A rare chance to protect hallowed ground in Virginia

A rare opportunity has emerged to permanently protect 417 acres of crucial battlefield land at Pamplin Historical Park in Virginia — a site with direct ties to the final days of the Civil War and the fall of Petersburg in April 1865. 

  This land witnessed The Breakthrough at Petersburg, when Union soldiers launched a decisive assault that ultimately led to the Confederate retreat, the evacuation of Richmond, and the surrender at Appomattox just days later. 

  Pamplin Historical Park is a privately owned historic site and museum, home to some of the best-preserved Civil War features in the nation — including original rifle pits, entrenchments, and historic roadbeds. It's a place where history lives in the very contours of the land.  
Now, we have a chance to expand the protection around this nationally important site — but we can’t do it without your help. 
LEARN MORE & DONATE NOW

With $660,000 needed to preserve these 417 acres, we’re turning to dedicated supporters like you who understand the importance of safeguarding our shared history.  

  And thanks to matching fund commitments, your gift today can go even further to make this preservation effort a reality. Some key facts: 

• 417 acres of core battlefield, critical to the final days of the war 

• Adjacent to our already-preserved land at The Breakthrough, creating an 857-acre unified park 

• Witnessed 27 Medal of Honor citations – plus four more on existing Trust property 

• Prompts the creation of The Breakthrough Battlefield Foundation to continue management of the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier 

Please, stand with us today and make your most generous gift to help save this irreplaceable site.

Yes, I'll Help Protect Pamplin

Thank you for your commitment to remembering the past and preserving it for the future. 

With gratitude, 

David N. Duncan, President
American Battlefield Trust

Saving History at Pamplin Park

Trust will acquire and conserve the 417-acre Pamplin Park campus and its historic features, and allow for the continued, long-term operation of the popular museum and living history classroom

Mary Koik or Jim Campi (202) 367-1861, Option 3 or news@battlefields.org
Amanda Jones, AJones@pamplinpark.org   

July 16, 2025

(Petersburg, Va.) — The American Battlefield Trust is embarking on one of the largest preservation projects in its history, a national fundraising campaign that will result in an 857-acre protected swath of land associated with one of the Civil War’s most significant battlefields. The 417 acres currently owned by Pamplin Historical Park and Museum of the Civil War Soldier have been enjoyed and appreciated for decades by heritage tourists and countless school students, but until now has not been fully protected for future generations. 

The Trust has agreed to acquire the property for $11 million. Thanks to anticipated matching grant funding from the federal American Battlefield Protection Program, which has helped protect approximately 35,000 acres of hallowed ground across 20 states, and a major landowner donation, the Trust is seeking to raise $660,000 by year-end to complete the transaction. Learn more at www.battlefields.org/breakthrough.   

“There is no denying that this is an ambitious undertaking,” said American Battlefield Trust President David Duncan, “We begin the endeavor with the conviction that our members will rise to the occasion and the certainty that future generations will be enriched by the permanent protection of this incredible landscape.”  

“This process will not only secure the battlefield for all time, but proceeds from the sale will create an investment fund that will finance the new Breakthrough Battlefield Foundation and enable Pamplin to continue operations in perpetuity,” said Colin Romanick, executive director of Pamplin Historical Park & The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier.  

Following a nine-month siege, the Union Army of the Potomac launched a massive assault on the Southern defenses southwest of Petersburg, Va., on April 2, 1865, an attack remembered by history as “The Breakthrough” for breaking those lines clearing the road to the Confederate capital at Richmond. Within weeks, the Civil War was over. 

Through a series of transactions over the course of 30 years, the Trust has acquired 439 acres associated with the Union advance and gradually restored them to their wartime appearance by removing modern buildings and other intrusions. Meanwhile, the contiguous Pamplin campus occupies a significant section of the Confederate line and includes two miles of pristine earthworks. Acquisition by the Trust and establishment of a long-term agreement with the newly formed Breakthrough Battlefield Foundation will play to both entities’ strengths: historic landscape preservation and immersive educational experiences, respectively. It will also create improved interpretive and recreational opportunities by unifying trail systems.   

The campus was assembled in phases through purchases made by businessman and philanthropist Dr. Robert B. Pamplin, Jr., beginning in the early 1990s when the Association for the Preservation of Civil War Sites, a predecessor of the American Battlefield Trust, alerted him of a development threat to land once owned by his family. Pamplin went on to acquire adjacent parcels, including Tudor Hall, the plantation home of his ancestors, and Banks House, Ulysses S. Grant’s headquarters on April 2-3, 1865. The 25,000 square-foot National Museum of the Civil War Soldier opened on Memorial Day 1999 and the park was named a National Historic Landmark in 2006.  

“I'm absolutely delighted that the Trust and Pamplin Historical Park have combined to ensure that this important educational facility will be preserved forever and continue to inspire tens of thousands of visitors each year,” said A. Wilson Greene, a founder of the Trust’s predecessor organization who went on to serve as the executive director of Pamplin Park from its opening until his retirement in 2017.

Captain Charles G. Gould of the 5th Vermont Veteran Volunteers leads his men into the earthworks defended by the 37th North Carolina at Petersburg on April 2, 1865. Don Troiani

Fighting at The Breakthrough was intense — sometimes hand-to-hand — and climactic, resulting in perhaps the greatest concentration of Medals of Honor ever awarded. Researchers at the Congressional Medal of Honor Society believe that 31 Medal citation actions occurred across the now-combined site, which also witnessed subsequent assaults on Fort Gregg and Fort Whitworth and further medals.  

“This battlefield is where courage met consequence,” said Congressional Medal of Honor Society President Britt Slabinski, who received the Medal during the Global War on Terrorism, Afghanistan. “The men who fought here embodied duty: in the dirt, under fire, when everything was on the line. This ground speaks plainly about what courage truly looks like. By preserving it, we give future generations the chance to stand where they stood, carry the weight they bore, and grasp the true cost of service. This is how we honor them — not just with words, but by protecting the very place where their legacy was forged.”  

To learn more about the fighting at the Breakthrough or make a gift to this remarkable opportunity to ensure this hallowed ground is protected forever, visit www.battlefields.org/breakthrough. 

Help Save over 23 acres of Battlefield Land in West Virginia

From Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic Trust
I’m thrilled to present another preservation opportunity: for just $83,000, we can preserve more than 23 acres of battlefield that is some of the most threatened in the Valley, if not the nation! I know you hear me say that all the time but this is different than any other battlefield property that you and I have ever worked to protect. . . and it’s all about its location. So where is this property?

