This Mighty Scourge

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.

I received an email from Jim Campi, of the CWPT, this afternoon.  The text of the letter is below.  The short version is that the Orange County Planning Commission voted 4–4 against recommending approval of the of Wal-Mart’s special use permit.  As it is not a majority in favor of the special use permit, it is the same as a “NO.”

Get involved!

Mike Noirot

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August 21, 2009 – 4:30 PM EST

Planning Commission Recommends Against Special Use Permit, But Threat to Battlefield Remains

Last night, the Orange County Planning Commission voted 4-4 against recommending approval of Walmart’s special use permit at its rescheduled public hearing. Although a tie, the vote is functionally the same as a denial, since it was not approved by a majority of the commissioners.  The vote is a reversal of what occurred in July, when the commission prematurely approved the application 5-4.

It is now more critical than ever for supporters of the Wilderness and historic preservation to attend Monday’s Board of Supervisors hearing, as it is important to remember that the Planning Commission is a non-binding advisory organization. The Board of Supervisors has final authority in this matter and Monday’s hearing represents the last opportunity to tell them that the Wilderness Battlefield is no place for big box sprawl. If you live within driving distance, please attend this final hearing and urge the county to find another location further from this hallowed battleground.

The hearing starts at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, August 24, 2009, in the Orange County High School Auditorium, 201 Selma Road, Orange, Va.  CWPT will have an information table set-up one hour before the hearing, and we encourage all who attend to arrive early. Click here for directions and a map of the school.

I hope we can count on your continued support in this fight to protect the Wilderness Battlefield. If you have any questions about the upcoming hearing please feel free to contact me personally at 202-367-1861 ext. 7205.

Thank you,
Jim Campi

P.S.  For the latest information on the hearings, please visit CWPT’s Wilderness Walmart homepage.

 
www.civilwar.org

Today, I received an email from the Civil War Preservation Trust regarding upcoming public hearings on the proposed Wal-Mart Supercenter adjacent to the battlefield.  This is the last opportunity for public input.  Please review the email below for more information.

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 From the Civil War Preservation Trust – August 19, 2009

Final Public Hearings on Wilderness Walmart August 20 and 24

As you may have already heard, the final public hearings on the Wilderness Walmart proposal have now been rescheduled for Thursday, August 20, and Monday, August 24. 

These hearings represent the last opportunity to tell Orange County that the Wilderness Battlefield is no place for big box sprawl.  If you live within driving distance of Orange County, please attend the hearings and urge the county to find another location for Walmart’s superstore away from this hallowed battleground.

Planning Commission: August 20 at 7:00 p.m.
Board of Supervisors: August 24 at 6:00 p.m.

CWPT will have an information table set-up one hour before the hearings, and we encourage all who attend to arrive early.  Both public hearings will be held in the Orange County High School Auditorium, 201 Selma Road, Orange, Va.  Click here for directions and a map of the school.

 If you have not already done so, there is also still time to send a letter to Walmart CEO Michael Duke encouraging the company to select an alternate location in Orange County for the proposed store.  Let Walmart know in the strongest possible terms that the Wilderness Battlefield is no place for a superstore.

I hope we can count on your continued support in this fight to protect the Wilderness Battlefield.  If you have any questions about the upcoming hearings please feel free to contact me personally at 202-367-1861 ext. 7220.

Thank you,
Brent Laurenz

P.S.  For the latest information on the hearings, please visit CWPT’s Wilderness Walmart homepage.

www.civilwar.org

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Friend, and fellow blogger, Eric Wittenberg posted an update on the Wilderness Wal-Mart yesterday.  Check it out on his blog, Rantings of a Civil War Historian.  Get involved with the Civil War Preservation Trust and help save the Wilderness Battlefield!

Here is a link to Eric’s article: More on the Wilderness Wal-Mart.

Thanks for supporting our Civil War battlefields – part of our Country’s heritage!

Mike Noirot

This past week I was in Louisville for work. After meetings on Wednesday and Thursday, I had the opportunity to visit two wonderful battlefields: Mill Springs (also called Logan’s Crossroads and Fishing Creek) on Thursday, and Perryville on Friday. I really enjoy Kentucky battlefields. The state does a wonderful job protecting and maintaining their Civil War history. Additional kudos to the Civil War Preservation Trust which has saved many acres of Kentucky battlefields.

Watch for a full length essay on the Battle of Perryville, in October, around the battle’s anniversary on October 8. I was able to take some amazing sunrise pictures that I will unveil at that time.

Lastly, as yesterday was a vacation day, I stopped at two distilleries on Kentucky’s Bourbon Trail. One of them was the Four Roses Distillery. There will be a very interesting blog article, about this distillery, in the coming weeks. Obviously there is a connection between it and the Civil War.