American Battlefield Trust — December 2020

Originally published December 2020 · pp. 36–37

Announcing Battle Maps of the Civil War: The Western Theater

The American Battlefield Trust is proud to announce publication of our newest book, Battle Maps of the Civil War: The Western Theater, now available from Knox Books. This full-color, 112-page collection of our acclaimed battle maps is a perfect companion to your own studies or trips into the field and the ideal complement to Battle Maps of the Civil War: The Eastern Theater, published last year and already in its second printing. The first copies of this reference guide are reserved as gifts for donors to our new campaign to protect an additional 303 acres at Franklin and Lookout Mountain in Tennessee, famous battles featured prominently in the book. Of particular note is the 301 acre tract that played a key role in the “battle above the clouds” that we will place under conservation easement. Not only did it contain the only possible approach that allowed Union General Joseph Hooker to execute his unexpected and wildly successful maneuver against Confederate General Braxton Bragg’s forces on Lookout Mountain, but it is also one of the single largest tracts of land that can still be saved on the Chattanooga Battlefield. Once books tied to donations to this appeal are allocated, individual sales will begin with delivery in time for holiday gifting! Visit www.battlefields.org/ MapBookV2 for full details.

Trust Secures Treasured Tract at Antietam’s West Woods In what could be defined as the most fitting retirement gift, James Lighthizer’s last day as Trust president included his proclamation that three more acres are preserved forever in the West Woods at Antietam, his favorite battlefield. The property marks where numerous Confederate brigades launched their advances into the West Woods and toward the Dunker Church on September 17, 1862. Widely considered to be one of the most critical engagements in American history and a true turning point of the Civil War, the battle was a Union victory that allowed President Abraham Lincoln to issue the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. The Trust publicly launched a national fundraising effort to purchase the $310,000 property on August 17, 2020, noting that a swift closing was necessary to meet the seller’s deadline. With the acreage situated inside the battlefield’s legislative boundary, it was not eligible for any matching-grant sources traditionally used by the Trust. Donors rose to answer the organization’s urgent call to protect the site despite the short window of opportunity. The project also marked inaugural use of donations to the Lighthizer Legacy Fund, created last autumn when the former president announced his retirement after 20 years spent leading the organization. The victorious preservation of this hallowed ground will prevent future development from infringing on the solemnity of this critical battlefield and lay the groundwork for its eventual transfer to the National Park Service. The accomplishment brings the Trust’s total land saved at Antietam to 463 acres.

“Another Victory for Kentucky!” Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument Joins the National Park System An October 14 ceremony in Nancy, Ky., celebrated the long-awaited day when Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument officially became part of the National Park System. Other collaborators in the effort to establish the 421st unit of the National Park Service included Congressman Hal Rogers (RKY), U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), the U.S. Department of the Interior, the National Park Service, the Mill Springs Battlefield Association (MSBA), and local leaders. Once identified as one of the 25 most endangered battlefields in America, Mill Springs was the site of the Union’s first major victory on January 19, 1862. With some 17,000 soldiers engaged, the Battle of Mill Springs was the second largest Civil War battle in Kentucky. Not only serving as a national rallying call and essential morale booster for the Union, the victory solidified Kentucky’s Union affiliation in the war. The charge to save this hallowed ground began in the early 90s, initially led by the MSBA. The Trust was soon enlisted in the undertaking alongside the MSBA and government partners, and can now enthusiastically declare that 700 acres have been protected, land that Trust President David Duncan said is “poised to become part of the inheritance of every American.” The public celebration of Mill Springs’ designation was held on the lawn of the new federal park’s Visitor Center and Museum. Collaborators aplenty were present and all were overjoyed at the accomplishment that was years in the making. Deemed “another victory for Kentucky” by Congressman Hal Rogers, who also helped establish the MSBA, an emphasis was placed on the historic battlefield’s adept ability to provide future generations with an immersive educational experience that showcases Kentucky’s important role in the Civil War. Acting Superintendent for the site, Elisa Kunz added that the National Park Service’s presence poses ideal opportunities to expand audiences and economic contacts while also safeguarding natural resources. Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument, including the Visitor’s Center and Museum, is now open to the public. Visitors to the new national monument can also begin a 10-stop, self-guided driving tour of the battlefield from the visitor center.

Perryville Battlefield Nears Completion, Presenting Boundless Potential In the coming months, Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site will receive the largest addition to the park since it was created in 1936, thanks to the pending transfer of 384 acres from the American Battlefield Trust to the Commonwealth of Kentucky through the Kentucky Heritage Land Conservation Fund (KHLCF). The site is managed by the Kentucky Department of Parks with assistance from the Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves. The additional acreage, valued at $2.5 million and located across the battlefield, represents six properties. Numerous landscape restoration projects on the Trust-preserved lands have been completed thanks to the enthusiastic support of our nonprofit partner, Friends of Perryville Battlefield. Stressing the magnitude of the future gift, Trust president David Duncan notes that the transfer will result in Perryville becoming “one of the most complete historic landscapes of its kind.” In all, the Trust has protected 1,150 acres at Perryville; 113 were previously transferred from the nonprofit to the park, representing roughly half of all work done by the organization in Kentucky. Nearly all this work was completed through cooperative efforts, including matching grants from the federal American Battlefield Protection Program, logistical support from the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and the support of the Boyle County Fiscal Court. This remarkable battlefield saw ferocious fighting between the Union Army of the Ohio and the Confederate Army of Mississippi on October 8, 1862. The Battle of Perryville lasted five hours and was among the most brutal of the Civil War with over 7,000 total casualties. While a tactical victory for the Confederacy, it was an important strategic victory for the Union that left Kentucky in Union hands for the remainder of the war. An obvious historic asset to a Commonwealth that has demonstrated a deep commitment to battlefield preservation, the park provides great economic, recreational, and environmental benefits for the region and the state. Tourists to Kentucky are said to spend $458 per household per trip and many are drawn to its battlefields and historic sites. These new lands at Perryville bring even greater opportunity for those invested in recreational activities like kayaking, canoeing, and fishing. The battlefield also preserves forested watershed and rare species habitat protection, including threatened and endangered species of bats and insects. Zeb Weese, executive director of the Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves and chairman of the KHLCF Board, reports that Perryville is host to a significant Monarch butterfly population and provides a picturesque destination for bird-watchers. The Commonwealth and the Trust reached a preliminary agreement regarding the transfer of all properties in July 2019, when the Kentucky

Heritage Land Conservation Fund approved a $400,000 grant to acquire this acreage from the Trust. The Trust and the Commonwealth are in the process of finalizing all necessary due diligence steps to complete the transfer process, and in doing so; look forward to the potential that the new lands offer.