying scenes of carnage throughout the Civil War, but there are few that can compare to what was witnessed on November 30, 1864 at the Battle of Franklin.

In what became one of the largest and most precipitous charges of the Civil War, Confederates of Frank Cheatham’s corps hurled themselves against strong Union entrenchments. Despite facing enormous odds, these battle hardened Confederate forces did manage to break through the Union line at its center.

Facing the sudden prospect of total defeat, Colonel Emerson Opdycke and his brigade of veteran Midwestern soldiers – Opdycke’s Tigers – charged forth into the growing breach and drove back the Confederate attackers. After five hours of frenzied fighting more than 8,500 soldiers would lay dead on the field and John Bell Hood’s Army of Tennessee was left in shambles.

CWPT is partnering with Franklin’s Charge to preserve forever a 1.07 acre portion of the Franklin battlefield – ground which witnessed the Confederate breakthrough and Union counterattack. Join us in saving this hallowed ground.

Franklin 2010 Preservation Campaign
* Acres: 1.07 acres
* Total Cost: $950,000
* CWPT Fundraising Goal: $150,000
* Match: $6.33 to $1
* Match Sources: ABPP, Franklin’s Charge

It’s not every day that we get the chance to reclaim a battlefield that has been lost. As we did with the former Pizza Hut location, at the Carter House Garden, and on the Eastern Flank, we are slowly taking back what was lost at Franklin. Join us in adding another crucial part of the puzzle at the Franklin battlefield.

Very sincerely yours,

Jim Lighthizer
President, CWPT

Click HERE to make a donation!

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I received an email this afternoon from the Civil War Preservation Trust’s president, Jim Lighthizer.  It is an update on the campaign to save 47 acres at Appomattox Station – the site of a significant Federal victory on April 8, 1865.  The victory prevented Robert E. Lee’s Army of Virginia from receiving desperately needed supplies, including food to feed his army.  Below is the email from Mr. Lighthizer.

Congratulations to the CWPT for this outstanding achievement!

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Victory at Appomattox Station

47 Acres of this 1865 Battlefield Added to the Saved Column

We would like to share some great news with you today. CWPT would like to announce that we have met our fundraising goal for the 47 acres section of the Appomattox Station battlefield.

As most of you already know this new acquisition is important on three levels:

1. Appomattox Station is a historically significant battlefield. The events on this ground on April 8, 1865 led directly to Robert E. Lee’s decision to surrender his army the next day.
2. That we are saving 47 acres at the heart of this battlefield. In one fell swoop we have now saved almost all of the ground of this battlefield that can still be saved.
3. That we will be helping the Town of Appomattox and Appomattox County expand their heritage tourism opportunities.

Will Simmons, Director of Tourism for the Town of Appomattox stated that “[p]reserving the Appomattox Station battlefield site is an important step in telling the complete story of the final days of the Civil War in Virginia. This historic site links both the historic downtown Railroad Depot with the preserved village of Appomattox Court House and will enhance future visitor’s experience in learning about this significant chapter of American history.”

Of course none of this would have happened without your direct and generous support. Thanks to you we have now put another 46 acres of hallowed ground into the Saved Column.

Jim Lighthizer
President
Civil War Preservation Trust

CIVIL WAR PRESERVATION TRUST
1156 15th Street N.W., Suite 900, Washington D.C. 20005
Phone (202) 367-1861
www.civilwar.org

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I received the following press release from the Civil War Preservation Trust yesterday.  This great organization had a spectacular year, in 2009, even with the country gripped in a terrible recession.  Congratulations to the Civil War Preservation Trust!  Thank you for all you have done in 2009 to protect Civil War battlefields.

Mike Noirot

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 7, 2010

For more information, contact:
Jim Campi, CWPT, (202) 367-1861 x7205
Mary Koik, CWPT, (202) 367-1861 x7231

CIVIL WAR PRESERVATION TRUST RESCUES 2,777 ACRES OF HALLOWED GROUND IN 2009

Despite difficult economic climate national nonprofit group protects historic landscapes at 20 battlefields.

(Washington, D.C.) – The Civil War Preservation Trust (CWPT), the nation’s largest nonprofit battlefield preservation group, has announced its land preservation accomplishments for 2009.  Despite the difficult economy and challenges facing all charitable organizations, CWPT helped to permanently protect 2,777 acres of hallowed ground at 20 different Civil War battlefields in five states during the last calendar year.  Overall, CWPT has protected more than 29,000 acres of battlefield land at 109 sites in 20 states.

“Despite the worst economy in recent memory, we pressed onward with our mission and achieved a level of success that surpassed all expectations,” noted CWPT President James Lighthizer. “We posted one of the most successful years in this organization’s history — including our second-highest-ever tally for acres preserved in a calendar year.”