Well, where during the Civil War did a rock hit a stone wall? It was at the Battle of Hoke’s Run! Although both men had yet to earn their nom de guerre, Col. George Thomas, the “Rock of Chickamauga,” and Col. Thomas Jackson, who would forever be known as “Stonewall” after First Manassas, clashed at the Battle of Hoke’s Run on July 2, 1861. It was the first battle of the war for both of them; the first time that either man had been under fire since Mexico. Hoke’s Run was the first battle fought in the Shenandoah Valley and at the time – a time when most thought the war would be over in a matter of weeks – the battle was front page news North and South.

Today, the Hoke’s Run Battlefield is one of the least known and most threatened battlefields in the entire Valley. But, thanks to the generosity of a long-term resident and the vision of Berkeley County officials, you and I can save two separate parcels totaling more than 23 acres! These 23 acres figured prominently into the battle action and if you take a look at the map that I’ve included and read through the historic sketch, you will see that every one of these acres must be preserved – especially on a battlefield that is now almost totally lost to development.

Years ago, a 36-acre parcel was preserved by the County’s Farmland Protection Board, but since then no other land at Hoke’s Run Battlefield has been protected and the area has exploded with townhomes, schools, shopping centers, warehouses and gas stations. The situation is critical, and you might be thinking, “Where was the Battlefields Foundation when all of this was going on? Why weren’t we mobilized and moving on this a decade ago?” Well, the answer is very simple: this property is in West Virginia, and we have never worked outside Virginia. When Congress created our National Historic District, it drew the boundaries of the district to include only those Shenandoah Valley counties that were in Virginia, leaving West Virginia’s Valley counties orphaned and fending for themselves when it came to battlefield preservation.

As an aside, I happened to be working in West Virginia when the District was being created and read about the effort in the Martinsburg Journal newspaper. I called the valley legendary Jack Marsh, whom I had met while giving a tour of Washington family sites in Charles Town. I had no idea at the time what a big deal he was (you should Google John O. Marsh). Jack put me in touch with the Congressional Commission that was developing the District and I actually spoke to Carrington Williams, our organization’s first Chairman, and asked him if the West Virginia counties could be added to the District. He politely allowed me to make my case and then said he was sorry to say that “that horse was already out of the barn,” and there was no way that they could amend the legislation to include the West Virginia Counties at that point. I had no idea then that I would one day work for that very same National Historic District, let alone be fortunate enough to serve as its C.E.O.

Anyway, fast forward to the last few years: with pressures increasing throughout the Valley including in West Virginia, the Berkeley County officials led by County Commissioner Steve Catlett reached out to us and asked if we would consider partnering with them to help preserve battlefield land at Hoke’s Run and Falling Waters. We immediately responded to the call and began working with them to put a strategy in place, prioritize possible target properties, and approach landowners. At the same time, we started discussing a large scale interpretation and tourism reboot for the County’s Civil War sites, and somewhere during those discussions we were looking at maps and aerial images and it was mentioned that a key parcel that was under development was actually being developed by the County and the School District as a community park. The land had been gifted to the School Board to be used as a future school site and in the meantime, officials had decided to construct a recreational park on the site with the possibility of pickleball courts, a community pool, practice fields, etc.

Right then and there, we made the ask. How about selling us that parcel and partnering to turn it into a different kind of a park – a Battlefield Park! The folks in Berkeley County are extremely visionary and great to work with – they listened to the pitch and jumped in right away honing the idea, and within an hour we were off to the races on a framework for the deal. The County agreed to sell us the 10-acre site for 50% of the value and jointly manage the park site in perpetuity. We’ll be responsible for capital improvements and interpretation infrastructure and the County will be responsible for park maintenance

and upkeep. It is an amazing deal and creates the County’s first battlefield park and our first preservation victory in West Virginia!

Within weeks, the partnership was announced and community reaction was extremely positive. So positive, in fact, that a property owner near the new park site reached out to say that he wanted to preserve his 13-acre property nearby. When we looked at the maps to locate his parcel, we were thrilled. His property was immediately adjacent to the 36 acres preserved by the Farmland Protection Board and right in the middle of the core area of the battlefield!

We met with Mr. Ressler right away and he made us an extraordinary offer. If we could raise just $50,000, he would sell us an easement on his property worth three times that amount!! As if that wasn’t good enough, as the discussions progressed, Mr. Ressler also indicated that he’s interested in eventually gifting ownership of the property as a part of his estate plans.

In a matter of months, we went from 0 to 60 and are now on the cusp of preserving two properties totaling more than 23 acres of battlefield. Here’s what we need to come up with to get this done: We are expecting a $500,000 final purchase price for the County parcel. And we know we need the $50,000 for the Ressler easement, giving us an acquisition number of $550,000. We need to add to that an additional $33,000 to pay for our surveys, appraisals, a baseline documentation report, environmental site assessments, attorneys’ fees, and closing costs. That’s a total of $583,000.

We are applying to the National Park Service’s American Battlefield Protection Program for $500,000, leaving you and I to raise the remaining $83,000. That’s it! If we can come together and raise $83,000, we can preserve 23 acres at Hoke’s Run – the first battle fought in the Shenandoah Valley! We can achieve our first preservation victory in West Virginia!

For just $83,000, we can come to the aid of Berkeley County and the Falling Waters Battlefield Association and help them save this crucial part of our Civil War History, a battlefield that is quickly disappearing – We can win this fight at Hoke’s Run!

Donation information at the bottom of this link: Hoke's Run Battlefield

Help Restore Gettysburg on its Anniversary

This week marks the anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg — three harrowing days that changed the course of American history.

  Thanks to you, the American Battlefield Trust has helped protect over 1,200 acres of this sacred ground at Gettysburg.

  Now, we invite you to step up even further — by restoring the land on East Cemetery Hill to its 1863 appearance.  
With your help, we’ll remove modern buildings, restore the McKnight farmhouse, and create interpretive trails that honor the soldiers who stood here.

Return Gettysburg’s East Cemetery Hill to the way it looked in 1863.  

LEARN MORE & DONATE NOW

On July 1 and 2, 1863, the land surrounding the McKnight Farm saw thousands of Union troops march, fight, and fall. “McKnight’s Hill,” now known as Stevens’ Knoll, was home to the 5th Maine Battery, whose guns held the line during fierce Confederate assaults. Temporary burials were made here before the Soldiers’ National Cemetery was established.

  This land is sacred — and now it needs restoration to truly tell its story. Phase 1 is underway, and we’re closing in on our $700,000 goal — with $212,000 already raised.

  Help us finish the job and breathe new life into Gettysburg.

