American Battlefield Trust — August 2021

Originally published August 2021 · pp. 12–13

Slaughter Pen Farm at Fredericksburg Battlefield. Trust members were thrilled to be back on the field at our first “Twilight Tour.” Photo by American Battlefield Trust.

Trust Commemorates 158th Anniversary of Battle of Gettysburg with Bold Initiatives To mark the 158th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, American Battlefield Trust staff ventured into the field July 1-3, for the fifth rendition of “Gettysburg Live,” a series of videos that explore and give context to the battle from a variety of angles. This year, a special focus was placed on the perspective of the soldiers who fought at Gettysburg, as the Trust was joined by Ancestry/ Fold3 to unearth little-known stories, and connect them with primary source documents made easily accessible on the platforms. Interestingly, some stories were inspired by submissions from Trust’s members and followers. Trekking across the battlefield on its anniversary, the Trust entertained with a plethora of video content shared across Facebook and YouTube. To add even more excitement, the crew was joined by special guests from the Gettysburg Foundation, the Adams County Historical Society, and the National Park Service. In some cases, artifacts from the engagement were returned to the battlefield for the first time since the conflict. From Gettysburg novices to Civil War buffs, there was plenty to learn and see during the three-day adventure to places both familiar and off the beaten path. To view the video series, be sure to check out the Trust’s YouTube channel. Such a commemoration would be incomplete without the Trust’s efforts to protect integral hallowed ground connected to the Gettysburg Campaign. Our latest initiative targets 158 acres across the Gettysburg and Second Winchester Battlefields. The equivalent of 119 football fields, this precious land is valued at $9.8 million, but with the assistance of government grants, a generous landowner donation, a grant from the HTR Foundation, and the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation, 96.4% of the total has been obtained, leaving $350,000 to be raised. Of the acres eyed for preservation, 154 in Northern Virginia are tied to the June 13-15, 1863, Battle of Second Winchester. Pitting Confederate Gen. Richard Ewell against the Union’s Gen. Robert Milroy, the fight at Winchester was a decisive victory for the Confederates because it created an opening for Gen. Robert E. Lee’s northward march. At Gettysburg, the four-acre tract in question is located on the slopes of East Cemetery Hill, abutting the Baltimore Pike and sitting just below the crest of the Union artillery position on Stevens Knoll. It felt the footsteps of tens of thousands of Union troops, as they marched in front of, paused on, passed over, or fought on the land during the second day’s fighting. In the present day, this property is known as the site of the Battlefield Military Museum. Just last year, the Trust acquired an adjacent property, including the historic James McKnight House from its long-time owners. The organization now has an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to purchase the property’s remaining four acres for preservation and restoration efforts that will turn back the clock to 1863, so that if Gen. George Meade’s troops were to somehow march up to the site again, they would know exactly where they were.

Victory at Three Western Theater Battlefields Yields Interpretive Opportunities Aplenty By adding 99 acres of hallowed ground at three Civil War battlefields to its already-robust victory portfolio, the American Battlefield Trust marked several milestones. The feat is especially gratifying for fans of the Western Theater, as it adds more than 22 acres at Shiloh, Tenn., and upwards of 76 acres associated with the Vicksburg Campaign in Mississippi, nearly 44 acres at Raymond and just short of 33 acres at Vicksburg itself. These acres carry a hefty value of approximately $1.5 million, but with essential partners backing the organization’s ambitious efforts, the balance needed from Trust members went down to $553,330. The multi-part victory will enable interpreters to unleash new perspectives upon visitors. Just think, the property at Shiloh will create public access to an area that witnessed part of the initial large-scale Confederate assaults against Union camps on the morning of April 6, 1862. A benefit to today’s students, and those to follow, the context engrained in this acreage will paint a fuller, more vibrant picture of life in the Civil War’s vast Western Theater. These victories were made possible through the support of the American Battlefield Protection Program, the Friends of Raymond, and the Friends of Vicksburg National Military Park. Learn more about the Trust’s latest preservation victories at www.battlefields.org/preserve/ celebrate-our-victories.

Shiloh National Military Park. Harper’s Jefferson (Mississippi) Artillery was mustered at Fayette, Miss., on April 13, 1861, The battery was armed with two 6-pounder cannons and four 12-pounder howitzers. Photo by Mike Talplacido.

Let Your Adventurous Spirit Lead the Way: Explore America’s Battlefields This Summer! Summer is the ideal time for outdoor adventures, and the Trust has turned its attention to battlefield destinations primed for exploration. A wonderful way to interact with these unique landscapes is through battlefield trails that have been precisely paved to navigate stories situated upon the hallowed ground. The Trust itself has 13 trails serving as gateways to the past. On land that the organization has worked tirelessly to protect, these paths bring hikers through the same terrain that Civil War soldiers would have traversed. Engage with these Trust trails at Brandy Station, Cedar Mountain, Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, McDowell, Mine Run, Hatcher’s Run, Reams Station, Petersburg, and White Oak Road. Do make sure to pack accordingly, stay on the marked trails, and watch out for creatures big and small. Also remember, the learning experience can go beyond the trails’ interpretive signage, as the Trust has Battle App® guides available at several sites! You’ll also find the Trust and its members embarking on “Twilight Tours” this summer. After a yearlong lull without in-person gatherings, the organization was excited to return to the fields and offer these unique, evening experiences to its patient preservationist following. With a slew of experts steering the way, 27 tours will take place at Revolutionary War and Civil War battlefields across Virginia, Pennsylvania,

Fredericksburg, Va., Battlefield visitors embrace the words of the Greek philosopher Pythagoras as they “leave the road, take the trails.” Photo by American Battlefield Trust.

North Carolina, New Jersey, Mississippi, and Kentucky. Donors who live in proximity to selected locations will receive an email with registration instructions. To keep up with the Trust’s latest events, please visit www. battlefields.org/events.

Virtual Reality Series Wins GLAMi Award The Trust has won a 2021 GLAMi award for its immersive storytelling project Civil War 1864: A Virtual Reality Experience! Short for “Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums Innovation,” the GLAMi’s are coordinated by MuseWeb to recognize and celebrate the most innovative projects in the cultural heritage sector annually. Civil War 1864 was recognized as “Of Note” in the Interactive and Immersive category, an impressive achievement in a field that featured nominees from 20 countries. The captivating, four-part series was created by the Trust in collaboration with our longtime video partner Wide Awake Films, an Emmy-award-winning historical media company. When it debuted, the project garnered 300,000 views in its first two weeks on YouTube and has since grown to more than 2.5 million. Plans are in process to create more virtual reality content that brings the past to life.