This Mighty Scourge

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.”

Happy 2010!  We have much to look forward to in the coming year.  But let us take a quick look at what happened in 2009.  According to Time magazine, the Top 10 ten news stories of 2009 were:

10. The end of Sri Lanka’s Civil War

9. H1N1 – The Swine Flu

8. Mexico’s Bloody Drug War

7. Pakistan: On the Verge of Breakdown

6. The Death of Michael Jackson

5. Massacre at Fort Hood

4. The Divisive Debate Over Healthcare Reform

3. Iran’s Tumultuous Election and Its Aftermath

2. Afghanistan: Can the U.S. Avoid a Quagmire?

1. America’s Economic Crisis

While most news stories, that would make an annual Top 10 list, are going to involve bloodshed, or death, two of last year’s top stories, at Time magazine, did not: “The Divisive Debate Over Healthcare Reform” and “America’s Economic Crisis.”  Obviously these stories will continue to make news headlines over the coming year.

After reading Time Magazine’s Top 10 list of news stories for 2009, I decided to assemble my own list.  The Top 10 most popular articles on This Mighty Scourge for 2009.  While totally unscientific, it certainly points out which articles my readers liked the most.  As I have done in previous lists, I have left out the articles on the Wilderness Wal-Mart, and other “calls to action,” as they always tend to enjoy a huge spike with little follow-up readership after a couple of days.  My top 10 list for 2009 are articles that have enjoyed consistent readership over long periods during the year.  If you haven’t read all of these articles, they are each hyperlinked so you can do so today.

2009 Top 10 List of Articles on This Mighty Scourge

10. Interview with James A. Hessler, author of “Sickles at Gettysburg” (Click HERE to Read)

9. The Battle of the Crater (Click HERE to Read)

8. Interview with Sally Jenkins & John Stauffer co-authors of “The State of Jones.” (Click HERE to Read) This article has been quite controversial and has been picked up by many news outlets due to the ongoing bickering between Stauffer & Jenkins and Vikki Bynum.

7. Gettysburg National Military Park – A Study in Contrasts (Click HERE to Read)

6. Interview with J. David Petruzzi, author of “The Complete Gettysburg Guide” (Click HERE to Read)

5. Antietam – One Bloody Day in September 1862 (Click HERE to Read)

4. Andersonville Prison – A Photo Essay and History (Click HERE to Read)

3. The Fighting 69^th New York Infantry and the Irish Brigade (Click HERE to Read)

2. Interview with Earl J. Hess, author of “In the Trenches at Petersburg” (Click HERE to Read)

1. Interview with Jim Lighthizer, President of the Civil War Preservation Trust (Click HERE to Read)

It should be noted that a few articles had very impressive finishes, reaching the top 10 list over the past couple of weeks.  Obviously articles that were published earlier in the year, had more time to gain readership.  For those of you interested in the articles that round out the top 20, on This Mighty Scourge, continue reading.  It’s interesting to note, that my mid-December article, on the Battle of Fredericksburg, came in at 14.  A very respectable position for only being available for two weeks.

Filling Out the Top 20 at This Mighty Scourge

11. The Battle of Chancellorsville – Joe Hooker’s Legacy (Click HERE to Read)

12. William T. Sherman – US Major General (Click HERE to Read)

13. Second Manassas – Again the Fields Turned Red (Click HERE to Read)

14. Battle of Fredericksburg – Ambrose Burnside’s First Foray (Click HERE to Read)

15. Robert E. Lee, General – CSA (Click HERE to Read)

16. Battle of the Wilderness – Grant Takes it to Lee (Click HERE to Read)

17. Robert E. Lee Surrenders the Army of Northern Virginia (Click HERE to Read)

18. Wilson’s Creek – the Civil War Breaks Out in the West (Click HERE to Read)

19. Interview with Scott L. Mingus, Sr. – Author of “Flames Beyond Gettysburg” (Click HERE to Read)

20. Albert Sidney Johnston – CSA General (Click HERE to Read)

Thank you for making 2009 a successful year at This Mighty Scourge!

Mike Noirot

###

Those of you that follow my blog know that I am a strong advocate of the Civil War Preservation Trust (CWPT).  This wonderful organization’s primary mission is the preservation of Civil War battlefields – ground that can be lost forever to urban sprawl.  They have been very successful over the past decade in saving land, with over 25,000 acres saved, to date.  However, there is still plenty of work to be done.  According to the CWPT website, only 20% of hallowed Civil War ground has been saved.  Additionally, we are losing approximately one acre of hallowed ground per hour.(i)  So what exactly does the Civil War Preservation Trust do?  Their mission statement, as written on their website, really sums it up.

