Departments · 237 Articles
Preservation
The fight for the ground itself — acquisitions, easements, threatened acreage, and the trusts and volunteers doing the work.
Featured in Preservation
Massachusetts Militia Prepares for War
Long before European settlement, Winter Island was home to the Naumkeag people. The island sits in Salem Harbor and is connected to Salem Neck in Salem, Massachusetts. Situated on the western side of the harbor, it consists of 38 acres of…
All Preservation
237 articles · 2016–2026
Central Virginia Battlefields Trust
“A Man Could Have Got Almost Anything He Wanted”: Soldier Pickups on Central Virginia Battlefields, Part I By Tim Talbott Introduction
Central Virginia Battlefields Trust
CVBT at 30—A Look Back By Tom Van Winkle
The Fight for Manassas Battlefield Rages on 164 Years After the Battles
Although preservationists have fought for years to protect Manassas National Battlefield Park in Northern Virginia, a new challenge awaits: data centers. “We can’…
Central Virginia Battlefields Trust
Early Visitors to Central Virginia’s Battlefields – Part II By Tim Talbott
The Graphic War Preserve. Educate. Inspire.
The Graphic War Civil War Politics: Abolition and Election
Central Virginia Battlefields Trust The 2025 Annual Conference
Figure 2. Political Caricature. No. 3. The Abolition Catastrophe/Or the November Smash-up. (Library Company of Philadelphia.) 3. 4. 5.
American Battlefield Trust — November-December 2025
New Virtual Driving Tour of Vicksburg Transports Viewers for an Overview of the 47-Day Siege Adding to its ever-growing video arsenal, the Trust has launched the…
Central Virginia Battlefields Trust
The Mud March: Union Soldiers’ Perspectives By Tim Talbott Introduction
American Battlefield Trust — September-October 2025
Students Around the Country Visit Gettysburg Battlefield Through Field Trip Grant Program Throughout this past school year, nearly 3,000 students from New Hampshi…
Wyse Fork Battlefield Anniversary
Over the March 8 weekend, the Historic Preservation Group presented a two day tour of the recently protected battlefield of Wyse Fork. In actuality, three engagem…
Daniel A. Masters to Receive Atlanta Round Table Award
The Atlanta Civil War Round Table is pleased to announce that it has chosen Daniel A. Masters as the winner of its 2025 Richard Barksdale Harwell Award for his He…
Central Virginia Battlefields Trust “Dressing Wounds & Sending Back the Disabled”
“Dressing Wounds and Sending Back the Disabled”: Cases of Medical Care on Central Virginia’s Battlefields By Tim Talbott
America Battlefield Trust
Trust Launches Historic $125 Million Battlefield Preservation Campaign In recognition of the nation’s upcoming 250th birthday, the Trust has launched the most amb…
Spared & Shared
By William Griffing We are thrilled to welcome William J. Griffing to Civil War News with his new column, Shared & Spared. Known for his dedication to preserving…
Central Virginia Battlefields Trust Drawn to War: Sketch Artists in the Civil War
Drawn to War: Sketch Artists and the Civil War In Central Virginia
American Battlefield Trust — May-June 2025
At Brown’s Ferry and Chattanooga, the Trust is aiming to preserve 31 acres where intact Civil War-era earthworks on an adjacent preserved tract continue into this…
America Battlefield Trust Preserve. Educate. Inspire.
Sallie the Dog and the 11th Pennsylvania Volunteers By Richard C. Saylor
Central Virginia Battlefields Trust Soldiers’ Winter Quarters in Central Virginia
Central Virginia Battlefields Trust “I Am Extremely Comfortably Fixed”:
America Battlefield Trust
Trust Appeals Prince William Digital Gateway Rezoning Decision In December, the Trust and nine local residents appealed the Prince William Circuit Court’s October…
Introducing the 2024-25 Youth Leadership Team
Save 23 Acres at Shiloh and Half-Acre at Chattanooga The Trust recently launched a campaign to preserve 23 acres of Shiloh Battlefield and half an acre at Chattan…
Preservation News This & That
Preservation Triumphs: Middletown’s Commitment to Honoring its Heritage The preservation of 30 acres in Middletown, Virginia, stands as a testament to the unwaver…
America Battlefield Trust Preserve. Educate. Inspire.
Save 132 Acres at Three Historic Civil War Battlefields Demolition at Slaughter Pen Marks Final Phase in Preservation Project In late July, the Trust demolished t…
America Battlefield Trust Preserve. Educate. Inspire.
Save 278 Acres of Civil War Hallowed Ground Governor Youngkin Unveils Culpeper Battlefields State Park In June, Governor Glenn Youngkin officially dedicated Virgi…
“Gobbled Up” – Four Prisoners of War on Central Virginia’s Battlefields
“Gobbled Up” – Four Prisoners of War on Central Virginia’s Battlefields By Tim Talbott hen attempting to create awareness for the importance of saving a particula…
America Battlefield Trust Preserve. Educate. Inspire.