 'Til the battle is won,
David N. Duncan, President
American Battlefield Trust

P.S. Your support today will help remove a former museum and revive views not seen in over a century — the same views that Union soldiers relied on to defend East Cemetery Hill. Give today and help future generations experience Gettysburg as it once was.

RESTORE GETTYSBURG TODAY

With Victory at Willoughby’s Run at Gettysburg, Trust Crests 60,000 Acres Saved!

I write to you today brimming with both excitement and appreciation. As we mark the 162nd anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, the American Battlefield Trust is pleased to announce that we did it! We met the critical fundraising deadline announced this spring and the 14.5 acres along Willoughby’s Run, the site of intense fighting on the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg, have been preserved forever, allowing for all who visit this hallowed ground to have a greater understanding and appreciation for this monumental battle. But that’s not all...

 Critically important in their own right, these acres will forever be a milestone in our organization’s history: in completing this transaction, the American Battlefield Trust has now preserved more than 60,000 acres of hallowed ground. We deeply understand this could only be achieved through your generosity, paired with help from our partners and local, state, and federal support. On behalf of the Trust, and the generations of Americans that will get to experience the power of place a battlefield offers, thank you.

Celebrating the victory with the Gettysburg community | Jared Herr

While we take a moment to reflect on this milestone, we are also keenly aware that our work is far from over. In the coming days, you’ll hear more about initiatives in Gettysburg, including on this property, to restore the historic landscape to its period appearance. But beyond Gettysburg, countless acres holding precious history across our country remain threatened. I encourage you to stay involved and updated with the work of the Trust as we continue this fight.

14.5 Acres Saved at Gettysburg Battlefield

Situated along the Chambersburg Pike and beside the banks of Willoughby’s Run, the most recent parcel of land saved by the Trust figured into several actions on the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg. After the first shots of the battle were fired two miles to the west, General John Buford’s Union cavalry troopers fell back in part over this tract.  The Confederate advanced brigade, made up of Tennessee troops led by General James Archer, moved over and then retreated on and over this tract under the weight of a Union Iron Brigade counterattack on the morning of July 1. 

A few hours later, the Confederates renewed their attack with two new brigades of Virginia and North Carolina troops, the former and part of the latter moving over the tract. After a stubborn fight, the Union retreated.  This parcel was littered with dead and wounded soldiers, and a Confederate field hospital may have been established on the tract. Additionally, the Confederate retreat on July 4 and July 5 likely occurred on the land now saved. 

For decades, the land was part of the Gettysburg Country Club and that institution's closure in 2007 set off a long and circuitous path to preservation. The larger golf-course joined Gettysburg National Military Park in 2010, but the portion fronting the road was not included and drew developers’ eyes. After a number of proposals fell through, it was slated to become a large apartment complex until Trust-supported local advocacy opened the door to this preservation solution. 

Today, the tract is host to a large modern building from the former Gettysburg Country Club. While Cumberland Township’s municipal building is undergoing renovations, the Trust is letting the township use the building as temporary offices, further demonstrating the Trust’s partnership with local officials. And the popular Gettysburg Day Spa operates in a historic building that would have been familiar to President Eisenhower, when he was a member. However, our work on this property is just beginning, and I look forward to sharing more in the coming days.

These newly protected acres helped the Trust surpass 60,000 acres saved | Lawrence Swiader

Our victories are your victories.  Thank you for your continued support and all you have done to help us reach this incredible milestone.  I look forward to celebrating even more victories with you soon.

‘Til the battle is won,

David N. Duncan
President
American Battlefield Trust

Still Sounding the Alarm on Data Centers Across Virginia

Last May, we were grateful to the National Trust for Historic Preservation for placing the Wilderness Battlefield Area on its annual list of the country’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places, citing the threat posed by the Wilderness Crossing development proposal and its potential influx of residential, commercial, industrial and data center infrastructure at the edge of the national park.

The American Battlefield Trust has been leading the charge against this mega-development, joined as plaintiffs by the Central Virginia Battlefields Trust, Friends of the Wilderness Battlefield, and local residents. Likewise, we’ve partnered with the Coalition to Protect Prince William County to file suit over an even-larger data center development in Prince William County impacting the Manassas Battlefield. And those aren’t the only instances: the proliferation of data centers in Virginia and neighboring states is casting a shadow over the future of our historic battlefields.

It’s the remarkable scale and scope of the threat that our friends at Preservation Virginia are responding to this week, placing the collective group of “Historic Sites Impacted by Data Centers” on its 2025 statewide endangered listing. As the report explains, the threat of data centers is not limited to just battlefields.  Further, because of the broader infrastructure needed to supply data centers with massive quantities of water and electricity, the impact on historic treasures stretches far beyond the footprint of the bleak, football-field-sized buildings themselves.

We are thankful to have strong and determined allies with us in the trenches on these fights, such as groups filing amicus briefs in support of the cases and working alongside us to advance the cause.

With renewed attention on the data center threat, I also want to offer you this update on our lawsuits.

As you may recall, in the Prince William Digital Gateway matter, a circuit court judge ruled against our case moving to trial last October. But we believe the court erred in its interpretation of state law and a county ordinance. We appealed the ruling, focusing on serious procedural failings by the county. A key point of argument is the lack of proper notice given to the community in announcing the final hearing of the rezoning process, a point also raised by a separate lawsuit on the matter. We anticipate we will have a hearing before the Virginia Court of Appeals sometime in the late summer or early fall and will provide updates once solidified.

On the Wilderness Crossing case, a similar demurrer hearing was held in March. Unlike the Prince William County hearing, the judge did not rule immediately from the bench, so the matter has not yet been resolved. A formal decision from the judge is not expected until late summer or early fall. However, we feel confident in our argument that this case deserves to be moved to trial. During the same session, the judge ruled in our favor that amicus briefs from allied organizations, including the Piedmont Environmental Council and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, would be admitted to the formal record in the case.

We can’t let up the pressure in either of these high-stakes cases, because we know they could be just the tip of the iceberg. Battlefields and other historic sites across the state and throughout the country are similarly vulnerable to this intensive and insensitive development. And we can never forget that behind these data centers are some of the wealthiest corporations in the world.  Thank you for standing with us – your support for the Trust’s advocacy work enables us to fight the good fight in defense of history.

With great appreciation,

Jim Campi

Chief Policy and Communications Officer

American Battlefield Trust

P.S. A gift toward our advocacy efforts helps us push back against inappropriate development on America's battlefields — just like we have done at Princeton, Gettysburg, the Wilderness and elsewhere. Please make a gift to support our advocacy work today!

Reaching toward 60,000 Acres Preserved by the Battlefield Trust

There are days when the course of history shifts — moments so profound they echo through generations.

July 4, 1863, was one of those days.

