American Battlefield Trust Launches Massive, Multi-Year “Gaines’ Mill-Cold Harbor Saved Forever Campaign”
Originally published January 2021 · pp. 38–39
For decades, preservation experts have had a near-consensus: a square-mile of the Richmond suburbs was the most historically significant but unprotected Civil War landscape in America. Not only was this land central to the June 1862 Battle of Gaines’ Mill, but two years later played a major role in the Battle of Cold Harbor. “No unpreserved battlefield property in North America resonates with higher historical value than this land,” noted historian Robert K. Krick. “Its crucial location on the Gaines’ Mill battlefield might be matched by some other sites; so might its importance for Cold Harbor be matched.” But when considered jointly, he concluded, “Absolutely incomparable … it stands alone.” As time passed, threat of development loomed ever larger over the still-pristine farmland. As the Richmond suburbs grew, it became one of the largest undeveloped tracts in desirable Hanover County, thus snowballing its fair-market value. During a 2005 Trust Board Meeting, legendary historian Ed Bearss declared: “Even if you have to sell every other piece of battlefield land the Trust has ever saved in order to preserve this land, you should do it. It’s that important!” It took another 15 years of determination, cultivation, and negotiation, but shortly before he passed away in September, Bearss was told that, at long last, the Trust would reach an agreement with the landowners to ensure permanent protection of the heart of these two battlefields. The transaction will be announced in phases over the course of five years. While the entire project is known as the “Gaines’ Mill-Cold Harbor Saved Forever Campaign, the first phase is summarized in the phrase, “Pickett’s Charge, Five Times as Large.” It includes 96 acres from the long-term project plus 12 additional acres to the north that also played a role in the final Confederate assault on June 27, 1862, the largest attack ever made on American soil. Then, on June 3, 1864, during fighting at Cold Harbor, Union Lt. Gen. U.S. Grant launched one of the larger attacks of the Civil War. All told, it amounted to some 70,000 soldiers charging over much of the same ground fought over in 1862.
While the Trust is prevented from disclosing of the cumulative cost of the conservation easement that will protect the land, President David Duncan makes it clear that the effort is a massive undertaking: “This effort will be among the most expensive this organization has ever faced…. The challenge is that, because of where these properties are located, none are eligible for any federal matching funds; we have to cover these multi-year, and multi-million dollar efforts all on our own.” The immediate funding needed for the 108 acres is $1,411,000. However, thanks to early gifts from major donors and a significant grant from the Lee-Jackson Educational Foundation, individual donors are being called upon to meet the still formidable $511,000 left remaining to raise. It is also important to note the way this broad effort will contribute toward protecting the critical mass at both battlefields. It contains enough significant land that a visitor 200 years from now will be able to understand how the action unfolded on that landscape. Such an achievement will be largely due to the Trust’s efforts; as recently as 2011, the National Park Service owned only 65 acres at
Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, 1864 fighting. American Battlefield Trust.
2020 ABT Gaines Mill Cold Harbor Appeal Maps.indd 2
Cold Harbor, Va., June 7, 1864, fighting. American Battlefield Trust.
2020 ABT Gaines Mill Cold Harbor Appeal Maps.indd 2
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Gaines Mill Battlefield. Buddy Secor.
Gaines Mill Battlefield. Buddy Secor.
Gaines’ Mill, Va., June 27, 1862, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. American Battlefield Trust.
Gaines’ Mill, Va., June 27, 1862, 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. American Battlefield Trust.