Wilderness Battlefield and Minute Man National Historic Park Among the 11 Most Endangered Historic Places in the U.S. Two of the nation’s profound battlefield sit…
Igniting an Appreciation for Abraham Lincoln in Children
By Jonathan W. White Historians and the general public regularly rank Abraham Lincoln as America’s greatest president. There is little doubt that he is widely adm…
American Battlefield Trust — April 2024
Calling All Volunteers for Park Day 2024! Each spring, thousands of volunteers gather at battlefields and historic sites across the nation to participate in the T…
American Battlefield Trust — March 2024
To start the new year, the American Battlefield Trust launched a campaign to preserve 10 acres of hallowed ground across three Civil War battlefields within two s…
The Pork Ration
No country in the world was richer in salt deposits than antebellum America. By 1860 the United States used more salt per capita than anywhere else in the known w…
American Battlefield Trust — February 2024
Persevering to Protect 29 Acres of Civil War Hallowed Ground in Virginia In late fall of 2023, the Trust launched a campaign to help protect 29 critical acres of…
American Battlefield Trust — January 2024
The American Battlefield Trust has launched a campaign to preserve 184 acres of hallowed ground associated with two of the most important battles of the Civil War…
Central Virginia Battlefields Trust 2023 Annual Conference “The Crossroads of Fire”
Central Virginia Battlefields Trust 2023 Annual Conference “The Crossroads of Fire” By Tom Van Winkle (CVBT President) Photos by Tim Talbott, Jennifer Michael, an…
American Battlefield Trust
Opportunity to Save 15 Acres at Gettysburg First Day Battlefield The American Battlefield Trust has launched a $3 million national fundraising campaign to acquire…
American Battlefield Trust
3.5-mile protected battlefield land corridor. This campaign also marks a first-time preservation effort at Seven Pines, where the Trust aims to protect 12 acres.…
American Battlefield Trust
Help Protect 29 Acres at Gettysburg and Second Deep Bottom
American Battlefield Trust
Veer the Trust Toward Victory, Protect 32 Acres Tied to the Vicksburg Campaign In Mississippi, the Trust recently launched a campaign to save 32 acres of hallowed…
American Battlefield Trust
American Battlefield Trust Appeals Controversial ‘Wilderness Crossing’ Development Alongside local nonprofits and private citizens, the American Battlefield Trust…
Former American Battlefield Trust leader honored
Former American Battlefield Trust leader honored by Gregory L Wade FRANKLIN, TN—Civil War battlefield preservation advocacy group, Franklin’s Charge, recently hon…
American Battlefield Trust — July 2023
Play a Part in Preserving 24 acres across Tennessee and Kentucky Second only to Virginia, the state of Tennessee saw the greatest number of battles throughout the…
Private Benjamin Franklin Rogers Is Remembered
By Charles H. Bogart At the beginning of the 19th century, Adam Rogers settled in the southern end of Madison County, Ky. Here he established a farm of over 500 a…
American Battlefield Trust
etching the Jacob Avey Farm in history. To learn more about this preservation opportunity, visit www.battlefields.org/preserve.
In the Footsteps of Early Battlefield Visitors
In the Footsteps of Early Battlefield Visitors By Tim Talbott Central Virginia Battlefields Trust preserves area battlefield land partly to ensure that future gen…
Evergreen Cemetery, Southgate, Ky. A Civil War Site Worth Visiting
By Charles H. Bogart Evergreen Cemetery is located in Southgate, Ky., at the junction of Alexandria Pike (US27) and Highland Avenue. This 30-acre park-like cemete…
American Battlefield Trust — May 2023
Preservationists Must Rally to Stop Orange County Mega-Development
American Battlefield Trust — April 2023
the state: Brice’s Cross Roads, Corinth, Champion Hill, and Chickasaw Bayou. Although the Trust has long done work at three of these battlefields, the grants are…
1861 Redoubt Preserved on George Mason University Campus in Fairfax, Va.
1861 Redoubt Preserved on George Mason University Campus in Fairfax, Va. by Carl L. Sell Jr. Preservation has been completed and the Farr’s Crossroads Civil War R…
Trust Expands Campaign to Protect 42 Acres at Chancellorsville
Trust Expands Campaign to Protect 42 Acres at Chancellorsville The American Battlefield Trust is battling the clock and hungry developers to see a preservation vi…
The Stonewall Brigade at Chancellorsville
The Stonewall Brigade at Chancellorsville by Tim Talbott Central Virginia Battlefields Trust’s latest preservation campaign involves a two-acre property that witn…
American Battlefield Trust
Calling All “Advocacy Allies” The Trust is ringing in the new year with a call to preservation allies across the country. Launching in 2023, the nonprofit is intr…
American Battlefield Trust — January 2023
evident in the more than 55,000 acres of battlefield land it has protected, the Trust encourages you to learn how you can help preserve, educate, and inspire. If…
Take a Hand in Protecting 128 Acres at Antietam and Shepherdstown
Advocates Needed to Shore Up Vicksburg Vicksburg National Military Park continues to languish; flooding and massive landslides nearly three years ago rendered up…
CVBT 2022 Annual Conference
CVBT 2022 Annual Conference For three days, September 30 through October 1, the Central Virginia Battlefields Trust presented its 25th annul conference. The theme…
The Mine Run Campaign
The Mine Run Campaign by Terry Rensel Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee expected the Union Army to move along the axis of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, as the…
American Battlefield Trust — November 2022
XII Corps, as well as North Carolina and Arkansas troops. Since 1991, the Trust has secured 11 properties on the Antietam Battlefield, a total of 463 acres of hal…
The Battle of the Wilderness – Grant & Lee: Emotions of the Mantle of Command
The Battle of the Wilderness – Grant & Lee: Emotions of the Mantle of Command by Peter R. Kolakowski In the lead up to the Battle of the Wilderness that occurred…