With 30 acres of Civil War battlefield land lost to development each day, there has long been a pressing need to see these hallowed grounds protected, but many preservation projects in 2009 took on an added sense of urgency.  In 2008, the Commonwealth of Virginia approved $5.2 million in matching grants for battlefield preservation, specifying a limited time frame for use of the landmark allocation.

“At a critical time in the fight to preserve some of this nation’s most hallowed ground, Virginia’s landowners, citizens, organizations and the government leaders at all levels have led the way to secure these battlefield lands for future generations of Americans,” remarked Kathleen Kilpatrick, director of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.  “There is so much to celebrate in these remarkable accomplishments, even as we prepare for the hard work ahead.”

However, in order to secure these funds, CWPT and other preservation groups had to secure $2 from other sources for every dollar they requested from the state.  Understanding the once-in-a-lifetime nature of the opportunity, CWPT members responded, contributing to a “Virginia Legacy Fund” to meet the match requirements.

“CWPT’s members are the lynchpin of our success,” said Lighthizer.  “They are smart, savvy people who want to know exactly what they are contributing toward — they want to examine a map, see pictures, read a personal account of the fighting on that property before they write a check.  We respect our members and work hard to be responsible stewards of their generosity.”

In addition to land purchases, the year was also notable for the organization’s donation of 176 acres of the1862 battlefield to Harpers Ferry National Historical Park.  The land was purchased by CWPT several years ago with the express intention of being transferred to the National Park Service once it was able to incorporate the gift.  Incorporating newly protected land into existing parks is a perpetual goal for CWPT.  In 2009, the organization participated in the preservation of land at two sites — Davis Bridge, Tenn. and Cedar Creek, Va. — where the acreage was transferred to a state or national park.  In the case of Davis Bridge, the state of Tennessee contributed $864,000 toward acquisition of this key battlefield site.

Recognizing that the work of protecting historic landscapes is often beyond the scope of any single organization, CWPT strives to work in partnership with a wide variety of regional and local preservation groups to purchase significant pieces of land otherwise outside the reach of either independently.  For example, CWPT this year partnered with the Central Virginia Battlefields Trust, based in Fredericksburg, to protect 93 acres at the Wilderness Battlefield, lending technical expertise to the transaction process, as well as contributing financially.

Another hallmark of CWPT preservation strategy is working toward reaching a “critical mass” of preservation at individual battlefields and connecting previously protected parcels into unified entities.  In 2009, the joint effort between CWPT and the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation to protect 209 acres at Third Winchester, Va., created a 576-acre swath of protected battlefield land.  Recent preservation efforts added 11 acres at Glendale and 178 acres at Malvern Hill, both in eastern Henrico County, Va., — an area in which CWPT has now protected a total of 1650 contiguous acres, almost 900 of which have already been transferred to the National Park Service’s Richmond National Battlefield.

In addition to land purchases, CWPT remained actively engaged in education and advocacy programs designed to inform the public of the threats facing Civil War battlefields.  In 2009, two major news conferences with Academy Award-winning actors — Richard Dreyfuss unveiled CWPT’s annual History Under Siege report in March and Robert Duvall called attention to Walmart’s plans to build on Virginia’s  Wilderness Battlefield in May — raised the profile of historic preservation efforts and brought national attention to the cause.  Also last year, CWPT received national-level awards of excellence for the complete overhauls of its website and Hallowed Ground, its quarterly membership magazine.

The full roster of sites protected by CWPT in 2009 includes:  55 acres at Natural Bridge in Florida; 60 acres at Wood Lake in Minnesota; 66 acres at Raymond and 12 acres at Tupelo in Mississippi; 643 acres at Davis Bridge and 5 acres at Parkers Crossroads in Tennessee; 68 acres at Aldie, 47 acres at Appomattox Station, 433 acres at Brandy Station, 85 acres at Chancellorsville, 11 acres at Glendale, 178 acres at Malvern Hill, 35 acres at Sailor’s Creek, 730 acres at five Shenandoah Valley battlefields, 253 acres at Trevilian Station and 94 acres at the Wilderness in Virginia.  The value of these transactions totals more than $38 million.

“Although it is incredibly satisfying for me to reminisce on the successes of the past year, our work is far from done.  The staff, trustees and members of the Civil War Preservation Trust will continue our efforts to protect these unique resources for future generations,” said Lighthizer.

With 55,000 members, CWPT is the largest nonprofit battlefield preservation organization in the United States.  Its mission is to preserve our nation’s endangered Civil War battlefields and to promote appreciation of these hallowed grounds.  CWPT has preserved more than 29,000 acres of battlefield land across the nation.  CWPT’s website is www.civilwar.org.

