Trust Expands Campaign to Protect 42 Acres at Chancellorsville
Originally published March 2023 · pp. 16–17
Trust Expands Campaign to Protect 42 Acres at Chancellorsville The American Battlefield Trust is battling the clock and hungry developers to see a preservation victory come to life upon 42 acres at the Chancellorsville Battlefield located in one of the fastest growing areas in the nation. Regardless of suburban sprawl, it is the site of Robert E. Lee’s greatest military victory, still studied by military personnel all over the world. Last May, the organization introduced the opportunity to save this acreage, including the site of Jackson’s flank attack and Dowdall’s Tavern. While donors answered the call for the amount the Trust specified, the estimated $450,000 in government grants were not obtained due to an unprecedented number of battlefield preservation projects unfolding across the nation. There were more applications than available funds, leaving the Trust to call on its loyal donors once more to bring all 42 acres at Chancellorsville across the preservation finish line. On this hallowed ground, near Dowdall’s Tavern, New Yorkers and Pennsylvanians under Col. Adolphus Buschbeck made a stand along with the Ohio battery of Capt. Hubert Dilger. The brave Federals formed what is now
known as the “Buschbeck Line” and fought with great ferocity before they were overwhelmed by the Confederate onslaught. Sunset and the confused intermingling of Jackson’s brigades compelled the general to call a temporary halt to reorganize. Even as darkness grew, Jackson was determined to renew the assault, believing he could trap Hooker’s Army of the Potomac and destroy it. But, in the darkening forest, a North Carolina regiment mistook Jackson’s small scouting party as the enemy. A few scattered shots and then a volley burst forth in the blackness, and Jackson reeled in his saddle, struck by three bullets. He died eight days later. Over the years, the Trust and its partners have saved 1,322 acres of the Chancellorsville Battlefield in the surrounding area. However, this extraordinary tract remained out of preservationists’ grasp until now. To help the Trust raise the final $450,000 and save these 42 hallowed acres, visit www.battlefields. org/42AcresChancellorsville.
Federal Legislation Delivers Multiple Benefits for Preservation The Trust celebrated passage of the Omnibus Appropriations Bill in late December. This act
Sunset at the Chancellorsville Battlefield in Spotsylvania County, Va. Photo by Chris Landon.
included several key provisions that will ensure America’s historic battlefields are preserved for generations to come. The bill was signed into law by President Biden on December 29. “We appreciate the support from Congress and this administration as we continue to save these hallowed grounds and ensure the stories from the formative years of America’s history are told,” said Trust President David Duncan. The bill included, for the third year in a row, full funding at $20 million for the American Battlefield Protection Program, providing matching grants to preserve, restore, and interpret endangered battlefield land. The bill also included $2.5 million to the National Park Service to allow for acquiring battlefield lands within NPS boundaries. Additionally, it included language expanding the boundary of Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield in Missouri to include portions of the Newtonia Battlefield.
The Return of Insightful Student Programs Stunted by the pandemic, the “Great Task” Youth Leadership Program was revived this autumn after a two-year pause. Alongside
Arizona students participate in “Great Task” leadership and character-building activities. Photo by American Battlefield Trust. its partner, the Gettysburg National Military Park, the “Great Task” jumped back into action at the beginning of the 2022–2023 school year. Proving its successful track record, the program has already hosted four school groups and youth organizations from Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. The program, supported by the Bowe Stewart Foundation, is founded on the ideals set forth by President Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. By using the Gettysburg National Military Park as an outdoor classroom, the “Great Task” offers leadership and character-building experiences and the opportunity to learn about ordinary individuals and the weight of the extraordinary challenges they faced during the battle. Meanwhile, the Trust’s Field Trip Fund had previously functioned as a bridge that could fill the financial gap needed to deliver students and teachers to battlefields and other historic sites. It has been slow to return to its pre-pandemic glory, but applicants are encouraged to apply. For more information on the “Great Task” program, visit
Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield, Republic, Mo. Photo by Noel Benadom.
CivilWarNews.com
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www.battlefields.org/great-task. Regarding the Field Trip Fund, check out www.battlefields.org/ fieldtripfund.
Help Protect 108 Acres in the Virginia Piedmont With an opportunity to save over 104 acres in the Virginia Piedmont, the Trust has launched a campaign that aims to secure 97 acres of hallowed ground at the Brandy Station Battlefield and 7 acres at the Cedar Mountain Battlefield. Taken together, they have a total transaction value of $5,697,826. Tapping the state funds requested by Gov. Youngkin and appropriated by the Virginia legislature to help save land at Brandy Station, while applying for additional federal and state matching grants, the Trust hopes to cover 92% of the cost. Another boon to the effort: a major donor who is willing to match all gifts made, up to $225,000. This means that if we can raise the final $225,000 with all of the potential matching funds in place, contributions would be multiplied $25-to-$1. The historic value is unarguable. At Cedar Mountain, a Confederate counterattack drove Union soldiers back, winning the Southerners the 1862 battle and eventually shifting fighting to Northern Virginia and giving Robert E. Lee the strategic initiative. Meanwhile, Brandy Station was the site of the largest cavalry battle ever fought in North America. Fought in June 1863, the battle saw Confederate Gen. J.E.B. Stuart face off against Gen. Alfred Pleasanton in a battle to claim the strategic position at Fleetwood Hill. The 97-acre tract at Brandy Station connects two major parts of the battlefield, land that donors
Park Day participants repair fences at the Monocacy National Battlefield. Photo by Matt Brant. helped preserve from the western edge of Fleetwood Hill extending northward for nearly four miles. It also covers one of the most threatened areas of battlefield land in the mid-Atlantic U.S., as its light industrial zoning makes it a target for developers. With a nearly $5.7 million price tag, there is simply no way the organization would’ve been able to afford these 108 acres without the governor’s backing, and without the funds appropriated with bipartisan support in the Virginia legislature. To learn more about this preservation opportunity, visit https://www.battlefields. org/108AcresVirginiaPiedmont.
Gear Up for 2023 Trust Events Donor Thank You Weekend will take place February 24 -26 in Atlantic Beach, Fla. Open to all Color Bearer levels, this funfilled weekend in the Sunshine State will include tours of sites like the Olustee Battlefield, Fort
Caroline and more. Park Day will take place on April 15 at various locations nationwide. For 27 years, thousands of history lovers, families, Boy and Girl Scouts and more have come together to help keep our nation’s heritage preserved and well maintained at battlefields, museums, cemeteries and historic sites around the country. Whether you’re interested in participating or have a site you’d like to register, visit www.battlefields.org/parkday. *Note: Sites should register by March 15 if they wish to be listed on the Trust’s website. The Trust’s annual conference will be held May 18 – 21 in Franklin, Tenn. As a time for all Trust members to gather and embrace their passion for battlefield preservation, the organization looks forward to providing a diverse round-up of unforgettable experiences.
Photographs from the Original Article
Captions and credits appear in the article text as originally printed.