Emerging Civil War — October 2022
From the Editor: ECW was pleased this year to honor the American Battlefield Trust with our Award for Service in Civil War Public History. From our earliest days,…
Emerging Civil War Honors the American Battlefield Trust for Service in Civil War Public History
Emerging Civil War (ECW) is pleased to honor the American Battlefield Trust as the recipient of this year’s Emerging Civil War Award for Service in Civil War Publ…
American Battlefield Trust — October 2022
The Trust Endeavors to Protect 52 Acres in Virginia, Georgia and Mississippi As the Trust contends with a growing range of threats and skyrocketing prices, it is…
“Defending Against Jackson’s Chancellorsville Flank Attack”
“Defending Against Jackson’s Chancellorsville Flank Attack” Since 1996, Central Virginia Battlefields Trust has worked diligently to acquire properties associated…
Mackowski Receives Outstanding Service Award from American Battlefield Trust
Mackowski Receives Outstanding Service Award from American Battlefield Trust ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y—Dr. Chris Mackowski, professor of journalism and mass communicat…
American Battlefield Trust
American Battlefield Trust “Relentlessly” Seeks to Save 170 Acres Tied to the Civil War’s Western Theater The American Battlefield Trust is currently working to p…
American Battlefield Trust — August 2022
An effort that has helped define the American Battlefield Trust as a top-tier force in battlefield preservation, the largest private battlefield purchase in Ameri…
Spotsylvania’s Laurel Hill Battlefield
south of Todd’s Tavern, early on May 8, they soon began encountering more Rebel cavalry and Anderson’s rapidly arriving infantry, who were directed into defensive…
National Register Battlefield Threatened by North Carolina Highway Interchange
KINSTON, N.C.—The Wyse Fork Battlefield, Kinston, N.C., some 4,000 acres of historically significant landscape is now threatened by a proposed construction projec…
American Battlefield Trust — June 2022
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,…
The Fredericksburg Confederate Cemetery and Gravestone Project
It began innocently enough with a conversation between a sailor and a Marine. Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. Two wizened old vets looking for yet one mo…
American Battlefield Trust — May 2022
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…
American Battlefield Trust — April 2022
The Future Looks Bright for the Pending Culpeper Battlefields State Park Long hoped for by residents and preservationists, the creation of a new Culpeper Battlefi…
Virginia Governor Youngkin Calls for Creation of Culpeper Battlefields State Park
American Battlefield Trust applauds Governor’s request to create a historic and recreational park in the heart of Virginia’s Piedmont region. RICHMOND, Va.—The Am…
Smith Run and Second Fredericksburg
Smith Run and Second Fredericksburg by Terry Rensel Having been repulsed at Salem Church, and now cut off from retreating back through Fredericksburg, the Union V…
American Battlefield Trust — March 2022
the Confederate capital at Richmond from the southeast, with the Battle of Williamsburg as the first pitched battle of this offensive. On May 5, 1862, members of…
Back in Business
Back in Business by Paul T. Scott In the mid-nineteenth century, Fredericksburg, Virginia, was a thriving town with much commerce and industry. My great-great-gra…
American Battlefield Trust — February 2022
Help the Trust Save 48 Acres at Two Virginia Battlefields The American Battlefield Trust is currently working to preserve 48 acres at two Civil War battlefields i…
Central Virginia Battlefield Trust 25th Anniversary Celebration
Central Virginia Battlefield Trust 25th Anniversary Celebration September 2021 marked CVBT’s 25th year of preserving endangered battlefields in central Virginia.…
American Battlefield Trust — January 2022
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 Virgi…
From Gettysburg to the First Major Baseball League
After reading about the preservation of Baseball Hall of Famer Eddie Plank’s grandfather’s farm at Gettysburg in the July CWN, a group of Civil War and baseball f…
CVBT Preserves Land on Three Battlefields
The Central Virginia Battlefield Trust announced preservation projects on three Civil War battlefields around Fredericksburg, Va.: Chancellorsville, the Wildernes…
American Battlefield Trust — December 2021
Preservation Impact Continues to Grow at Pristine Perryville In recent years, the American Battlefield Trust has made great strides at Kentucky’s Perryville Battl…
Preservation Victory at Fisher’s Hill
MIDDLEBURG, Va.—Land Trust of Virginia (LTV) in conjunction with the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation (SVBF), who co-holds the conservation easement with…
Donald C. Pfanz Selected as Recipient of Central Virginia Battlefields Trust (CVBT) Ralph Happel Lifetime Achievement Award in Civil War Preservation
In 1987, while working as historian at Petersburg National Battlefield, Pfanz wrote a letter to several colleagues expressing concern over the destruction of batt…
American Battlefield Trust — November 2021
A memorial service for Edwin C. Bearss (1923–2020), initially planned for October 9, has been postponed indefinitely by the Bearss family. Rather than strictly li…
American Battlefield Trust — October 2021
The Trust Brings Education Efforts to the Forefront Despite amid ongoing turbulence in the time of Covid, the American Battlefield Trust succeeded in delivering i…
New President & CEO Wayne E. Motts
In April 2021, the Board of Directors of the Gettysburg Foundation appointed Wayne E. Motts as the Foundation’s new president and CEO to lead operations of the na…
American Battlefield Trust — September 2021
The Twice-Hallowed Plains of Manassas Tell a Story Worth Saving The northern Virginia town of Manassas, in Prince William County, is less than 30 miles from the n…
Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation Association’s 48th Annual Civil War Show — Success!
