American Battlefield Trust — April 2022

Originally published April 2022 · pp. 14–15

American Battlefield Protection Program, these classroom tools will continue to highlight battlefield sites from American first 100 years.

Wanted: HistoryLoving Teens for the Trust’s 2022-23 Youth Leadership Team

The Future Looks Bright for the Pending Culpeper Battlefields State Park Long hoped for by residents and preservationists, the creation of a new Culpeper Battlefields State Park is looking increasingly realistic as the Virginia legislative session progresses. The process began in January when Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin included a request for $4.93 million to acquire land at Brandy Station and Cedar Mountain for the new park as part of the package of legislative initiatives and budget amendments he submitted to the General Assembly. It gained momentum in February, when both the House and Senate Finance Committees included language to facilitate that action in the full budgets sent forward for consideration. “Landscapes protected by the Trust and our partners over several decades represent the makings of a turn-key park, ready to welcome visitors to explore the heart of the Virginia Piedmont,” said American Battlefield Trust president David Duncan. “Members of the House and Senate Finance Committees clearly understood the power of these places, how they will connect Virginians and visitors to both our history and our present. State Park status will supercharge the economic impact that heritage tourism already brings to the Culpeper region and further enhance the unique character of this community.” The state park initiative would make use of more than 1,700 acres of preserved land on the Brandy Station and Cedar Mountain Battlefields. Nestled in the Virginia Piedmont, Culpeper County is widely recognized for its scenic character, natural beauty, and abundant history. Its location between the Rappahannock and Rapidan Rivers made it an area of strategic importance during the Civil War, and thousands of enslaved peoples crossed its rivers, heading northward to freedom; some returned as free men to fight for their country on this very soil. The proposal is supported by a long-standing, bipartisan coalition of state legislators, national and local preservation organizations, and Culpeper government officials. In 2016, the Culpeper County Board of Supervisors and the Culpeper Town Council both passed resolutions endorsing a state battlefield park in Culpeper County. To stay tuned in to the latest news on the Culpeper Battlefields State Park, check out www. culpeperbattlefields.org.

Students Are in Store for a Star-Spangled Virtual Field Trip

Between pandemic precautions, limited financial resources, and the constant factor of distance, field trips, although coveted by students, are far and few between. Now, the Trust seeks to create a digital pathway to place-based education through the debut of its first virtual field trip to Baltimore, Md., the third largest city in the United States at the outset of the War of 1812. Over the span of 70 minutes, the Baltimore Virtual Trip takes viewers to Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, Hampton National Historic Site, and the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House. Host Douglas Ullman, Jr., walks the grounds of these historic places and speaks with experts at the National Park Service about the wartime events and personalities that cemented these locations into our national narrative. The Trust has packaged the virtual field trip alongside an array of supporting materials for easy implementation in the classroom. With these components working in concert, the subject matter can be explored through a military, civilian, geographic, and cultural lens, and thus provide interest for a wide spectrum of students. The Charm City endeavor, made possible through the Bowe Stewart Foundation, marks the beginning of the organization’s initiative to deliver even more virtual field trips, from locations like New Orleans, Boston, and Washington, D.C. Supported by a battlefield interpretation grant from the National Park Service’s

The American Battlefield Trust Youth Leadership Team (YLT) is a rotating group of young people, aged 15-18, who serve as the youth face and voice of the Trust, introducing a new generation to the importance of historic preservation. In return, these students gain invaluable skills and experiences that will set them apart as they pursue future goals. In this academic-year-long program, members will: ✪ Receive training in leadership, program management, lobbying, media relations, and fundraising. ✪ Travel to Washington D.C., for further training and Youth Lobby Day advocacy, as well as off-site to the Trust’s Annual Conference. All expenses are paid for the participant and relevant travel guidelines respected. ✪ Contribute to content creation on battlefields.org, interact with and create posts for the Trust’s social media channels, and produce photos and video for the organization. ✪ Be responsible for preservation, education, or visitation projects in their hometown. If you know an enthusiastic history student, please encourage them to apply, as applications are currently open for the 2022— 23 school year. For more information, visit www.battlefields. org/youth-leadership-team.

Trust Wins Silver for ‘Road to Freedom’ Program in Inaugural Anthem Awards

The Road to Freedom, a digital tour guide from the Trust showcasing scores of Virginia sites integral to the black experience during the Civil War era, has received a Silver Award in the Education, Art, & Culture division of the inaugural Anthem Awards. This new initiative of the Webby Awards, celebrating purpose and missiondriven work, is presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences. “It is our distinct honor to recognize the work that brands, organizations, and individuals are all making to create an impact in their community,” said Jessica Lauretti, Managing Director, The Anthem Awards.

The Trust stood amongst giants like the National Geographic Society but came out strong with silver at the inaugural Anthem Awards. The “Road to Freedom” program, created through a partnership between the American Battlefield Trust and Civil War Trails, Inc., with assistance from the African American Heritage Preservation Foundation, offers free physical and digital products, including a map guide available in visitor centers and distribution sites across the state and a web app with downloadable versions for Android and iOS devices. While the first release focused on Virginia, plans are underway to expand the project into Tennessee and North Carolina.

Efforts Continue to Save Hallowed Ground at Two Virginia Battlefields 2021-22 Youth Leadership Team member Catherine Slavich. (Photo by Loran Cook) Slaughter Pen Farm; both considered the hearts of their respective battlefields. It is only with the perseverance and dedication of Trust donors that these properties, totaling 458 acres, can be deemed “Saved Forever.” The 250-acre James Custis Farm is where Union soldiers and enslaved Virginians turned the tide of the Battle of Williamsburg and helped build public support for emancipation. It is also the site of the well-preserved Redoubt 11, a position that proved pivotal to Brig. Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock’s success in the 1862 battle. Thanks to an exceptional confluence of grant funding, including the largest matching grant in the history of the federal American Battlefield Protection Program, the Trust is left to raise only the remaining $57,000. To learn more, visit www.battlefields.org/save245. The Trust’s 2006 acquisition of the Slaughter Pen Farm remains the largest private battlefield purchase in American history. While all available resources were utilized at the time of the transaction, the organization had to take on a loan requiring hefty annual payments. But now, a special opportunity has arisen to pay this loan off years ahead of schedule by raising $400,000. All donations will be met with $2-to-$1 match. Help the Trust claim a preservation victory on the site at www.battlefields.org/ SaveSlaughterPen.

Embrace Preservation by Volunteering on the Trust’s 26th Annual Park Day This year marks the Trust’s 26th annual Park Day, an opportunity for volunteers of all ages to get outside and help maintain sites sacred to our country’s heritage. Taking place largely on April 9, 2022, the event encourages communities to embrace handson preservation projects ranging from trash collection, cleaning of monuments, trail building, painting and restoration of signage, repair work, and more at battlefields and sites nationwide. To find your nearest volunteer opportunity, along with site contacts and details, please visit www.battlefields.org/parkday.

Visit our new website at: HistoricalPublicationsLLC.com

Divided by Conf lict. United by Compassion. 48 E. Patrick St., Frederick, MD. 301-695-1864 / civilwarmed.org