For 158th Anniversary, Preservation of 278 Acres Celebrated at Shepherdstown

Originally published November 2020 · p. 35

For 158th Anniversary, Preservation of 278 Acres Celebrated at Shepherdstown In September, as history enthusiasts remembered the 158th anniversary of the Maryland Campaign, the Trust announced the successful protection of 278 acres that figured prominently into the Battle of Shepherdstown. The American Battlefield Trust and the Jefferson County Farmland Protection Board (JCFPB) partnered with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Land Easement Program to place the substantial property under a conservation easement held by the JCFPB. Still reeling from the fighting in what remains America’s deadliest day, the September 17, 1863, Battle of Antietam, Union and Confederate forces clashed again at Shepherdstown. On September 19, 1862, elements of Union Maj. Gen. Fitz John Porter’s V Corps pushed across the Potomac River at Boteler’s Ford and struck the Confederate rearguard commanded by Brig. Gen. William Pendleton. Early the next day, Porter pushed elements of two divisions across the Potomac River to establish a bridgehead. Confederate Maj. Gen. A. P. Hill’s Division counterattacked as many of the Union soldiers crossed the river, inflicting heavy casualties and nearly annihilating the 118th Pennsylvania. It is the 278-acre parcel saved at the Borden Farm that marks Hill’s position during the engagement. Ultimately, this counterattack was the root cause of Union forces not having further pursued Gen. Robert E. Lee’s defeated Army of Northern Virginia as they fled Maryland and thus, Shepherdstown ended the Maryland Campaign of 1862. “With the addition of the Borden Farm, we have made a substantial step towards our vision of protecting Jefferson County’s remaining productive agricultural soils and water resources,” said JCFPB director Elizabeth Wheeler. “While the protection of Jefferson County’s local farms is vital for the healthy food they provide and the diverse economy they support, the success at Borden Farm goes beyond as it also helps protect the county’s historic landscapes.” The Trust announced fundraising efforts to secure the Borden Farm last autumn, in conjunction with other properties at Bentonville, N.C., Chattanooga, Tenn., and White Oak Road, Va. When taken together with previous activities, the Trust has now protected 621 acres at Shepherdstown.