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I just received the attached press release from the Civil War Preservation Trust.  It appears our U.S. Congress has allocated a significant amount of money for our Civil War battlefields.  This is good news as the money is set aside as matching grant funds that will spur states, counties, local governments and our Civil War Preservation Trust to add more money to what actually is used to purchase threatened battlefield ground.

Cheers to the senators and representatives who pushed this through.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 28, 2009

For more information, contact:
Jim Campi, CWPT, (202) 367-1861 x7205
Mary Koik, CWPT, (202) 367-1861 x7231

CONGRESS ALLOCATES $9 MILLION TO PRESERVE AMERICA’S ENDANGERED CIVIL WAR BATTLEFIELDS

CWPT praises Congress for its unprecedented commitment to protecting America’s hallowed grounds

(Washington, D.C.) – The Civil War Preservation Trust (CWPT) today applauded members of the U.S. House and Senate for including the largest ever single-year allocation for the federal Civil War Battlefield Preservation Program in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 Interior Appropriations Act Conference Report (H Rept 111-316).

The conference report, scheduled for a final vote in both chambers later this week, includes $9 million for the Civil War Battlefield Preservation Program, a mechanism that utilizes government matching grants and private funds to permanently protect historic Civil War battlefields throughout the nation.

“This is tremendous news that could not come at a more critical time,” said CWPT President James Lighthizer. Each day 30 acres of hallowed Civil War battlefield ground are paved over and lost forever. This money will allow us to preserve historic land that would otherwise be lost to development and urban sprawl.” 

The Civil War Battlefield Preservation Program targets priority unprotected Civil War sites outside National Park Service boundaries. The program’s matching grants formula encourages state and private sector investment in historic land preservation. For example, in 2008 the Virginia General Assembly set aside $5.2 million to match federal Civil War Battlefield Preservation Program monies. Grants from the program are competitively awarded by the American Battlefield Protection Program, an arm of the National Park Service.

Since its creation in 1999, the Civil War Battlefield Preservation Program has been used to protect more than 15,000 acres of hallowed ground at 60 battlefields in 14 states. Among the sites saved as a result of this program are historic properties at Antietam and South Mountain, Md.; Champion Hill, Miss.; Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg, and Manassas, Va.; Chattanooga and Fort Donelson, Tenn.; and Harpers Ferry, W.Va. The program is funded through the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund.

Although numerous members of the House and Senate have played important roles in ensuring the program’s continued success, the following individuals were pivotal in securing this year’s unprecedented federal commitment to battlefield preservation: Interior Appropriations Subcommittee Chairs Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Norm Dicks (D-WA); Senators Jim Webb (D-VA), Lamar Alexander (R-TN), and Jeff Sessions (R-AL); and Congressmen, Bart Gordon (D-TN), Steve Israel (D-NY), Gary Miller (R-CA) and C.A. “Dutch” Ruppersberger (D-MD). In addition, 16 Senators and 29 Member of Congress signed letters of support for the program earlier this year.

“It is welcome news that our $9 million funding request for battlefield preservation was accepted in the Interior Appropriations bill,” said Senator Webb. “As America prepares for the 150th anniversary commemoration of the Civil War, it is more important than ever that we preserve these landmarks for future generations to learn about the history of our nation.”

Senator Alexander concurred, saying, “The Civil War was a heartbreaking time in our history that we should never forget. Protecting our Civil War battlefields and historic sites is important both to honor the thousands who fought and to allow future generations to learn their heritage by visiting sites like Shiloh, Lookout Mountain, Fort Donelson and Parker’s Crossroads. I’m glad to see that this funding was included to support this important program.”

“America’s Civil War battlefields are part of our nation’s rich heritage, but sadly thousands of acres of battlefields are being lost every year. It is incumbent upon all of us to ensure our children and grandchildren have the opportunity to visit these sacred grounds and experience part of history,” remarked Congressman Ruppersberger.

This vision was also shared by Congressman Miller, who first introduced legislation authorizing the program in 2002. Miller noted, “I have been a long time advocate for preservation of our nation’s historic battlefields. These battlefields offer a porthole to the past. The vivid imagery of an epic conflict can remind visitors of the struggles our country has gone through to preserve the banner of liberty and justice for all.”

Like Senator Webb, Lighthizer also stressed that the upcoming 150th anniversary of the Civil War presents an ideal time to redouble efforts to protect this hallowed ground. “I can think of no more fitting – and lasting – tribute during this sesquicentennial commemoration than to preserve the places where these brave soldiers fought and bled.”

The Civil War Battlefield Preservation Program was reauthorized in March 2009 as part of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (PL 111-11). The legislation, introduced in the Senate by Senators Webb and Sessions and in the House by Congressmen Miller, Israel and Gordon, reauthorized the program for $10 million a year for five years. The popular bill enjoyed considerable bipartisan support, earning 33 cosponsors in the Senate and 108 cosponsors in the House.