That day marked the Union victory at Vicksburg, the final blow in a relentless campaign to control the Mississippi River. That same day, the Confederates retreated from Gettysburg, ending Robert E. Lee’s advance into the North.

Two victories.
Two campaigns.
One turning point in the American Civil War.

Today, we are facing a turning point of our own — one that echoes the weight of that moment 162 years ago. We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to save 1,099 acres of critical battlefield land:

• 1,006 acres at Chickasaw Bayou, where Gen. William T. Sherman’s early Vicksburg efforts were repelled,
  
  

• 84 acres tied to the Gettysburg Campaign, including land at South Cavalry Field, and
  
  

• 9 acres at Brandy Station, the site of the largest cavalry battle in American history.

And here’s the incredible part: Your gift today will be matched $26-to-$1.

Your $50 donation becomes $1,350

And every dollar brings us closer to saving our 60,000th acre — a significant milestone in honoring our nation's past.

LEARN MORE & DONATE NOW

When I think of what we’re preserving, it’s more than land.

It’s the stories of soldiers who fought and fell, families forever changed, and the unshakable ideals of liberty, sacrifice, and perseverance.

You can walk this ground and feel their presence. You can see where the course of American history was shaped.

But these sacred acres are not yet safe. Some are under threat from development. Others have waited over a century for the recognition they deserve. Time is not on our side.

Together, we’ve saved fields where Pickett charged, where Lincoln spoke, and where the fate of the Union was decided. Now, with your help, we can save even more.

Make your gift today — and be part of this turning point in preservation.

Thank you for standing with us — and with history.

David N. Duncan, President
American Battlefield Trust

P.S. When the American Battlefield Trust was founded, saving 60,000 acres felt nearly impossible. Today, we are on the cusp — thanks to supporters like you. Will you help us reach this landmark moment? Your gift will be matched $26-to-$1, but only for a limited time.

American Battlefield Trust Introduces: Our Enduring Legacy

This is your moment to shape the future of preservation!

Some folks still remember the buzz of America’s bicentennial back in 1976 — flags everywhere, fireworks lighting up the sky, communities coming together to celebrate the American spirit.

Even if that moment wasn’t part of your own memories, you’ve probably seen pictures or heard stories about how powerful it felt — a rare moment of true collective pride.

Now, with the 250th anniversary of the Revolutionary War underway and America’s big birthday just around the corner, there’s another chance to spark that same sense of connection and unity. And few places are better suited to help tell that story than America’s battlefields.

These aren’t just patches of land — they’re living classrooms. They teach about bravery, sacrifice, freedom, and humanity. They show where we’ve been and help shape where we’re going — creating the kind of citizens the future needs.

But these places are under real threat. More than ever, battlefields are being lost to development — data centers, warehouses, solar farms, housing — you name it. Once they’re paved over, they’re gone for good.

We're doing something big about it, and we need your support!

The American Battlefield Trust is stepping up with Our Enduring Legacy: The Campaign to Preserve, Educate, and Inspire.

The mission? Raise $125 million by July 4, 2026 — to protect these sacred spaces and make sure their stories continue to educate and inspire.

LEARN MORE & BE PART OF THE LEGACY »

The exciting part? 80% of the goal has already been secured thanks to generous early supporters. Now, there’s a chance to be part of this historic effort — to help protect these irreplaceable places and the stories they carry for future generations.

As a central component of Our Enduring Legacy, we are creating, for the first time in our history, a Battlefield Readiness Fund.

When land at Manassas Battlefield went to auction, we had little notice. And once we won the bid, we were required to come up with money in only 15 days!

That’s where the Battlefield Readiness Fund came into play. Thanks to a few early supporters of the campaign already fueling a Battlefield Readiness Fund, we had capital available to act quickly!

This dedicated fund will give us the competitive edge we desperately need when the going gets tough. It worked this time for Manassas — but we must replenish and grow the Battlefield Readiness Fund for the next urgent action needed to save hallowed ground.

Will you be part of the legacy?

The time is now!

With the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution upon us,
we find ourselves at a turning point for our nation’s battlefields — the forces of history vying against the forces of those who wish to erase them.

You can ensure that future generations can walk this ground, feel its weight, and learn from its lessons.

Thank you for standing with us in this critical fight for our nation's memory.

'Til the battle is won,
David N. Duncan, President
American Battlefield Trust

P.S. Once we lose a historic treasure like a battlefield, it can never be fully reclaimed, and its lessons will be lost to all future generations. We need to be ready. You can make history by saving history — by giving your most generous donation today!

MAKE A GIFT TO THE NATION »

Urgent: Malvern Hill & Other Virginia Battlefields at Risk

From the American Battlefield Trust

Last month, our Chief Land Preservation Officer noticed something shocking at Malvern Hill — a backhoe clearing land for a half-million-dollar home.

  This wasn’t just any land. This was the spot where the Confederates launched repeated assaults against the Union, shaping the outcome of the Peninsula Campaign in 1862.

  That historic land in Virginia was almost lost forever.

  Thanks to quick action, we’ve secured the opportunity to preserve two acres at Malvern Hill — but we didn’t stop there. Now, we have a rare chance to save 210 acres across four battlefields that shaped the course of the Civil War:

Malvern Hill: The final battle of the Seven Days Campaign, where Union artillery fire shattered Confederate attacks, marking a crucial turning point.

Brandy Station: The largest cavalry battle of the war and the moment when Union horsemen proved they could match J.E.B. Stuart’s legendary Confederate cavalry.

New Market Heights: A battlefield where U.S. Colored Troops fought with extraordinary courage, earning 14 Medals of Honor in one of the war’s most pivotal moments.

New Market: A crucial battle in the Shenandoah Valley where young Virginia Military Institute cadets famously charged into combat.

Thanks to matching grants from government partners and generous donors, every $1 you give will be multiplied by $6.44. That means a gift of $50 saves $322 worth of battlefield land!

  Time is running out! Will you help save these four battlefields today?

YES! I WANT TO PROTECT VIRGINIA'S HISTORY

If we don’t act now, these fields — where thousands fought and died — could be lost to development, covered in new roads, houses, or even industrial projects.

  This is our chance to honor their sacrifice by ensuring that future generations can walk this land, see its rolling hills and historic landscapes, and learn about the struggles that shaped our nation.

  Please, don’t wait — make your best gift today and protect this irreplaceable history.

'Til the battle is won,

David N. Duncan

President

American Battlefield Trust

P.S. We only have a short window to act. If we don’t raise the funds in time, these battlefields could be lost forever. Your gift today will be matched $6.44-to-$1 — please don’t miss this opportunity!