GETTYSBURG, Penn.— The Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation Association (GBPA), the oldest Civil War Battlefield preservation group in the nation, held its 48th An…
Eric Powell Engages Youth in Battlefield Preservation & Looks For New Experiences
Eric Powell Engages Youth in Battlefield Preservation & Looks For New Experiences The cedar trees have grown, Eric Powell thought as he recently drove by Pelham’s…
American Battlefield Trust — August 2021
Trust Commemorates 158th Anniversary of Battle of Gettysburg with Bold Initiatives To mark the 158th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, American Battlefield…
Three Cheers for the American Battlefield Trust’s First-Ever “Victory Week”
When the American Battlefield Trust announces “victory,” the term signals the completion of a long series of actions taken to save sacred battlefield acreage. The…
Where Generations Walk (Or Drive) In Central Virginia
Where Generations Walk (Or Drive) In Central Virginia by Sarah Kay Bierle “One generation builds the street on which the next will walk,” reads a Chinese Proverb,…
Chinsegut Hill—A Preservation Success
Chinsegut Hill—A Preservation Success by Bruce Allardice and Wayne L. Wolf As one approaches the stately white manor home of Chinsegut Hill it feels like walking…
American Battlefield Trust — June 2021
Save 28 Acres at Gettysburg and Bristoe Station! The Trust is currently targeting 28 acres at two critical Eastern Theater battlefields facing imminent developmen…
Salem Church Battlefield & The Lesson For Preservation
Salem Church still stands on the crest of high ground, but the scene around the historic meeting house has changed significantly since 1863 when Civil War soldier…
American Battlefield Trust — May 2021
Annual Conference Postponed for 2021 The ongoing restrictions on large public gatherings in Virginia, plus uncertainties related to the status of key facilities h…
American Battlefield Trust — April 2021
Preservation of Land at New Market Heights Honors the Valor of Black Civil War Soldiers Nearly 180,000 black men in Army units designated as U.S. Colored Troops f…
Inspired for Battlefield Preservation: Lesser Known Stories of Battlefield Medicine
Inspired for Battlefield Preservation: Lesser Known Stories of Battlefield Medicine by Paul Scott with Sarah Kay Bierle Medical military service is part of my fam…
American Battlefield Trust — March 2021
A Year Like No Other Yields Landmark Accomplishments for the Trust Despite a year that will go down in history for its unprecedented challenges, the American Batt…
The Tomb of Washington’s Mother & The Civil War
During 1862, some Civil War soldiers near Fredericksburg, Va., went out of their way to protect the grave and memorial of Mary Washington. They honored her as the…
Civil War Documents Preserved
This summer I was asked by a friend, Mary Hogan of Issaquah, Washington state, to assess and find a suitable repository for a sizable collection of Civil War docu…
American Battlefield Trust — February 2021
Humbled by Support, the Trust Reflects Upon a Year of Accomplishments Without a doubt, 2020 was a tumultuous year marked by uncertainty in many sectors. Despite h…
Action Needed to Protect Millions of Rare Gettysburg Artifacts
Pennsylvania’s Adams County Historical Society launches multimillion-dollar campaign to build state-of-theart facility to protect irreplaceable relics GETTYSBURG,…
American Battlefield Trust Launches Massive, Multi-Year “Gaines’ Mill-Cold Harbor Saved Forever Campaign”
For decades, preservation experts have had a near-consensus: a square-mile of the Richmond suburbs was the most historically significant but unprotected Civil War…
Central Virginia Battlefields Trust – Turning 25
On December 11, 1862, after a weeklong delay in receiving needed pontoon bridges to cross the Rappahannock River, Union Major General Ambrose E. Burnside ordered…
A Tribute to Edwin C. Bearss: Champion of West Virginia Battlefields
Edwin Cole Bearss, legendary battlefield guide and preservationist, Chief Historian Emeritus of the National Park Service, and decorated Marine veteran of World W…
Trust Secures Multifaceted History at Brown’s Ferry
Trust Secures Multifaceted History at Brown’s Ferry With a history that stretches back to before the founding of the City of Chattanooga, a nine-acre property nea…
Trust Pursues 49 Crucial Acres at Gettysburg
Trust Pursues 49 Crucial Acres at Gettysburg The Battle of Gettysburg has been studied time and time again, but each new preservation victory adds context to that…
Sarah Kay Bierle’s Top Ten Civil War Books
are a few suggested books for delving a little deeper into the stories and experiences of people who experienced the Civil War or who have helped preserve memorie…
Pivotal Property at the Heart of Franklin Battlefield Preserved
Pivotal Property at the Heart of Franklin Battlefield Preserved Key to park connectivity, public access, and Civil War education, a two-acre tract of land near do…
More acreage added to Franklin Battlefield
More acreage added to Franklin Battlefield by Gregory L. Wade FRANKLIN, Tenn.—Just months after “reclaiming” a critical battlefield acre near the center of the No…
History and Preservation Community Mourns: The Loss of Legendary Historian
Edwin C. Bearss is seen at his desk at his home in Virginia. Buddy Secor / American Battlefield Trust. WASHINGTON, D.C.— Legendary military historian and preserva…
For 158th Anniversary, Preservation of 278 Acres Celebrated at Shepherdstown
For 158th Anniversary, Preservation of 278 Acres Celebrated at Shepherdstown In September, as history enthusiasts remembered the 158th anniversary of the Maryland…
Longtime Lieutenant David Duncan to Replace Lighthizer as American Battlefield Trust President
Following a unanimous vote by the organization’s Board of Trustees, longtime chief development officer David N. Duncan has been named the new president of the Ame…
American Battlefield Trust — October 2020
The newest members of the American Battlefield Trust’s Youth Leadership Team (YLT) are ready to engage classmates, neighbors, and local decision makers by taking…
American Battlefield Trust — September 2020
Although many events and activities that typically mark the anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg went digital in 2020, there was at least one tangible and perm…
Emerging Civil War — August 2020
From the Editor In the preservation world, we like to tout “win-win” situations. For example, when the May 1 battlefield at Chancellorsville was preserved, preser…
American Battlefield Trust — August 2020
Despite ongoing restrictions on visiting battlefield parks and other sites in many states, the American Battlefield Trust has continued to protect additional hall…
A Passion for Civil War History, Artifacts and Preservation
Growing up in the town of Fredericksburg, Va., having forebears with military service, and my own and varied experiences led me to take the challenge of service o…
A Candid Interview with Garry Adelman, American Battlefield Trust’s Chief Historian
If anyone in the Civil War community sets the bar for excitement and enthusiasm, it’s Garry Adelman. Garry is the chief historian for the American Battlefield Tru…
Central Virginia Battlefields Trust — June 2020
Chris Mackowski serves on CVBT’s Board of Directors. 1. Why is Central Virginia battlefield preservation important to you? Preservation in general is important to…
American Battlefield Trust News
Even as we adjust to working remotely rather than in the field, the American Battlefield Trust continues to rack up major preservation victories, most recently an…
American Battlefield Trust — May 2020