With 55,000 members, CWPT is the largest nonprofit battlefield preservation organization in the United States. Its mission is to preserve our nation’s remaining Civil War battlefields and to promote appreciation of these hallowed grounds through education and heritage tourism. The CWPT website is located at www.civilwar.org.

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For more information about the program’s congressional supporters, visit CWPT online at www.civilwar.org/aboutus/news/news-releases/2009-news/congress-allocates-9-million.html.

Today, the Civil War Preservation Trust announced a new campaign to save 179 acres of endangered battlefield at The Wilderness and Chancellorsville battlefields.  As you have previously read, on This Mighty Scourge, The Wilderness Battlefield has continued to be lost to development – including Wal-Mart receiving a special use permit to build a Supercenter adjacent to the hallowed ground that was covered with the blood of our countrymen.  Using generous matching funds, the CWPT has committed over $1 million to save 85 acres of Chancellorsville battlefield and 94 acres of The Wilderness.  Following are the details as provided in their email earlier today.

“You Can Go Forward, Then”

A Historic Opportunity to Save Land at Both Chancellorsville and the Wilderness

“You can go forward, then” — With those very words, Stonewall Jackson unleashed his 30,000 hardened soldiers upon an unsuspecting Federal Eleventh Corps deep in the woods around Chancellorsville.

It has to be one of the most exciting and historically important preservation opportunities that we’ve ever presented.  CWPT is now in a position to save a critical section of the Chancellorsville battlefield – the very ground where Stonewall Jackson’s forces crashed into the Union Buschbeck Line during his famous Flank Attack on May 2, 1863.

In addition to this remarkable Chancellorsville opportunity, we are also partnering with the Central Virginia Battlefields Trust to save 94 acres of the Wilderness battlefield.

As you well know, this great 1864 battlefield, where Grant first met Lee in battle, continues to be threatened by nearby development efforts.  Now we can step forward and snatch back a portion of the battlefield before it’s too late.

View our Chancellorsville-Wilderness Appeal Online:
civilwar.org/chancellorsvillewilderness
Battle maps, history articles, photos, videos, and more

Chancellorsville

* Acreage: 85 Acres
* Location: Spotsylvania County, Virginia
* Total Cost: $2,125,000
* CWPT Commitment: $916,667
* CWPT Donation Match: $2.3 to $1

Wilderness

* Acreage: 94 Acres
* Location: Spotsylvania County, Virginia
* Total Cost: $950,000
* CWPT Commitment: $95,000
* CWPT Donation Match: $10 to $1

My friend, I will be the first one “over the top,” so to speak.  I have already written a personal check, made payable to CWPT, for $1,000.  I could not, in good conscience, ask you to contribute to an effort I was not willing to put my hard-earned cash into as well.

For your gift of $100 or more, I will do something that CWPT has done with great success at several other battlefields around the nation, such as The Slaughter Pen at Fredericksburg, the First Day of Chancellorsville, Harpers Ferry, Parker’s Crossroads and more:

For your donation of just $100 or more today, I will include your name on a permanent display that will stand on this hallowed ground.

You read that right; this offer is not just for those “heavy hitters” among us; everyone who gives $100 or more to this appeal will have his or her name included on this commemorative display!

CWPT is going to recognize – at Chancellorsville, on this ground – the thousands of CWPT members who will now make this historic victory possible.

Most Sincerely Yours,

Jim Lighthizer
President

Civil War Preservation Trust
1156 15th Street N.W., Suite 900, Washington, D.C. 20005 | Phone (202) 367-1861
www.civilwar.org

Please take some time today to learn more about this great opportunity to save this hallowed ground.  I will be making my donation this evening – I hope you will as well.

Click here to listen to my June 2009 interview with CWPT president, Jim Lighthizer

As reported on the Civil War Preservation Trust’s website today, opponents of the Wilderness Wal-Mart are vowing not to concede defeat.  On Monday, August 24, the Orange County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1  to grant a special use permit to Wal-Mart.  This special use permit would allow Wal-Mart to build a new Supercenter within 1/4 mile of The Wilderness battlefield – all within easy sight lines of one of the most hallowed Civil War battlefields in Virginia.  This was Wal-Mart’s last hurdle to building their new location.

Civil War Preservation Trust president, Jim Lighthizer, was quoted as saying, “The ball is now in Wal-Mart’s court.  Wal-Mart better understands the nationwide anger generated by its proposal to build on the doorstep of a National Park.  It is in the corporation’s best interests to work with the preservation community to find an alternative site.  We are optimistic that company officials will see the wisdom of moving elsewhere.”  Coalition leaders asked if legal action is now likely, declined to comment.

For more information on the most recent news, check out the following two articles.

For the Fredericksburg.com article click HERE.
For the Washington Post article click HERE.

Please consider becoming a member of the Civil War Preservation Trust by clicking HERE.