GIVE NOW & MULTIPLE YOUR IMPACT

Fighting for The Wilderness: A Critical Update on Our Legal Battle

From the American Battlefield Trust….

After the Battle of the Wilderness, Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant maneuvered his Army of the Potomac further south, looking to put his troops in an advantageous position between Robert E. Lee’s force and the Confederate capitol at Richmond. He knew he was playing the long game and in the midst of bloody fighting at Spotsylvania Court House, he wrote back to Washington, “I propose to fight it out on this line if it takes all summer.”

In fighting the proposed mega development at Wilderness Crossing, I have developed newfound appreciation for the determination in those words, the knowledge that the road will be long and hard but still necessary. 

It’s been 23 months since the Orange County Board of Supervisors voted on a flawed rezoning proposal that stands to completely overwhelm the gateway to this important battlefield and national park unit with data centers, distribution warehouses, industrial development and thousands of residential units.  

It’s been 22 months, since the American Battlefield Trust, the Central Virginia Battlefields Trust, Friend of Wilderness Battlefield and several private landowners filed a lawsuit in the aftermath.  

And just last Friday we had a significant milestone in the case with a hearing on the county’s motion to see it dismissed, as well as an effort to block the admission of “friend of the court” briefs filed by other conservation organizations.  

The hearing went all afternoon and into the evening – the only member of the Board of Supervisors to attend in person exited before the judge finally adjourned. And although he did determine that those important briefs from our allies would become part of the case’s record, he did not issue a decision on whether the case would move forward to trial.  

I have to respect this approach. In addition to the hours of arguments he heard live, there are literally thousands of pages of documentation to digest in order to have a fully formed opinion. Lawyers and historians both believe in thorough documentation, after all! So as nice as it might have been to share a more decisive update with you, I appreciate it’s important to take a thoughtful and considerate approach to a complex topic.  

The judge indicated he would take at least a month to issue his written opinion. If he rules in our favor, the case will proceed to trial; if he doesn’t as with the Prince William Digital Gateway, we will look at our options for appeal.  

And so we wait, knowing that we will fight it out on this line if it takes all summer, all year or even longer. The destruction of hallowed ground through ill-sited proposals and haphazard processes is too important an issue for us to stand down.

Make a gift to support our advocacy fund

As these critical legal cases drag on, I ask you to support the Trust’s advocacy work to ensure that we continue to purchase battlefield land without any need to divert a penny contributed toward that primary mission. We fight these battles now because, if we don’t, the impact of these data centers and distribution warehouses and industrial-scale solar arrays will just continue to spread to more and more historic areas.

‘Til the battle is won,

David N. Duncan
President
American Battlefield Trust

$2.3 Million Awarded To Protect 172 Acres At Battlefields

From National Parks Traveler

Compiled from National Park Service releases.

March 21, 2025

“Nation Makers” by Howard Pyle captures the spirit of the American Revolution in this 1906 painting inspired by the events at Brandywine Battlefield.

The National Park Service has awarded $2,289,880.56 in Battlefield Land Acquisition Grants through the American Battlefield Protection Program to protect 155.39 acres at Civil War battlefields in Mississippi and Virginia, as well as 16.2 acres at a Revolutionary War battlefield in Pennsylvania.  

State and local governments spearhead the projects funded by American Battlefield Protection Program grants to protect significant battlefield landscapes that are vital to the shared history of their communities and the nation. The Land and Water Conservation Fund makes these awards possible by reinvesting revenue from offshore oil and natural gas to help strengthen conservation and recreation opportunities across the nation. 

The awards are to: 

• Chadds Ford Township, Pa. -- $1,838,388.62 for preservation of 16.2 acres at Brandywine Battlefield in Delaware County, Pa. 

• Mississippi Department of Archives and History -- $73,616.00 for preservation of 4.45 acres at Chickasaw Bayou Battlefield in Warren County, Miss.

• Mississippi Department of Archives and History -- $36,645.00 for preservation of 0.39 acres at Chickasaw Bayou Battlefield in Warren County, Miss.

• Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation -- $132,077.41 for preservation of 11.72 acres at Boydton Plank Battlefield in Henrico County, Va.

• Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation -- $209,153.53 to complete preservation of 138.83 acres at Deep Bottom I and II Battlefields in Henrico County, Va.  

Chadds Ford Township will use its grant to partner with the North American Land Trust to protect an area that was a crucial part of General George Washington’s main defensive line and site of action at the Battle of Brandywine on September 11, 1777. Washington sought to block British advances toward Philadelphia, then the seat of the federal government.

British General William Howe and his men overran Washington’s right flank while General Wilhelm von Kynphausen’s Hessians attacked American forces near the Quaker Meeting house at Chadds Ford. While the British eventually prevailed, Nathanael Greene’s rear guard held off the British, allowing the Continental Army to retreat and regroup. An estimated 30,000 troops fought that day throughout the extensive Brandywine Battlefield.  

Battlefield Land Acquisition Grants empower preservation partners nationwide to acquire and preserve threatened battlefields on American soil. In addition, the National Park Service administers three other grant programs: Preservation Planning, Battlefield Interpretation and Battlefield Restoration Grants. Financial and technical assistance support sustainable, community-driven stewardship of natural and historic resources at the state, Tribal, and local levels. 

Over 50 Acres Preserved at Second Deep Bottom Battlefield

Preserving our nation’s hallowed ground requires tireless effort and support from numerous channels, but there is no better feeling than when that work culminates in saving American history and honoring the bravery of our nation’s soldiers. 

We at the American Battlefield Trust are incredibly excited to announce 50.5 acres of hallowed ground have been preserved on the Second Deep Bottom Battlefield, located just south of Richmond, Virginia. This land is located directly adjacent to already preserved areas of the battlefield, and much of it remains virtually unchanged from its 1864 appearance. This victory expands our ability to tell the story of Second Deep Bottom, allowing visitors to have a fuller understanding of the battle. 

Without our friends and partners, our goal of saving this land would not have been possible, and you have our sincerest thanks.   

The Battle of Second Deep Bottom

As he had done in late July of 1864 during the Battle of the Crater, Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant called upon Maj. Gen. Winfield S. Hancock and his II Corps to attack Gen. Robert E. Lee around Richmond. Meanwhile, Lee dispatched Gen. Jubal Early to operate in the Shenandoah Valley. In return, Ulysses S. Grant sent Gen. Philip Sheridan to deal with Early. 

By the morning of August 14, Hancock had his men across the James River and in position to attack the Confederate lines. Gen. David D. Birney’s X Corps, detached with Hancock, found Confederates dug in along New Market Heights. Fighting in the area around Fussell’s Mill, east of New Market Heights, resulted in the Federals gaining some ground. On August 16, the Federals launched another attack at Fussell’s Mill. The assault opened a gap in the Confederate line, however Union infantry were driven back by counterattacks. 

