American Battlefield Trust
American Battlefield Trust — June 2022
Originally published June 2022 · pp. 14–15
Portrait of Ed Bearss, 2017. (Buddy Secor) The Bearss family invites the public to attend a celebration of the life of Edwin C. Bearss, to be held in Gettysburg, Pa., on June 26, 2022, which would have been his 99th birthday. The event will begin at 1:00 pm EDT and last about one hour. American Battlefield Trust President David N. Duncan will emcee the event, welcoming speakers who reflect on aspects of Ed’s amazing life and career: U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant General (Ret.) Richard P. Mills; Jerome A. Greene, retired historian for the National Park Service; and O. James Lighthizer, president emeritus of the Trust. The event will be held on land preserved by the Trust adjacent to the Seminary Ridge Museum, 111 Seminary Ridge, Gettysburg, Pa., 17325. The area will be tented, with seating available, plus water and light refreshments provided. Portable toilets and indoor restrooms will be nearby. The Museum parking lots will be available with an area reserved for handicapped guests. Guests will be able to walk on paved surfaces except for a short section on grass leading to the tent where the service will be held. Please do not park at Lee’s Headquarters. Please indicate your intention to attend by emailing billvodra1@
June 26 Gettysburg Gathering Will Remember Historian Ed Bearss gmail.com so that we may ensure adequate seating and refreshments. For those unable to attend in person, video of the event will be posted online by the Trust subsequently.
Student Leaders Inspire Their Peers to Study the Past Through Americana U
Americana U, the American Battlefield Trust’s new advocacy and networking program for college students, continues to grow through the efforts of its four dynamic campus leaders. Devoted to raising interest in America’s first 100 years and creating opportunities for historic site visitation, these students have been busy organizing events that inspire.
Americana U event brings students to the Gettysburg Battlefield. (Owen Lanier) Earlier this year, Gettysburg College’s Owen Lanier held his first event for Americana U; a battlefield walk done in partnership with the Civil War Institute at the college that attracted a group of 15 students. While traversing the battlefield landscape, they discussed the first day’s actions during the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg. In April, Lanier organized an event featuring Camp Nelson National Monument Chief of Interpretation Steve Phan, who discussed the birth and growth of the U.S. Colored Troops in a lecture titled “Let Him Get an Eagle Button.” During the Civil War, African American soldiers, many who were formerly enslaved, accounted for 10 percent of the Union Army. Phan’s discussion awakened a great deal of curiosity in the perspective of the black soldiers who helped lead the Union to victory. As Americana U cements itself on campuses across the nation, Lanier has his eyes set on an expanded awareness of the American Battlefield Trust and history’s vital role at Gettysburg College. “Our history teaches us problem-solving, moral character, responsibility, a respect for hard work, what can be done with limitless ingenuity, and the dangers of limitless ambition,” writes the campus leader. He hopes to gain even more student interest over the course of 2022 by hosting a diverse range of historically charged events.
The Trust Presses on to Save 311 Acres of Hallowed Ground Tied to Four Famous Generals
The Trust is continuing to charge forward with the preservation of 311 acres at four different Civil War battlefields. Better yet, each battlefield is tied to the career of a famous general: Ulysses S.
Grant at the Battle of Belmont on the Missouri/Kentucky border, John Hunt Morgan at the Battle of Buffington Island in Ohio, William T. Sherman at the Battle of Chickasaw Bayou in Mississippi, and J.E.B. Stuart at the Battle of Upperville in Virginia. This campaign marks the Trust’s first-ever preservation effort in the state of Ohio, as well as inaugural campaigns at Belmont and Chickasaw Bayou. Thanks to key partnerships and anticipated federal and state matching grants, over 90% of the original purchase price of $2.7 million has been funded. Now, the Trust’s fundraising need sits at $206,237. Opening the door to Trust efforts in the Buckeye State, Buffington Island was the scene of one of only two Civil War battles fought in Ohio. The targeted 117-acre tract marks the location where Brig. Gen. John Hunt Morgan and his 1,700 raiders advanced during the 1863 battle. The campaign also aims to protect four Western Theater acres at Belmont, Ky., and Chickasaw Bayou, Miss. At Belmont, Brig. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant faced an early test as a battlefield commander. At Chickasaw Bayou, Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman failed in his bid to compromise Vicksburg’s Confederate defenses. In the Eastern Theater, a 191acre tract at Upperville had long been a target for preservation.
Most of the rural area remains as it was in 1862, when Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart fought a bloody clash against Union Maj. Gen. Alfred Pleasonton’s cavalry. Help the Trust save these four storied battlefield sites at www. battlefields.org/save311.
American Battlefield Trust Color Bearers Distinguish Themselves Through Extraordinary Commitment As their 19th-century counterparts were uniquely and appropriately acclaimed for their courage, American Battlefield Trust Color Bearers are honored for the extraordinary commitment they bring to the mission of saving our nation’s most hallowed ground. Color Bearers are members who distinguish themselves by making an annual unrestricted contribution of $1,000+ or a recurring gift of $84 a month. Year after year, the Trust’s Color Bearers, who make up only about 3 percent of the organization’s total membership, donate nearly 50 percent of all the gifts it receives. If you make a membership gift of $1,000 or more, you can become a Regimental Color Bearer, and your name will be prominently listed in the Trust’s 2022 “Roll Call of Honor.” Color Bearers also receive an invitation to exclusive events at the Annual Conference each summer, plus the Color Bearer-only Donor Thank You Weekend each spring. Additional benefits include a special Color Bearer hat and a 15% discount at the Trust’s online store. Learn more at www.battlefields.org/ give/color-bearers.
The Nation’s 250th Anniversary in Sight, the Trust Announces Its Revolutionary Preservation Goal
After crossing the Old North Bridge during Concord’s Patriots’ Day Parade on April 18, the Trust announced its intent to preserve
2,500 acres of Revolutionary War battlefield land for America’s 250th anniversary. There for the announcement were representatives from the National Park Service, Daughters of the American Revolution, and Sons of the American Revolution. As momentum builds toward the nation’s semiquincentennial commemoration in 2026, so will renewed interest in the stories of the earliest days of the nation’s founding. This effort will serve both to protect the Revolution’s battlefields from development and to highlight the stories of diverse patriots who fought for independence and democracy. The Trust has identified tracts of land on dozens of battlefields that could be pursued towards this preservation goal, ultimately working with willing sellers over the next decade. While the endeavor is estimated at $39 million, the Trust will seek out federal, state, and local grants,
CivilWarNews.com as well as private sector and individual donations, to bring this ambitious goal to the finish line.
American Battlefield Trust, National Park Foundation Contribute $2 Million Toward Little Round Top Rehabilitation The major rehabilitation project to upgrade facilities and increase safety on Little Round Top received a major boost in April with a $2 million gift from the American Battlefield Trust and the National Park Foundation. The joint contribution was facilitated through philanthropist John L. Nau, III, who serves on the boards of both organizations and is the former chairman of the federal Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.
“There is power in place, a unique ability to inspire and teach that comes from being physically present at a site where great events transpired,” said Nau. “Ensuring that such locations are well-situated to offer visitors a meaningful and pleasing experience materially advances that goal.” Work at Little Round Top will relieve chronically overcrowded parking areas, address erosion concerns, create accessible trail alignments, install new interpretation, and otherwise make the area more functional and appealing to visitors. The extensive project is expected to close the area to visitors for approximately 18 months, beginning in late spring of this year. Separate but related rehabilitation work to address erosion issues closed nearby Devil’s Den in late March. Visit battlefields.org for additional information.