Given the unprecedented impact of the Coronavirus, the American Battlefield Trust made the decision to postpone and reschedule its public events through the end o…
Meet Mike Greenfield: CVBT’s Lands Manager
Mike Greenfield volunteers as Lands Manager for Central Virginia Battlefields Trust after a career with the National Park Service. Over the last couple of months,…
American Battlefield Trust In The News
The American Battlefield Trust has no shortage of exciting programs on the horizon for this spring! Whether you are looking for volunteer opportunities, partnersh…
Shepherdstown Battlefield added to the Civil War Trails program
Civil War Trails, Inc. has teamed with Shepherdstown Battlefield Preservation Association to add their site to the popular program. The new sign is located along…
Gettysburg 157th
Battle of Gettysburg reenactment. The event will be held on the GBPA’s 146-acre Daniel Lady Farm located on Hanover Road with a large reenactment field bordering…
GBPA’s Daniel Lady Farm will Host the 2020 Battle of Gettysburg as Planned
The Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation Association (GBPA. org) reaffirms that they will be hosting and managing the 2020 Battle of Gettysburg reenactment. It wil…
American Battlefield Trust — March 2020
The American Battlefield Trust, the nation’s premier battlefield preservation organization, marked another year of leadership in the fields of historic land conse…
My Journey with Central Virginia Battlefields Trust
I first became interested in Civil War battlefield preservation when I met Clark B. “Bud” Hall in 1989 when he came to speak to our local Civil War Roundtable her…
American Battlefield Trust — January 2020
For more than 20 years, you and I have been part of something exceptional – a movement to build a legacy that will last forever. Since the first day I stepped int…
American Battlefield Trust Announces Members of Inaugural Youth Leadership Team
Ten teens from across the country will spend the next year advocating for historic preservation nationally and in their own communities. WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Amer…
Pete & Julia Brown Receive the American Battlefield Trust’s Lifetime Achievement Award
Pete & Julia Brown Receive the American Battlefield Trust’s Lifetime Achievement Award Former Marine and wife pioneered battlefield visitation with HistoryAmerica…
Allstadt’s Corner, important to John Brown’s Raid, donated to Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
Allstadt’s Corner, important to John Brown’s Raid, donated to Harpers Ferry National Historical Park 13-acre site also played major roles the 1862 Battle of Harpe…
The Preservation of Land and Memory: Remembering an Oberlin alum and rising star in the Union army
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The great American editor, Maxwell Perkins, wrote to his colleague Ernest Hemingway in 1932, “Is there any chance you will be here in October? [F…
Richard Houston Receives American Battlefield Trust’s 2019 Teacher of the Year Award
RALEIGH, N.C.—On July 13, the American Battlefield Trust named Richard Houston, a history teacher at Monomoy Regional High School in Harwich, Mass., the recipient…
Events Section — September 2019
Historic Daniel Lady Farm, 1008 Hanover St. Gettysburg, Pa. Saturday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Sunday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. In honor of its 60th Anniversary, the Gettysburg…
American Battlefield Trust — September 2019
As hundreds of American Battlefield Trust members and staff prepared to gather in Lexington, Ky., for our Annual Conference in May, I was delighted to learn that…
GBPA’s 46th Annual Gettysburg Civil War Collector’s Show
GETTYSBURG, Penn.— The Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation Association held its 46th Annual Gettysburg Civil War Collector’s Show on June 29-30 at the Allstar Exp…
From The Lowcountry — August 2019
Peggy and I attended the Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation Association’s 46th annual Civil War Show the last weekend of June. Thank you to everyone who came by…
American Battlefield Trust Honors Battlefield Preservation Champions at Annual Conference
American Battlefield Trust Honors Battlefield Preservation Champions at Annual Conference National nonprofit recognizes outstanding leaders dedicated to preservin…
Central Virginia Battlefields Trust 2019 Annual Conference
Central Virginia Battlefields Trust 2019 Annual Conference By Tom Van Winkle The Central Virginia Battlefields Trust held their 22nd Annual Conference April 5th t…
Passing on a Passion for the Past
Scattered throughout communities across the United States are small groups of dedicated individuals who strive to preserve our nation’s history. One such is the L…
Local Virginia Grass Roots Preservation Group Begins 23rd Year of Saving Battlefields
Local Virginia Grass Roots Preservation Group Begins 23rd Year of Saving Battlefields With the advent of the Civil War by the bombardment of Fort Sumter on April…
Central Virginia Battlefields Trust
WASHINGTON, D.C.—“We are trying to save land in Virginia where boys from Rochester fought, and in some cases were captured, wounded, or killed,” said Tom Van Wink…
Preservation of Major Phillip Preston Johnston’s Uniform
Preservation of Major Phillip Preston Johnston’s Uniform By Jessica Hack Major Phillip Preston Johnston (1840–1925) was a Confederate Army veteran who served in t…
Battlefields Foundation Announces Preservation Victory at McDowell Battlefield
Battlefields Foundation Announces Preservation Victory at McDowell Battlefield Property Includes Site Where Neighbor Fought Neighbor During Battle in the Mountain…
“Fall Farm Skirmish” a Successful Harvest for GBPA
Capping a 2018 season that saw a reduction in the number and size of reenactments generally, the Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation Association successfully buck…
High School Students Help Rehabilitate Part of Chancellorsville Battlefield
High School Students Help Rehabilitate Part of Chancellorsville Battlefield CHANCELLORSVILLE, Va.—Central Virginia Battlefields Trust (CVBT) held is fifth annual…
CVBT’s Acquisition of Myer’s Hill
CVBT’s Acquisition of Myer’s Hill By Thomas Van Winkle President, Central Battlefields Trust While the 1864 battle of Spotsylvania Court House is best known for t…
Ball Supports Gettysburg National Military Park Preservation
Ball Supports Gettysburg National Military Park Preservation GETTYSBURG, Penn.—The 30th Annual National Civil War Ball was held at the Gettysburg Eisenhower Hotel…
The Civil War Returns to Sidney, Ohio
Sidney, Ohio’s, Civil War Living History Weekend returned to the community’s 220 acre Tawawa Park the weekend of Sept. 15-16. The heavily wooded park, complete wi…
New Tennessee Veterans Place of Honor adjoins Parker’s Crossroads Battlefield Park
By Gregory L. Wade PARKER’S CROSSROADS, Tenn.—A new acre Tennessee veterans cemetery situated on the greater Parker’s Crossroads Battlefield has been officially o…
Stonewall Jackson’s Legacy Still Embraced at Ellwood
Ellwood was built by William Jones circa 1790 on 5,000 acres. It was, and still is, a quiet farm. Only two families have owned Ellwood in its 200-year plus histor…
Legendary Historian Edwin C. Bearss Recognized For Lifetime Achievements By American Battlefield Trust
NEWPORT NEWS, Va.— Edwin Cole Bearss, chief historian emeritus of the National Park Service, was presented the American Battlefield Trust’s inaugural Lifetime Ach…
American Battlefield Trust Reaches Historic Milestone: 50,000 Acres Of Hallowed Ground Saved!