Several days of fighting and sporadic skirmishing ensued. Eventually, both sides were worn out by the combat and extreme heat. After nearly a week of fighting and almost 4,400 casualties, Hancock abandoned the fight on August 20 and withdrew back across the James River. 

Nearly all of an attack from Union Col. George N. Macy, who was badly wounded on the first day of the battle, occurred on this land being preserved. Additionally, the 7th United States Colored Troops and the 9th United States Colored Troops marched through the land to assume a reserve position behind the main Union line the following day. Protecting this land preserves this history, creates an opportunity to interpret the United States Colored Troops' role in the battle and protects the larger historic landscape in the face of ongoing development around Richmond. 

Saving this hallowed ground would not have been possible without support from the Virginia Battlefield Preservation Fund, the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation and the American Battlefield Protection Program. These crucial grants, paired with support from local partners and your generosity, have ensured the hallowed ground at Second Deep Bottom will be cherished forever.

We can only fulfill our mission at the Trust through the stalwart support of our friends and donors. Our victories are your victories.

‘Til the battle is won. 

David N. Duncan
President
American Battlefield Trust

Help save this sacred ground at Gettysburg.

Gettysburg Preservation Update: Spring 2025

Just over two years ago, we set out to save 15 acres of hallowed ground at Willoughby’s Run, a key site in the Battle of Gettysburg. Once slated for an apartment complex, this land was nearly lost—until we secured a $3 million agreement to preserve it forever.

Thanks to generous supporters, we’ve made incredible progress. With a donor pledging to match half the cost, we raised the first $1.5 million. Now, we’re in the home stretch: just $475,000 remains to meet our goal.

This is the moment to ensure that history is protected, not paved over. Every donation brings us closer to securing this land forever. Will you help us cross the finish line?

The Opportunity 

We must work urgently to raise the remaining funds — $475,000 — to complete this preservation effort at Gettysburg before July 1 in time for the 162nd anniversary of Gettysburg.

These acres bore witness to the first moments of what would become the best-known battle ever fought on American soil. Considered by many a major turning point in the war, Gettysburg has long captivated students of history of all ages.

Tens of millions of Americans have traveled to Gettysburg to walk in the footsteps of their ancestors, to contemplate what they did there, and marvel at the flow of the Civil War’s greatest battle. No one would want to see inappropriate development at one of the nation’s most sacred sites.

This is a rare opportunity to ensure that the legacy of all those who fought, bled, and died at Willoughby’s Run will endure, to the 162nd Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg and beyond.

Donate now

The History

Gettysburg was not only the costliest battle of the Civil War but also the bloodiest battle ever fought on American soil.

If the battle had ended as the sun set on July 1, 1863, the first day alone would now be remembered as the 12th bloodiest battle of the Civil War. That’s how intense the first day of fighting was.

The violent combat at McPherson’s Ridge, Oak Hill, Oak Ridge, Seminary Ridge, and Barlow’s Knoll produced more than 16,000 Americans killed, wounded, captured, or missing.

First-hand battle accounts describe the carnage in gruesome detail and record the staggering and heartbreaking scale of human loss. The 13th North Carolina alone lost 83% of its men at Gettysburg.

One captain from the 2nd Wisconsin who fought with the Iron Brigade at Seminary Ridge later wrote:

“As if every lanyard was pulled by the same hand, this line of artillery opened, and Seminary Ridge blazed with a solid sheet of flame, and the missiles of death that swept its western slopes no human beings could endure.”

To stand on this property during the heat of battle on the afternoon of July 1, 1863, you would have been surrounded by gunfire, while your eyes would have been stung from smoke.

Situated between the critical battle arteries of the Chambersburg Pike and Fairfield Road, and bordering land preserved by the National Park Service and by the American Battlefield Trust, this tract hosted Union and Confederate movements and fighting on the battle’s first day, was used as a reserve position on the next day, and later served as or was right next to a temporary cemetery for Confederate soldiers killed nearby.

In this July 1863 Mathew Brady view, you can see in the distance part of the tract we’re trying to save, at right, looking through Reynolds Woods. Note the Seminary looming above the trees in the center (and at left in the detail above).

The initial deployments of the Union cavalry and horse artillery moved on part of the tract, while the Iron Brigade crossed it en route to its famous fights near Willoughby’s Run and the Railroad Cut. Commander Chapman Biddle’s brigades of Pennsylvania troops crossed over it again and again as they tried to move out of the path of incoming projectiles, some of which doubtless fell upon the tract.

Biddle’s brigade also retreated through this swale, followed by Generals James Pettigrew’s and James H. Lane’s North Carolina troops, and by Colonel Abner M. Perrin’s men from South Carolina.

The Land at Gettysburg Today

While preservation campaigns (including our efforts!) eventually took hold in one direction, and commercial development steamrolled on in another, this 11-acre plot stayed nearly the same for more than a century and a half. It’s in nearly pristine condition!

It’s a two-minute walk from the Lutheran Seminary. It’s a three-minute walk to the famed spot where the Three Confederate Prisoners were photographed in one of the most iconic images of the Civil War.

It’s about 1,200 feet from the monument that marks the place where Gen. John F. Reynolds lost his life, and barely 1,600 feet from Lee’s Headquarters. That’s how central this tract is to the battlefield and the first day of fighting!

Please give what you can today to help save this hallowed land.

Donate now

Your History Is Under Threat — Help Us Defend It

“We have not yet begun to fight.”

Those powerful words, spoken by Revolutionary War hero John Paul Jones, echoed across the chaos of battle when surrender seemed inevitable. His ship was sinking. His crew was battered. But his spirit? Unbroken.

Today, we face a battle of our own—not with cannons and muskets, but with petitions, court filings, and the unwavering determination to defend America’s sacred ground.

The historic Manassas Battlefield, where soldiers fought and fell during the Civil War, is under siege—not by armies, but by corporations eager to build the world’s largest data center campus.

Thirty-seven massive data centers sprawling over land three times the size of Disneyland, threaten to smother the very ground where American history was written.

This isn’t just any land.

It’s where the Second Battle of Manassas raged in 1862—a battle that saw unimaginable courage and devastating loss. One historian described part of the battlefield as a “whirlpool of death,” where entire regiments were nearly wiped out. The 21st Georgia, for example, lost 184 of its 242 men in a single night.

We cannot allow their sacrifice to be buried under concrete and steel.

And it isn't just Manassas; the Wilderness, Brandy Station and many other battlefields are also threatened.

