American Battlefield Trust — December 2021
Originally published December 2021 · pp. 10–11
Preservation Impact Continues to Grow at Pristine Perryville In recent years, the American Battlefield Trust has made great strides at Kentucky’s Perryville Battlefield and the victories continue to pile up. In its most recent achievement at the Bluegrass State battlefield, the organization has succeeded in protecting another 51.5 acres of story-filled land, bringing its preservation total there to 1,202 acres. In contemplating the many stories scattered across Perryville’s soil, one can consider the assessment of Confederate soldier and memoirist Sam Watkins, who wrote, “I was in every battle, skirmish and march that was made by the First Tennessee Regiment during that war, and I do not remember a harder contest and more evenly fought battle than that of Perryville.” He spoke from experience, escaping the ferocious fighting physically unscathed, but with holes in his hat and cartridge box. On October 8, 1862, battle swirled around this 51.5-acre tract, which had been the last remaining unprotected property that made up the wartime farm of John Russell. This tract was where the remnants of the Union army were pushed back when the Confederates leaned into their advantage. But it was also where Union forces marched on their way to halt the Confederate advance on Dixville Crossroads. With reinforcements turning the tide, the Federals overtook the field and seized victory. Nearly surrounded by land already owned by Perryville Battlefield State Park, this property is a connective puzzle piece, eyed for eventual integration into the park. In recognizing the tract’s ability to expand meaningful interpretation, the National Park Service’s American Battlefield Protection Program stepped in to support this preservation effort, which, in turn, increased the value of each donor dollar. This good news comes with the added excitement of the recent transfer of 384 acres to Perryville Battlefield State Park. This sizeable effort was made possible by the Kentucky Heritage Land Conservation Fund and the Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves, plus the American Battlefield Protection Program, HTR Foundation, Boyle County Fiscal Court and Friends of Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site.
Remembering the Impact of the U.S. Colored Troops at America’s Historic Landscapes Nearly 180,000 black men in Union Army units designated as U.S. Colored Troops (USCTs) fought for liberty on scores of major battlefields during the Civil War; now many of their stories are actively being brought to the surface through interpretive initiatives. In early September, an historic marker was unveiled at the historic Rippavilla Plantation in Spring Hill, Tenn. This new marker, spearheaded by the Battle of Franklin Trust, sponsored by the American Battlefield Trust, and created through Civil War Trails, Inc., recognizes the enslaved who labored upon the land and joined the USCTs in 1863 and 1864. “This narrative highlights aspects of our nation’s story that all Americans should know and appreciate,” said American Battlefield Trust President David N. Duncan. “The act of preserving and interpreting sites that speak to moments in history that remain relevant to modern audiences serves to elevate stories that have gone untold for too long.” The marker, situated adjacent to an existing Battle of Spring Hill marker, is located on 85 acres just north of Rippavilla
that were saved and preserved by the American Battlefield Trust over a decade ago. The accomplishment was soon followed by the Trust working alongside Civil War Trails, Inc., to install four new interpretive signs at the New Market Heights Battlefield in Henrico, Va., where the Trust has protected 88 acres of land. Placed just in time for the battle’s September 29–30 anniversary, the signs include information on the 1864 battle and overall campaign, as well as its 14 USCT Medal of Honor recipients, recognized permanently by name on the battlefield for the first time, and the battlefield preservation process. This important preservation effort was also highlighted during the anniversary period when Damon Radcliffe, the great-great-grandson of one of the Medal of Honor recipients appeared on the national broadcast of FOX News Sunday with host Chris Wallace as the “Power Player of the Week,” to discuss the importance of protecting New Market Heights and other sites where U.S. Colored Troops served, and where some 34,000 gave their lives for the cause. “It’s a sense of bravery, a sense of courage,” Radcliffe, a lieutenant in the nearby YorkPoquoson Sheriff’s Office told Wallace. Through preservation, he noted, “The story will always continue on; that’s what this is about.” To learn more about each Medal of Honor recipient and the battlefield they are forever tied to, head online to check out the Trust’s Medal of Honor Database.
The Trust Welcomes Barbara Stewart to Its Board of Trustees
During its recent Board of Trustees meeting held both virtually and in Richmond, Va., the Trust welcomed a new trustee to its governing body. Barbara Stewart of Chicago, Ill., will now serve on the board. “With her non-profit, community-minded background and demonstrated dedication to battlefield preservation, Barbara Stewart is a wonderful addition to our leadership community,” said Trust President David Duncan. “With varied perspectives on our Board, we’re better equipped to address a broad spectrum of issues and pursue growth opportunities. I’m looking forward to WAR working CHARLESTON IN THE alongside her to continue in our mission to protect the hallowed ground that changed the course of our nation.” Stewart is well-versed in incorporating business strategy into initiatives far and wide, especially those concerning community service, government relations and public affairs. After attaining her BA and MBA from Northwestern University, she went on to pursue a fruitful career. She has worked in Illinois government, as an executive at JPMorgan Chase & Co., and in the Presidentially-appointed and Senate confirmed role of CEO of AmeriCorps, the federal agency for service and volunteerism. In the federally appointed position, she challenged the agency to reach for reforms that amounted to a working environment with increased accountability and transparency. She has chaired multiple civic and nonprofit organizations in Baltimore and Chicago, and even assisted in founding a charter school in the latter. Stewart is also a Trustee and Co-Founder of the Bowe Stewart Foundation, which has committed to financially supporting the Gettysburg National Military Park and American Battlefield Trust’s Great Task Youth Leadership Program. Geared toward at-risk student and youth organizations, from grade levels 7–12, the Great Task offers intensive leadership and character-building experiences that use the Gettysburg Battlefield to go beyond traditional curriculum-based field trips. With the Foundation’s financial backing, the program will expand, virtually, geographically and thematically, between 2020 and 2025.
Leave a Preservation Legacy, Unlock Generous Matching Funds
As preservationists, we are in the “forever business,” ensuring that important landscapes remain untouched for generations to come. That inherent interest in the future makes it important to think about what will become of our intentions once we are gone and spurs many Trust members to join the Honor Guard, our planned giving society. Nationally, some 55% of Americans do not have an estate plan. That’s because creating and updating these plans is easily procrastinated and bumped to the bottom of the “To Do” list. It’s a crucial step you can take to ensure that your wishes are respected, and your property and assets are received by the family, friends, and causes that you care about most, including saving hallowed ground. To date, some 1,500 Honor
Guard society members have notified us of their intent to include the Trust in their estate plans, thus providing for the bright future of battlefield preservation and education. Without their support, many of these acres could fall victim to increasing urban sprawl and commercial development. Through their commitment to our cause, we preserve and protect battlefield land so that our children’s children can enjoy, learn, and walk on the ground where it all happened.
To encourage more such “forever business” thinking, the Trust has launched the Legacy Challenge. When you notify us that you have included the Trust in your estate plans by December 31st, 2021, you will immediately activate a $1,000 donation by a generous donor—in your name – to support battlefield preservation and education. Lead the charge and join the Legacy Challenge today by visiting www. battlefields.org/give/legacy.