WASHINGTON, D.C.—With its acquisition of 13 acres at Cedar Creek in Virginia’s picturesque Shenandoah Valley, the American Battlefield Trust has reached a histori…
Preservation Group Forms American Battlefield Trust
The Civil War Trust, a national nonprofit preservation group recognized for its success in saving battlefield land, has formed the American Battlefield Trust, a n…
News Briefs — July 2018
Vermont Legislature backs GBPA Letterman Preservation Drive GETTYSBURG, Penn.— The Vermont House of Representatives and Senate have formally adopted a resolution…
Civil War Events — July 2018
A major annual fundraiser for the Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation Association, the show is expected to again feature more than 200 vendors and better than 300…
Battlefields Foundation Announces Preservation Victory at Clinedinst-Crim Property on the New Market Battlefield
NEW MARKET, Va.—One of the most iconic parts of the New Market Battlefield is now forever preserved. On Friday, May 25, the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundat…
The Civil War Trust Receives 2018 Friend Of History Award from The Organization Of American Historians
BLOOMINGTON, Ind.— During its annual meeting in Sacramento, California, the Organization of American Historians (OAH) presented the Civil War Trust with their pre…
Civil War Preservation Ball Exceeds $100k Landmark
GETTYSBURG, Penn.—The 15th annual Civil War Preservation Ball held March 10 put the total amount of money raised for the Pennsylvania Gettysburg Monuments Project…
Virginia Preservation Organizations and Civil War Trust Save Unique Civil War Site In Culpeper County
Foundation, state agency, and national nonprofit work together to protect Hansbrough’s Ridge, an unparalleled historic and natural treasure in Virginia’s pictures…
Virginia Park Preserves Sailor’s Creek Battlefield
The deeds of American soldiers who fought in the Civil War are commemorated at National Battlefields, National Military Parks, National Battlefield Parks, Nationa…
Letters To The Editor
TO THE EDITOR: Hi Jack, My thanks to you and your staff for sending me several copies of the April 2018 Civil War News featuring the Kettle Creek Preservation sto…
Central Virginia Battlefields Trust Preserves Significant Spotsylvania Battlefield Land
May 7, 1864, after intense fighting in the Wilderness, both Generals Lee and Grant faced each other, neither having accomplished their goals. Grant failed to dest…
6th NC Belt Buckle
Dear Mr. Sexton: I recently recovered a “6th Inf / NC. S.T.” Belt Plate in Forsyth County, N.C., Feb. 20, 2018. I would like to know more about this relic and wha…
15th Annual Civil War Preservation Ball
HARRISBURG, Pa.—The 15th Annual Civil War Preservation Ball was held in the rotunda of the Pennsylvania Capitol Building in Harrisburg on Saturday, March 10. The…
Pristine Battlefield Preserved by State of Georgia
This brigade, in two lines, was then pushed forward to attack the enemy, the other troops not moving. After skirmishing about 800 yards, the front line came upon…
Civil War Trust’s Path to Preservation
The Civil War Trust and our members have saved 48,000 acres in 24 states! From the Civil War Trust In the three defining wars of America’s first century, women ha…
Battlefields Foundation Announces Preservation Victory at New Market Battlefield
NEW MARKET, Va.—The Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation announced the preservation of 13.5 acres of core battlefield at New Market—the first step of a multi…
White House Of The Confederacy Bicentennial Programs Focus On 200 Years Of History, Preservation
RICHMOND, Va.—The White House of the Confederacy observes its bicentennial in 2018. Throughout the year, programs and activities will focus on the structure’s ric…
One Mile of James River and 181 Acres Protected at River’s Bend
RICHMOND, Va.—The path of the James River takes many twists and turns along its 348mile journey from the Allegheny Mountains to the Chesapeake Bay yet only one pl…
Central Virginia Battlefields Trust organizes an Annual Youth Day
FREDERICKSBURG, Va.— While many of their peers slept in, a group of 20 students decided to wake up early and brave freezing temperatures to help preserve a local…
The Slaughter Pen Farm Reenactment in Fredericksburg
The Slaughter Pen. The name is a stark reminder of what took place on this 208-acre, level piece of land a short distance south of Fredericksburg, Va. With little…
Letters To The Editor
Addition to the article “Save Camp Letterman” in the Jan. 2018 issue on page 5. Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation Association (GBPA) is working with two develop…
Bullet Ridded Battle of Franklin Structure Restoration Celebrated
FRANKLIN, Tenn.—A small frame building central to the fighting at the Battle of Franklin has been preserved after a fundraising effort by the Battle of Franklin T…
U.S. 1861 Clean-out Screw
More black powder muskets have been ruined by neglect than all other reasons combined. Cleaning and oiling your musket is necessary to both preserve it and to con…
Fort Sumter–Fort Moultrie Adopt-A-Cannon Celebration
CHARLESTON, S.C.—On Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017, a celebration was held at Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor to recognize a major gift of $200,000 to preserve six of the…
Artillery Placed on the Franklin Battlefield
FRANKLIN, Tenn.—Three replica artillery pieces were dedicated on the Franklin Battlefield over the Veterans Day weekend after the local preservation group, Frankl…
Writing the History of Battlefield Preservation
By Bob Zeller One startling telephone interview stands above the countless other memorable moments that came my way as I researched and wrote Fighting The Second…
The “Lost Cause” is Real Now
By Ben Windom The recent events in the news has rekindled the common narrative that Southerners have told for over one hundred years, that the South was fighting…
Statement From The Civil War Trust
The Civil War Trust has zero tolerance for the violence and hatred that was recently on display in Charlottesville. As a nonpartisan historic preservation organiz…
N-SSA Northwest Territory members help “Save the Flags”
LANSING, Mich.—Every year unit commanders of the North-South Skirmish Association’s Northwest Territory select a historically-based project and donate $1,000 to t…
‘Admiral’ Forrest and his Horsemen
‘Admiral’ Forrest and his Horsemen By Joan Wenner, J.D. Some years ago a dedicated group of preservationists in Tennessee, “Raise the Gunboats, Inc.”, retrieved a…
National Preservation Groups Join Interior Secretary Zinke For Battlefield Announcements At Antietam
Preservation News From Civil War Trust National Preservation Groups Join Interior Secretary Zinke For Battlefield Announcements At Antietam Civil War Trust and Na…
Central Virginia Battlefield Trust Acquires Key Property in Jackson Flank Attack Sector
Central Virginia Battlefield Trust Acquires Key Property in Jackson Flank Attack Sector Central Virginia Battlefields Trust has recently acquired a property close…
Ralph B. Vincent 1939–2017.
