Three Cheers for the American Battlefield Trust’s First-Ever “Victory Week”
Originally published July 2021 · pp. 1–2
When the American Battlefield Trust announces “victory,” the term signals the completion of a long series of actions taken to save sacred battlefield acreage. The process begins with research to document the historic actions that took place on the land, proceeds through the determination of legal underpinnings, and detailed negotiations with landowners. It includes consultation with local groups and decision-makers, complex applications for matching grants, and a public campaign to solicit private donations. It doesn’t conclude until all necessary funds, including awarded grants, are received and the land is fully paid for. In recognition of National Historic Preservation Month, the Trust declared the period following May 10 it’s first-ever Victory Week. Through a series of emails and live video sessions with members, we shared behind-thescenes glimpses of that long process and revealed a diverse roundup of recent preservation victories, some 633 acres at ten battlefields in six states. This mighty roster included Averasboro, N.C.; Brice’s Cross Roads, Miss.; Cedar Creek, Va.; Parker’s Cross Roads, Tenn.; Parker’s Ferry, S.C.; Port
Brices Cross Roads. Photo by Mike Talplacido.
Royal, S.C.; Sailor’s Creek, Va.; Wilson’s Creek, Mo.; and White Oak Road, Va. To cap off the week, the organization reminded its members that claiming “victory” on a property does not simply equate to saying goodbye. At times, it’s just the beginning of enacting a new vision for the property through stewardship operations. This can include ongoing maintenance and interpretation, either with physical onsite signs or digital products or in some cases, restoration to transport the land back in time to its historic appearance. To receive clarity on “What Goes into an American Battlefield Trust Land Preservation Victory?” and learn more about these recent victories, visit www. battlefields.org.
The Trust Lauds Inclusion of USCT Sites on Annual Preservation Virginia ‘Endangered’ List
Highlighting history’s under-told stories, Preservation Virginia included a listing of Civil War Battlefields at which United States Colored Troops (USCT) fought within its 2021
Victory Week collage some of the latest American Battlefield Trust accomplishments.
report on the Commonwealth’s Most Endangered Historic Places. Released on May 11, this 10-part annual listing is connected to a program stretching across two decades. The report specifically cites New Market Heights, a battlefield the Trust is steadily working to protect and subsequently examining for interpretive opportunities, as well as St. Mary’s/ Samaria Church Battlefield, which is threatened by expansion of an existing landfill. It rightly notes that: “Educating the public about these battlefields and the contributions of the USCT, and investments at the federal, state and local levels is necessary to help illuminate these diverse stories of resilience, bravery, and empowerment that have been excluded from the traditional Civil War narrative.” “The story of New Market Heights is remarkable, and yet too few Americans know about the day on which 14 Black soldiers received the Medal of Honor,” said Trust president David Duncan. “Nor is it the only example of such bravery that we can elevate and spotlight through preservation. The American Battlefield Trust is committed to uplifting the memory of the 200,000 Black soldiers who fought to create a more perfect to Union during this nation’s first century.”
Discover “How We Became America” with the Trust’s Latest YouthFocused Civics & History Video Series An attempt to go beyond the typical American history textbook and achieve a fuller narrative of how this nation was established as a grand experiment in representative democracy, freedoms hard-won on the battlefield and enshrined in our founding documents and civic infrastructure, is the subject of How We Became America: The Untold History. The new, 15-part video series created by the Trust in partnership with the Driving Force Institute for Public Engagement (DFI), will have episodes debuting weekly through Independence Day. “History is full of elements woven together and intrinsically linked, making long ago events like the Revolutionary War and Constitutional Convention relevant today,” said Trust President David Duncan. “This series is designed to show how those threads connect in a compelling narrative, allowing new generations to see their lives and experiences reflected in events of the past.” Filled with eye-catching animation based on iconic period images, How We Became America: The Untold History is a 15-part project included within DFI’s larger Untold initiative, produced and distributed by Makematic and the University of Southern California’s Center for Engagement-Driven Global Education (EDGE). “The philosophy behind Untold is that not everything worth knowing exists inside the cover of our history textbooks,” said Patrick Riccards, founder and chief executive officer of DFI.
“There is so much more to the story, details that fill in the gaps and nuance that brings people of the past to life. It is our honor to work with organizations like the Trust that represent differing eras and specialties but share that fundamental vision.” Each installment of How We Became America: The Untold History runs about two minutes, a quick take that makes them ideal for classroom or online consumption. With the first five launched on May 4, a new episode will arrive each Tuesday through Independence Day. Learn more at www.battlefields.org/untold.
Pop-Up Tours at Twilight: A New Summer Series As members crave the battlefield experience provided by the Trust’s captivating experts, the organization looks to answer that call by offering a variety of “Twilight Tours” over a seven-week period, poised to take advantage of warm summer nights. The series will kick-off on June 18 at the site that represents the largest private battlefield purchase in America’s history, Slaughter Pen Farm. Since coming into Trust hands in 2006, this hallowed ground, that decided the Battle of Fredericksburg, has been restored to the view the soldiers once had and has welcomed thousands of visitors to walk in the footsteps of the men who fought there on the Trustcreated interpretive trail. Senior Education Manager Kristopher White will steer tour-goers through the consequential site, providing not only an overview of its place in the larger Civil War story but also its role in the larger battlefield preservation narrative. Each tour will be limited to approximately 50 Trust members. Donors who live in proximity to the selected locations will receive an email with registration instructions. Locations include tours taking place at various battlefields from the Civil War’s renowned Eastern Theater to the gritty Western Theater, as well as those of the American Revolution. Tour-goers will be met by a slew of battlefield buffs, ready to deliver their insight and embrace the physical battlefield landscape before them. Other sites will include Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Cedar Creek. Photo by Buddy Secor.