American Battlefield Trust — January 2022

Originally published January 2022 · pp. 10–11

Trust Seeks to Save 239 Virginia Acres Connected to Two Civil War “Taverns” The American Battlefield Trust is currently working to preserve 239 acres at two Virginia battlefields, 141 acres in Spotsylvania County and 98 acres south of Petersburg. What ties these locations together are two inns, Todd’s Tavern and the Globe Tavern, where Union and Confederate forces rested and engaged one another nearby for control of a route toward Richmond and the supply chain needed to win the war. Starting with a transaction value of $1,725,500, the Trust acquired federal and state grants, funding from partner organizations, and a large contribution from a generous donor to complete 92.2% of the funding. Now, the organization looks to its members to raise the remaining $137,500, with each donation met with a $1to-$12.50 match. Of even greater value is the history that unfolded on these properties.

In May 1864, west of the Brock and Catharpin Roads intersection stood Todd’s Tavern; it briefly hosted Grant and Meade as they rode south along Spotsylvania’s Brock Road. A week later, it hosted Confederate cavalry Brig. Gen. Thomas Rosser’s Brigade the night before they marched east on the Catharpin Road to engage the 2nd Ohio Cavalry and 23rd Regiment, U.S. Colored Troops, in a skirmish outside Chancellorsville. South of Petersburg, Va., sits an additional 98 acres of hallowed ground across two tracts, near the location where the Globe Tavern once stood. Both tracts played an imperative role in two 1864 battles fought for control of the strategic Weldon Railroad. To help the Trust save these critical sites, visit www. battlefields.org/239acres.

Trust Supports Veteran Archaeologists Continuing a long-standing partnership, the Trust has pledged

$10,000 to support an American Veterans Archaeological Recovery (AVAR)-led project aimed at answering lingering questions about historical battles on American soil. The investigation outside San Antonio, Texas, will begin in February in an effort to determine the location of the Battle of Medina. “Archaeology projects the historical record onto a physical space and can deepen, or even reshape, our understanding of past events,” said Trust President David Duncan. Transitional programs like AVAR help veterans reacclimate to civilian culture by putting former military personnel in pursuit of a common cause. With archaeology, veterans actively use the skills gained in the military and bring a level of understanding and connection to the battlefield that no civilian can hope to possess. The August 18, 1813, Battle of Medina was a critical moment in the Mexican War of Independence. The diverse Republican Army was crushed by the Spanish Army and those who surrendered were offered no quarter. At Medina, AVAR will collaborate with experts across disciplines and with support from the County of Atascosa and the Texas Historical Commission, plus technical supervision provided by Dr. Raymond Mauldin of the Center for Archaeological Research at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Previously, Trust contributions placed AVAR volunteers alongside NPS archaeologists on an award-winning cultural resources team at Saratoga National Historical Park. Donations in support of the Trust’s archaeology work, alongside AVAR and more broadly on other battlefields, may be made at www.battlefields.org/ supportarchaeology.

New Federal Matching Grant Program to Fuel Battlefield Interpretation The National Park Service’s American Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP), which has helped aid preservationists with matching funds to facilitate the protection and study of battlefields, has expanded by awarding a first round of grants toward interpretation projects. The new program has awarded $917,173 to projects that utilize technology to bring stories of armed conflicts alive for modern audiences, with the American Battlefield Trust receiving five of the 11 grants awarded. Trust-led projects that rose to ABPP’s exacting standards included: the development of virtual field trips that allow students nationwide to digitally explore Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War sites; an animated video series covering 16 battlefields in seven states telling stories with diverse firstperson narratives and artifacts; an interdisciplinary drive to tell the stories of African American combatants who took up arms for a nation that did not yet consider them free or full citizens; a vision to work alongside Princeton Battlefield State Park to transform visitor experience at the site of the Revolutionary War’s Ten Crucial Days, and an augmented reality undertaking allowing visitors to downtown Charleston, S.C., as well as other transformative experiences along the Liberty Trail. ABPP’s Battlefield Interpretation Grants empower partners nationwide to modernize and enhance battlefield interpretation, ultimately inspiring wonder and understanding at the places our nation witnessed incredibly challenging events.

Let Trust Historians Escort You Around Gettysburg from the Privacy of Home with Two-Hour Video Tour To celebrate the 158th anniversary of Gettysburg’s second most famous event, the dedication of the Soldiers National Cemetery, the Trust debuted a two-hour online video tour of the Gettysburg Battlefield, approximating what it is like to drive past distinct landmarks like Little Round Top and the Bloody Angle. The free tour, created with the consent of the National Park Service, is now available on the Trust’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/ AmericanBattlefieldTrust. With GoPro cameras affixed to his car and a wealth of stories stashed in his mind, the American Battlefield Trust’s Chief Historian and licensed Gettysburg Battlefield guide Garry Adelman escorts viewers through the historic town and national military park. Whether it be through small details or big picture ideas, the expert storyteller weaves together an exciting arrangement of Gettysburg wisdom but also emphasizes there is no substitute for an in-person visit with a licensed guide. “Gettysburg is a place where stories live, and at the Trust we’re always looking for new and dynamic ways to bring stories to life,” said Adelman. The debut came days after the Trust’s first-ever Fall Virtual

CivilWarNews.com Teacher Institute, a free event where educators and museum professionals gathered online to attend sessions on the topic of “Technology In and Out of the Classroom” that included a session with keynote speaker and New York Times bestselling author Jeff Shaara.

Honoring the Longtime Leadership of O. James Lighthizer After serving as the president of the Trust for over 20 years, O. James Lighthizer was honored at the Gettysburg Battlefield on November 6. The former Trust president was completely surprised by monument erected on Seminary Ridge to commemorate his commitment to battlefield preservation. Lauding his mentor and predecessor, current Trust President David Duncan spoke to the crowd and was later joined by Gloria Lighthizer in unveiling the monument. A testament to the more than 53,000 acres of battlefield land that were preserved by way of Lighthizer’s vision and efforts, the structure sits upon Trust-saved land.