Ralph B. Vincent 1939–2017. Civil War Preservationist, Friends of President Street Station Inc. and a Founder of the Baltimore Civil War Museum. Ralph was born in…
From The Lowcountry — August 2017
By Jack Melton We had a great time on our trip to Gettysburg for the Civil War show presented by the Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation Association in June. We a…
Civil War Trust Announces Annual Battlefield Preservation Awards
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.— During an annual gathering of its members in Chattanooga last week, Civil War Trust president James Lighthizer recognized some outstanding lea…
Civil War Trust Preserves 37 Acres on Barlow’s Knoll at Gettysburg Battlefield
Civil War Trust Preserves 37 Acres on Barlow’s Knoll at Gettysburg Battlefield Thanks to the generosity of Civil War Trust members, nearly 1,000 acres of hallowed…
Civil War Events July-Sept.
44rd Annual Civil War Collectors’ Show, Al1Star Expo Hall at Eisenhower Inn. Gettysburg. Saturday 10-5, Sunday 9-2. Sponsored by Gettysburg Battlefield Preservati…
Forgotten Montgomery, Illinois Civil War Veterans Honored
MONTGOMERY, Ill.—The Philip H. Sheridan Camp #2, Illinois Department of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW), in conjunction with the Montgomery Hi…
Civil War Trust And Cleco Join With Louisiana To Preserve 14.5 Acres At Historic Mansfield Battlefield
Cleco donation protects hallowed ground associated with the last major battle fought in Louisiana during the American Civil War MANSFIELD, La.—At a news conferenc…
The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln
“To the people of Lincoln’s home town, the preservation of his works and the memory of his deeds, not in idolatry but in honest fact, is an enduring monument, bet…
Shenandoah Valley preservationists join the Civil War Trust to announce the protection of 73 acres of hallowed ground at Kernstown battlefield
WINCHESTER, VA.—During ceremonies this morning at Kernstown battlefield, the Civil War Trust joined with Shenandoah Valley preservation leaders to announce the pr…
Donations Needed For Signage
The River Line Historic Area, the group charged with protecting, preserving, and interpreting the Chattahoochee River Line, needs your donations to replace the we…
Tennessee Becomes First State To Guarantee Annual Funding For Civil War Site Preservation
Preservation News From Civil War Trust Tennessee Becomes First State To Guarantee Annual Funding For Civil War Site Preservation NASHVILLE, TENN.–At a news confer…
Charleston Forts Adopt-A-Cannon Conservation Project
Charleston Forts Adopt-A-Cannon Conservation Project CHARLESTON, S.C.—Fort Sumter-Fort Moultrie Trust’s biggest news of the year: Adopt-ACannon is now funded—than…
Second Annual Preservation Ball
STAUNTON, VA. — The Shenandoah Valley Civil War Era Dancers hosted their 2nd Annual Hallowed Ground Preservation Ball on January 21 in Staunton, Virginia. Joining…
Preservation News From Civil War Trust — March 2017
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Civil War Trust, America’s premier battlefield preservation organization, has announced the conclusion of another year of historic land conse…
Dalton’s Battlefield Preservation Efforts Are Rewarding
Whitfield County, Georgia, is the home to more Civil War earthworks than any other county in the Nation. On October 29, 2016, Whitfield County, in conjunction wit…
Lincoln Forum Presents Annual Achievement Awards To James I. “Bud” Robertson And The Gettysburg Foundation
GETTYSBURG, NOV. 18, 2016—The Lincoln Forum has presented its coveted annual achievement awards to a revered Civil War historian and a respected battlefield prese…
Gettysburg’s Remembrance Day Weekend
The Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation Association saluted another successful year and looked ahead to 2017 at its annual membership dinner Nov. 18 at the Dobbin…
Congress Approves Major Expansion Of Petersburg National Battlefield
Legislation authorizes the expansion of Petersburg National Battlefield by more than 7,000 acres, potentially making the battlefield one of the largest national h…
Civil War Trust Preserves 355 Acres At Chancellorsville And Wilderness Battlefields
SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY, VA.–The Civil War Trust declared victory on a 355-acre property associated with the 1863 Battle of Chancellorsville and the 1864 Battle of th…
Battle Of Franklin, Tenn. 152nd Anniversary Observance
Battle of Franklin Trust CEO Eric Jacobson reads names of casualties. He is standing in front of a the Carter Farm house kitchen which still bears scars from the…
Southern Historical Society Papers
Northern effort to write a biased history of the war, the society maintained its focus on the original goal as established in New Orleans, “…the collection and pr…
Franklin Symposium Studies Pivotal Battle
Franklin Symposium Studies Pivotal Battle By Gregory L. Wade FRANKLIN, TENN.—The Battle of Franklin Trust (BOFT) recently hosted a symposium called, “The Battle o…
Restoration Of Gen. Lee's Headquarters At Gettysburg Completed
Preservation advocates join Trust to announce successful conclusion of an unprecedented campaign to preserve, restore and interpret Gen. Robert E. Lee’s headquart…
Dedication Time Change For George Lomas Memorial Ceremony
GETTYSBURG, PA.—The Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation Association has changed the time for the dedication of a stone marker in memory of George Lomas at the His…
Civil War Trust Preserves 25 Acres At Fredericksburg Battlefield
In September 2016, the Civil War Trust declared victory on 25 acres associated with the 1862 Battle of Fredericksburg. This latest preservation success story was…
Civil War Trust Preserves 70 Acres at Perryville Battlefield
In summer 2016, the Civil War Trust declared victory on three properties totalling70-acres associated with the historic 1862 Perryville battlefield. This latest p…
East Meets West Labor Day Event
GETTYSBURG, Pa.—This Labor Day weekend, a very unique event is coming to the Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation Association’s Historic Daniel Lady Farm. Unusual,…
Civil War Trust Honors Preservation Champions At Conference
Civil War Trust Honors Preservation Champions At Conference GETTYSBURG, Pa.—During an annual gathering of its members in Gettysburg earlier this month, the Civil…
Civil War Heritage Preservation National Competition
FORT SHENANDOAH, Va.— The North-South Skirmish Association will hold its 134th National Competition October 7-9, 2016 at Fort Shenandoah near Winchester, Virginia…
Why The Confederacy?
