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Dear Friend in Preservation,

Today, I’m pleased to share with you some exciting news about the next step in the natural evolution of our efforts to preserve our nation’s irreplaceable Civil War battlefields, as the Civil War Preservation Trust becomes, simply, the Civil War Trust.

Rest assured that there has been no change in mission or management — we are every bit the same efficient, vibrant and dynamic organization that you and our 55,000 members believe in so passionately. I am incredibly proud of the outstanding reputation we have built in the historic preservation community, and the nearly 30,000 hallowed acres we have saved for future generations.

But after careful thought, deliberation and research, my staff, board and I determined that the time was right to modernize the Trust’s name and logo to better reflect our mission and goals. Despite our many successes, our previous name was not widely recognized outside our immediate constituency. As we begin the commemoration of the Civil War sesquicentennial in earnest, we feel this shift will help us make more Americans aware of the work we do to preserve our nation’s heritage. After all, what better way to commemorate the great struggle between North and South than to save the historic landscapes of the Civil War for our children and grandchildren?

I invite you to learn more about the thought and planning that went into this decision by visiting civilwar.org/logo. I hope you are as pleased with the result of our efforts as I am. And look forward to your continued passionate and generous support for our efforts.

Thank you again for your commitment to the Civil War Trust and our nation’s heritage.

Jim Lighthizer, President Civil War Trust

PS: As always, we welcome thoughts and feedback from our members. You can reach Civil War Trust staff by emailing info@civilwar.org.

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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)

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

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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:  Jim Lighthizer – Civil War Preservation Trust Interview Pt 1
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:  Jim Lighthizer – Civil War Preservation Trust Interview Pt 2
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:  Jim Lighthizer – Civil War Preservation Trust Interview Pt 3
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:  Jim Lighthizer – Civil War Preservation Trust Interview Pt 4
Time: 6:47
Contents:  Update on the Wilderness Wal-Mart | Other current preservation opportunities

Part 5:  Jim Lighthizer – Civil War Preservation Trust Interview Pt 5
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:  Jim Lighthizer – Civil War Preservation Trust Interview Pt 6
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:  Jim Lighthizer – Civil War Preservation Trust Interview Pt 7
Time: 5:10
Contents:  CWPT Teacher’s Institute | The battlefield as an outdoor classroom | Proper teaching sow the seeds of the future

Part 8:  Jim Lighthizer – Civil War Preservation Trust Interview Pt 8
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.