That’s why the American Battlefield Trust has filed an appeal with the Virginia Court of Appeals to overturn the reckless decision that greenlit this development.

But this legal battle is fierce, and we cannot win it alone. We need your help in holding the line against impinging development!

Here’s how you can stand with us today:

  SIGN THE PETITION urging Virginia’s leaders to protect our historic battlefields.

 MAKE A GIFT to fuel our legal fight and advocacy efforts.

This is more than a lawsuit. It’s a stand against the erosion of our history. It’s about honoring the soldiers who gave everything—and ensuring future generations can walk these fields, reflect on the past, and understand the price of freedom.

“We have not yet begun to fight.”

Those words remind us that even when the odds are stacked against us, courage and conviction can prevail. That’s the spirit we’re channeling today.

Will you join us?

With determination and gratitude,

David N. Duncan, President

American Battlefield Trust

P.S. The corporations behind this development have deep pockets and powerful lawyers. But we have something stronger: people like you who believe that history is worth fighting for. Please donate today and help us protect America’s sacred ground.

SIGN THE PETITION

DONATE NOW

Preservation Opportunity at Rocky Face Ridge

from Emerging Civil War

Saving History Saturday: Preservation Opportunity at Rocky Face Ridge

By Terry Rensel on February 8, 2025

Save the Dalton Battlefields, and the American Battlefield Trust, are working on a project to acquire 61.54 acres at Rocky Face Ridge in Dalton, Georgia.

Photo: Save the Dalton Battlefields

The 61.54-acre property includes two artillery batteries and nine lunettes, one of which is made from stacked rock, in Crow Valley along the southeast slope of Rocky Face Ridge. The position was occupied by the Washington Artillery/Stanford’s Battery.

The American Battlefield Trust has spearheaded the acquisition, which has also been supported by the Open Space Institute. Open Space Institute is a conservation organization that has also partnered with Save the Dalton Battlefields to preserve this property, as both an historic and environmental/ conservation project. This property is located along the southeast slope of Rocky Face Ridge. The purchase price for the 61.54 acres is $677,000, and to date over $600,000 in pledges and support has been raised, with a June 2025 deadline to raise the rest.

To learn more about the American Battlefield Trust, visit their website.

For more about the Open Space Institute, click here.

To learn more about the Save the Dalton Battlefields, including on how to support this preservation project, visit their Facebook page.

Another Preservation Win at Seven Pines/Fair Oaks!

From Emerging Civil War

By Doug Crenshaw on February 5, 2025

The Seven Pines/Fair Oaks battlefield has long been considered completely lost to preservation. A key battlefield in 1862, it witnessed some 11,000 casualties, making it the second-bloodiest day of the war to that time. Joe Johnston was wounded here, and Robert E. Lee took command of the army on this ground.

During World War I, the area where D. H. Hill attacked became a production area for war materials, and supporting housing and a retail village sprung up. Today this area is known as Sandston, and more houses continue to be built. The Fair Oaks portion has also been developed. Tragically, there did not seem to be even a sliver of land available to save.

The area shaded in pink is a 24-acre tract of the Seven Pines/Fair Oaks battlefield from June 1, 1862 recently preserved by the Capital Region Land Conservancy. The site will be transferred to the Richmond Battlefields Association. (Courtesy Doug Crenshaw)

This all changed a few years ago when Vic Vignola was working on his book Contrasts in Command. Vic discovered that the part of the wartime Adams farm might be available for sale. He immediately notified Bobby Krick of the Richmond National Battlefield Park, as well as the American Battlefield Trust. The Trust quickly stepped in and saved the roughly dozen acres. This is important land… the farm was a key part of the Federal position in the Fair Oaks area on May 31, 1862.

Now another tract is being saved. The Capital Region Land Conservancy has acquired 24 acres to the east, down along the railroad tracks. It’s out of the way, but it was a significant scene of the action on June 1. On this land the brigades of Oliver O. Howard and Thomas Meagher struggled with those of Lewis Armistead and George Pickett. Howard was possibly wounded and lost his arm here. CRLC anticipates recording a conservation easement with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources before the transfers to the Richmond Battlefields Association.

This is not all that the CRLC has done recently. Just a few years ago they purchased a major piece of land at Malvern Hill, where basically the entire battlefield has been saved. It has been called one of the best-preserved battlefields in America. The CRLC has also been steadily acquiring land near Deep Bottom within the core area of the Battle of New Market Heights where the US Colored Troops broke through the Confederate line and marched on to Fort Harrison.

While land is becoming increasingly scarce, the actions of an observant individual and a team of dedicated preservationists can work wonders. Be sure to keep an eye out… you never know what you might discover!

This land is at risk, but you can save it!

If you’ve ever watched a line of dominoes fall, you know how one small action can spark something greater. History works the same way—each event shaping the next. And today, you have the power to make a lasting impact.

Right now, we’re working to save 161 acres across five historic battlefields: Fort Heiman, Fort Henry, Chattanooga, Spring Hill, and Bentonville. These lands are critical pieces of America’s story. Without action, they could be lost forever to development.

These battlefields witnessed pivotal moments during the Civil War. Here’s what your generosity helps preserve:

• Fort Heiman/Fort Henry (KY/TN): These forts were the keys to General Ulysses S. Grant’s first major victory and opened critical Union supply lines along the Tennessee River in 1862.
  
  

• Brown’s Ferry/Chattanooga (TN): In October 1863, the “Cracker Line” was established here, breaking the Confederate siege of Union troops and paving the way for future Union victories.
  
  

• Spring Hill (TN): A remarkable tactical failure by the Confederates in November 1864 allowed Union forces to escape undetected, setting up their triumph at the Battle of Franklin.
  
  

• Bentonville (NC): The site of the last major battle of the Civil War’s Western Theater in March 1865, marking a final stand by Confederate forces before surrendering. Nashville Campaign Connections: Across these battlefields, Confederate and Union forces maneuvered in ways that shifted the war’s trajectory toward Union victory.

SAVE THESE BATTLEFIELDS NOW

These are more than just acres of land—they are stories of courage, sacrifice, and the determination that shaped America.

But here’s the incredible news: your gift today will be matched $54-to-$1! This means every $10 you contribute becomes $540 to save irreplaceable hallowed ground.

We know times are challenging. But in moments when so much feels out of our control, we can focus on what we can do. Today, you can protect these historic sites and inspire future generations to learn, reflect, and honor.

Act now to save these battlefields and secure your special gift—a stunning photo book, Battlefields in Focus, showcasing the beauty and history of the lands we’ve preserved together.