This article discusses one aspect of the Myth of the Lost Cause – whether secession and the Confederacy were the result of concerns for promoting states’ rights o…
Trust Hosts Annual Conference; Retired CWN Editor Is Honored
GETTYSBURG, Pa. — Civil War Trust’s annual conference in early June celebrated a great year for the Trust and a sterling moment for the Civil War News. Declaring…
The Devil And His Imps
“General, I’ve got them! I haven’t counted them, but I have a ten acre lot full.” Confederate Col. John Scott In August of 1862, Confederate Gen. Edmund Kirby Smi…
Paging Through — August 2016
We are always accepting articles on historical artifacts, new discoveries, shows, current events, reenactments and living history programs, awards, presentations,…
43rd Annual Gettysburg Artifacts And Collectibles Show Largest Yet
GETTYSBURG, Pa.— The Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation Association depends on its Artifacts and Collectibles Show as its major fundraiser each year, and June’s…
Tennessee Civil War Preservation Association Presents Annual Awards
The Tennessee Civil War Preservation Association (TCWPA) recently held its annual recognition and business meeting at the Carnton Plantation in Franklin, Tennesse…
GBPA Targets Greatest Threat To Hallowed Ground In Years
GETTYSBURG, PA.—Calling it the greatest threat to the hallowed ground of the Gettysburg battlefield in many years, if not decades, at a May 18 news conference at…
Civil War Trust – Battlefield Restoration at Lee’s Headquarters
Civil War Trust – Battlefield Restoration at Lee’s Headquarters The Civil War Trust moves forward with its restoration of a key portion of the Gettysburg Battlefi…
Historic Wagon Road Preserved In Blue Ridge, Penn.
BLUE RIDGE, Penn.—The Monterey Pass Battlefield Museum in Blue Ridge, PA, opened for the season on April 16th. Traffic at the museum was busy early Saturday morni…
Controlled Burn At Gettysburg
GETTYSBURG, Pa.—On April 18, Gettysburg park staff conducted a controlled burn on 36 acres at Lee’s Headquarters near Wheatfield Road and Sedgwick Avenue just nor…
Demolition Begins At Gettysburg Lee’s Headquarters Site
GETTYSBURG, Pa.—The Civil War Trust completed interior cleanup work and began exterior demolition of non-historic buildings on the “Lee Headquarters” site on Cham…
Civil War Trust News
FRANKLIN, Tenn.—James Lighthizer, President of the Civil War Trust, recently attended a dinner in Franklin, Tennessee celebrating the purchase of 1.6 acres consid…
United Kingdom CWRT Donates $500 To SHAF
LONDON, England — ACWRTUK announces $500 gift to Save Historic Antietam Foundation Many Civil War Round Tables around the U.S. regularly donate to preservation ca…
President Lincoln’s Cottage To Become An Autonomous Museum
President Lincoln’s Cottage To Become An Autonomous Museum WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Lincoln’s Cottage, which opened to the public in 2008 under the National T…
Battlefield Of Franklin Land Preservation Purchase
FRANKLIN, Tenn. — What is considered the bloodiest acreage in the Nov. 30, 1864, Battle of Franklin is now being reclaimed as part of the evolving Carter Hill Bat…
Trust Raising $145,700 For Appomattox Acreage
WASHINGTON — When $147,500 in donations is raised to buy three properties totaling 202 acres, the Civil War Trust will have “very nearly completed the preservatio…
The List
Preservation News By Dr. David Evans
SVBF Seeks Funds For 23 Acres At McDowell
SVBF Seeks Funds For 23 Acres At McDowell NEW MARKET, Va. — The Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation (SVBF) is raising funds to buy 23 acres of core McDowell…
Lee’s HQ Restoration Is Under Way
The Civil War Trust recently started work at its Lee’s Headquarters property in Gettysburg. Demolition of the motel, at left, will begin after asbestos is removed…
Civil War Trust Reports Banner 2015
WASHINGTON — The Civil War Trust reported that it protected nearly 1,700 acres of land in 13 states during 2015. Its four-year capital campaign raised $52.5 milli…
Capt. Tod Carter’s Pass Returns Home
By Gregory L. Wade FRANKLIN, Tenn. — The recent “discovery” of an artifact important to the story of the Battle of Franklin is proof there are still incredible pi…
CW Trust Needs $296K By Early April
CW Trust Needs $296K By Early April WASHINGTON — The Civil War Trust seeks $296,500 in donations by the April 5 closing on the 25acre Meade’s Breakthrough tract a…
24 Tom’s Brook Acres Saved
24 Tom’s Brook Acres Saved The Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation (SVBF) purchased 24 acres, shown in yellow, at the core of Tom’s Brook Battlefield in She…