Our Mission: The Civil War Preservation Trust is America’s largest non-profit organization (501–C3) devoted to the preservation of our nation’s endangered Civil War battlefields.  The Trust also promotes educational programs and heritage tourism initiatives to inform the public of the war’s history and the fundamental conflicts that sparked it.(ii)

Based in Washington D.C., the Civil War Preservation trust has a professional staff that specializes in the many functions of land preservation: real estate, grants and government relations.  Additionally the Trust employs a staff of professionals that manage their website, databases, communications, membership development, events and educational programs.

While so many of us enjoy visiting major battlefields, managed by the National Park Service, many of the most pivotal fields of battle are not protected by Federal or state governments.  They are privately owned lands that are vulnerable to development.  This is where the Civil War Preservation Trust really shines.  Working with local and state governments, and other organizations, they can quickly organize an acquisition strategy to save valuable lands – lands that might end up housing a strip mall, lumber yard or parking lot.  Obviously their is a cost associated with land preservation.  Members of the CWPT are quickly alerted to time sensitive Civil War battlefield preservation opportunities.  In most cases the Trust has already secured matching funds that help the member’s donation double, triple or quadruple.  These matching grants are critical in acquiring large tracts of lands that can cost millions of dollars.

When an individual becomes a member of the Civil War Preservation Trust they immediately receive benefits: the wonderful quarterly magazine, Hallowed Ground, high quality battlefield maps, monthly e-Newsletter, invitation to the Annual CWPT Conference and rental car discounts.  But most importantly you become involved in saving battlefields that future generations of Civil War enthusiasts will enjoy.  Your gifts to the Trust are tax deductible.

I encourage each of you to consider becoming a member of this important organization.  If you are already a member, please consider increasing your membership level – perhaps to a Color Bearer level.  You can be confident that your membership dues, and battlefield campaign donations, will be put to use saving battlefields.  While there are fixed costs that the organization incurs to sustain its activities the CWPT operates very efficiently with most of their members’ money being used to save land.

Recently I wrote an article about the Wilderness Wal-Mart, and the negative impact it will have on the Wilderness Battlefield, if it’s built where they are planning to build it.  This is an immediate threat that can be alleviated.  Please read my blog article on Wilderness Wal-Mart for more information: Help The Civil War Preservation Trust Save the Wilderness Battlefield.

On Monday, June 22, 2009, I had the distinct honor to speak with Mr. James Lighthizer, president of the Civil War Preservation Trust.  The eight part audio interview can be listened to by clicking on the following links.

Interview with Jim Lighthizer, President of the Civil War Preservation Trust
Total Time: 51 minutes 29 seconds

Part 1: 

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Time: 8:14
Contents:  Opening and welcome | History of the Civil War Preservation Trust | Mission of the Civil War Preservation Trust | Battlefield preservation priorities | How the Trust decides what property to target | Race against time | “200 Year Rule” | Mr. Lighthizer’s interest in the Civil War | How Mr. Lighthizer became involved in the CWPT

Part 2: 

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Time: 7:14
Contents:  What the Civil War Preservation trust means to me | CWPT members are part of a large family | The Trust is as strong as its individual members | Success stories of the CWPT

Part 3: 

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Time: 6:57
Contents:  Glendale and Malvern Hill success story | Matching funds and grants | The Civil War Preservation Trust always has “skin-in-the-game” | Fixed costs of running the Trust | Reaching potential members through technology

Part 4: 

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Time: 6:47
Contents:  Update on the Wilderness Wal-Mart | Other current preservation opportunities

Part 5: 

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Time: 6:50
Contents:  Preservation opportunities in the Shenandoah Valley | Working with local groups | Cedar Creek battlefield risk | Membership goals | Color Bearer membership

Part 6: 

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Time: 6:00
Contents:  Key staff additions have created value | CWPT’s commitment to its fiduciary responsibilities | Celebrity spokespeople | CWPT’s new website | Animated battlefield maps

Part 7: 

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Time: 5:10
Contents:  CWPT Teacher’s Institute | The battlefield as an outdoor classroom | Proper teaching sow the seeds of the future

Part 8: 

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Time: 4:17
Contents:  New and exciting things going on at the CWPT | Success at Richmond and Mill Springs, Kentucky | A saved battlefield is a legacy that lasts forever | Wrap up and closing

(i) For additional information refer to the Civil War Preservation Trust’s website by clicking here.
(ii)  Refer to the “About Us” page of the Civil War Preservation Trust’s website by clicking here.