American Battlefield Trust

American Battlefield Trust — May 2022

Originally published May 2022 · pp. 14–15

Four Generals, Four Battlefields and One Great Opportunity to Save 311 Acres! The Trust is currently working to preserve 311 acres across four different Civil War battlefields in four states, each tied to the career of a famous general: U.S. Grant and the Battle of Belmont, Missouri, John Hunt Morgan and the Battle of Buffington Island, Ohio, William T. Sherman and the Battle of Chickasaw Bayou, Mississippi, and J.E.B. Stuart and the Battle of Upperville, Virginia. Despite a transaction value of $2,694,207, the Trust must raise only $206,207 through its members, a $13-to-$1 match. The campaign also marks the Trust’s first preservation efforts at three of these sites, and an opportunity to impact a 25th state as we venture into Ohio! In November 1861, newly promoted Gen. U.S. Grant confronted Confederate troops north of Belmont, Mo. Later fighting continued further south at Camp Johnson. While inconclusive, this confrontation gave Grant valuable war experience. The Trust has the chance to save over one acre here. Between December 26-29, 1862, Union Gen. William T. Sherman began his Vicksburg Campaign at Chickasaw Bayou. Ultimately, Confederate defenses proved too much for Sherman’s men, and the Union’s capture of Vicksburg had to wait. Three acres are primed for saving at this site. On June 21, 1863, Confederate Gen. J.E.B. Stuart clashed with Gen. Alfred Pleasonton’s cavalry at Upperville, which today retains much of its historic appearance. Saving a 191-acre tract here will allow the Trust to ensure the battlefield’s ideal condition. One of two Civil War battles in Ohio, the July 1863 Battle of Buffington Island pitted Confederate Gen. John Hunt Morgan’s 1,700 men against 3,000 Union artillery, infantry, and cavalry, plus U.S. Navy gunboats, and ended in a devastating Confederate loss. The 117-acre targeted tract is where Morgan and his men advanced, but largescale residential development looms! To help the Trust save these critical sites, visit www. battlefields.org/save311.

Introducing the Medal of Honor Valor Trail! The Trust is committed to the power of place, the unique ability for landscapes to teach meaningful and compelling lessons to those who follow in the footsteps of history. Through an ongoing, multifaceted collaboration with the Congressional Medal of Honor Society (CMOHS), the Trust is working to place valor on the map, connecting the battlefields where Medal of Honor recipients performed acts above and beyond the call of duty, and making their remarkable stories of heroism to a wider audience. The latest initiative within this partnership will be the Medal of Honor Valor Trail, a physical and digital manifestation of the places most deeply connected with Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War through the 21st century, such as battlefields, birth and burial places, namesake sites, monuments, and museums. The goal is to connect powerful stories to tangible places, creating meaningful connections to the past. “There is no higher honor our country can bestow than the Medal of Honor,” said American Battlefield Trust President David Duncan. “This award really is synonymous with the best of who we are as Americans and the ideals of valor, patriotism and self-sacrifice.” The Medal of Honor Valor Trail is envisioned to include signage elements to augment existing on-site interpretation, installed gradually and in partnership with management entities. A website that provides a flavor of the myriad sites representing conflicts from the Civil War through the 21st century launched on March 25, National Medal of Honor Day, as the first awards were made on that date in 1863, and will continue to grow, highlighting the most compelling content created by the Trust and CMOHS, independently and jointly. Learn more about this initiative at www.ValorTrail.org.

Virginia’s Culpeper Battlefields May Soon Encompass a New State Park After years of anticipation among national and local preservation organizations, regional officials and local citizens, Virginia is poised to create a new state park encompassing Culpeper County’s Civil War battlefields. The process was kickstarted in January when Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin included a budget amendment requesting funds for land acquisition at the site in the package of legislative initiatives and priorities submitted to the General Assembly at the outset of his term. In response, and after analysis, both the House and Senate included mechanisms for creating the park in budgets passed in February. The budgets moved to conference committee, but the General Assembly adjourned its regular session before completion. Instead, a resolution was passed that will allow the budget to be finalized in a special session, that will take place at least 48 hours before July 1. The full budget must be signed by the governor for this measure to take effect. The state park would be created from a critical mass of more than 1,700 acres of preserved lands on the Brandy Station and Cedar

Mountain Battlefields. While this landscape’s overarching national significance is associated with famous Civil War battles and events, the region is rich in history and culture.

Fredericksburg’s Slaughter Pen Farm Nears the Preservation Finish Line! The American Battlefield Trust remains determined to finally pay off its purchase of the 208-acre Slaughter Pen Farm at Fredericksburg this year! The 2006 acquisition remains the largest private battlefield purchase in American history, at $12 million. While all available resources were utilized at the time of the transaction, the organization had to take on a loan requiring hefty annual payments. Fueled by a generous contribution of $800,000, the Trust is left to raise $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.

The Search Continues for the Trust’s 2022-23 Youth Leadership Team Young history enthusiasts eager to advance the cause of battlefield preservation are invited to apply to the Trust’s Youth Leadership Team (YLT) for the 2022–2023 school year. This competitively selected group of high schoolers, aged 15-18, serves as the youth face and voice of the organization over the course of an academic year, inspiring a love for America’s historic treasures through efforts spanning history education, preservation, and visitation. An outstanding leadership opportunity with a historical twist, the program is accepting applications until May 15, 2022. The 2021–2022 YLT cohort recently enjoyed a trip to Washington, D.C., in March. While visiting, they met with a total of 34 U.S. senators and representatives to lobby for battlefield preservation and education in their states and districts. Aside from Washington landmarks, they also toured the Gettysburg Battlefield with the Trust’s Chief Historian Garry Adelman. If you know a student whose love for history is undeniable, encourage them to apply! Learn more at www.battlefields.org/ youth-leadership-team.

Revolutionaryera South Carolina Comes to Life through Virtual Tour Guide More than a dry history lesson, the Liberty Trail app, now available for free through Google Play and the Apple Store, includes interpretation for 30 stops across South Carolina, ranging from national and state parks to once-secret locations. Modern photography and 360-degree virtual tours, historical illustrations, original artwork, and battle maps provide a comprehensive travel companion, shedding light on the role of the state during the American Revolution. The Liberty Trail is a joint effort of the South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust and the American Battlefield Trust, supported by numerous partners at the local, state, and federal levels. The new app, covering sites statewide, builds upon some two dozen Trust battlefield trails and sites, will continue to grow through future iterations aimed at enriching the visitor experience. Check it out at www.battlefields. org/LibertyTrailApp.