'Til the battle is won,

David N. Duncan, President
American Battlefield Trust

P.S. Every dollar counts, and with this unprecedented $54-to-$1 match, your contribution has the power to transform history. Don’t miss this limited opportunity to protect these five historic battlefields and leave a legacy of preservation.

GIVE NOW

Victory! Further land saved at UNESCO-designated Fort Negley

Some preservation projects are so ambitious that they require cooperative effort from all levels of government – federal, state and local – alongside the nonprofit sector to come to fruition. And in the case of our recent project at Nashville’s Fort Negley, that’s on top of a past quest for public recognition and a pitched advocacy battle!

Nashville is a thriving city, with real estate prices to match. But when you hear the fascinating history of this remarkable 2.36-acre property, you’ll understand why so many partners banded together to assemble its $9.5 million purchase price! In addition to an approximately $4.1 million federal matching grant and $2.3 million from the Tennessee Civil War Battlefield Fund, Metro Nashville contributed $3 million for the acquisition – on top of some $12 million being put toward a master plan to stabilize the fort itself and upgrade existing park infrastructure. With such allies at the table, the Trust’s financial contribution was comparatively small, but our expertise was instrumental in facilitating such a complex and nuanced transaction.

The U.S. flag flies at Fort Negley in Nashville, Tenn. | Melissa A. Winn

Today, as we mark the 160th anniversary of the Battle of Nashville, we are thrilled to declare victory on this key project at Fort Negley, whose guns fired the salvo that signaled the start of that engagement.

Fort Negley

Built by Union forces during the Civil War, Fort Negley may not have played a decisive role in combat for control of the city, but it has become a major Nashville touchpoint in the decades since.

After the city of Nashville fell to the Union in February 1862, Black men, women and children, dubbed “contrabands,” flocked to Nashville in hopes of freedom and fair wages.

With plans to construct defensive fortifications around the city, the military was desperate for a Black workforce to undertake the backbreaking labor. These same men and women then supporting Union hospitals, built and repaired railroads and were recruited or impressed into United States Colored Troop (USCT) regiments. After the war, many of those veterans chose to remain in the area, forming one of Nashville’s first post-emancipation free Black communities in the shadow of Fort Negley.

In the wake of 1950s Urban Renewal policy, the historic fort structure – all that remained of the Union defenses that once encircled the city – fell into disrepair. A baseball stadium for the minor league Nashville Sounds was built within Fort Negley’s historic boundaries in the 1970s.

By the early 2000s, a resurgence of interest in the fort led to major municipal investment, and the opening of Fort Negley Park. But in 2014 the Sounds’ stadium was demolished, the team having moved to a new area of the city and a massive mixed-use development proposal put the historic landscape in jeopardy. The plan drew the ire of council members and local and national nonprofits, including the American Battlefield Trust and the Cultural Landscape Foundation, to lend support to the historical site’s cause. Thankfully, that project was scrapped, with Fort Negley nominated as the first American site for the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Slave Route Project in 2019.

Today, Fort Negley faces a far brighter future, with more land preserved and work about to begin on the $12 million Phase One of an ambitions master plan for infrastructure improvements, new interpretation and visitor service upgrades.

The ongoing preservation efforts at Fort Negley stand as a testament to collaborative public-private partnerships that can and should be used as a lesson in future preservation efforts. 

We can only fulfill our mission at the Trust through the stalwart support of our friends and donors and know that our victories are your victories.

‘Til the battle is won. 

David N. Duncan
President
American Battlefield Trust

Next Steps in Preserving History, Fighting Giants

The last week has been a busy one in the Trust’s ongoing fight against data center development on and around Virginia’s battlefields, and I want to update you on those developments. 

As previously shared, although we and our fellow plaintiffs were disappointed in the circuit judge’s Halloween ruling against us in the demurrer hearing related to our case against the Prince William Digital Gateway at the Manassas Battlefield, it was not unexpected.  We always knew that such a decision from a local court was possible, as many of our arguments relate to broader, statewide issues.

After consulting with counsel, our petition to the Virginia Court of Appeals was filed last week. Our attorney, former State Senator Chap Petersen, is confident in the challenge: “There is no question that the Prince William County Board of Supervisors violated state law and its own code in approving these rezonings. I am confident the Court of Appeals will recognize the merit of our case and order the board to reconsider its shortsighted decision.” 

As a refresher, our case outlines an array of legal violations that occurred during the rezoning of the 2,100-acre Digital Gateway. These range from the lack of required information about the proposed development; inadequate public notice and hearings; unlawful waivers of key analyses, submissions and approvals; failure to consider key environmental and historical facts; and unlawful delegation of rezoning power to the data center developers by not requiring they identify which portions would be put to what uses. These, we believe, are claims with merit that deserve to be heard at the appellate level.

Speaking of efforts to urge high level consideration of data center issues, on Monday Virginia’s Joint Legislative Audit Review Commission released its long-awaited report to the Governor and General Assembly on the industry’s impact on the state. The year-long research project did much to document the profound and skyrocketing energy consumption of these behemoths and how they stand to overwhelm the state’s energy grid and saddle residents with hefty utility bills.

But, despite the impact on historic resources being one of the topics that JLARC was specifically tasked with investigating, the report did not delve too deeply into the subject. Of its 156 pages, fewer than three were devoted to the issue. When battlefields are mentioned, it’s as an example of historic resources that have been and could be impacted.

The only remotely relevant policy recommendation is a suggestion that the legislature could amend state code to require a Phase I historic resource study – the most cursory of investigations – be completed for the project to receive its tax breaks. But just lines later, the report acknowledges that most municipalities do not have professional staff with the expertise to parse such a report and examine its findings critically. In those cases, a consultant paid for by data center developers could certify the results – not an ideal circumstance. It was evident from the report that more advocacy is necessary for the threat of data to battlefields and other historic treasurers to be fully understood.  

After reading the report, it is clearer to me than ever how necessary it is for the American Battlefield Trust to take a leadership role in this fight. Data centers pose a threat unlike any we have ever faced before — frankly, they make me long for the straightforward subdivisions we faced off against 15 years ago!  Our steady advocacy is necessary to ensure that historic sites, which simply cannot be moved, remain part of the conversation when data center impacts are discussed.

Make a gift to support our advocacy fund

Please consider making a gift to help us fight these monstrosities through activities at the courthouse and in the statehouse. We are up against some of the wealthiest corporations on the planet, and your support can make a difference.

‘Til the battle is won,

David N. Duncan
President
American Battlefield Trust

Just a few weeks left for this Fredericksburg tract

We are SO close to preserving this twice-hallowed ground at Fredericksburg. 

But I’m afraid we’re closing out the year with one more urgent deadline we simply must meet. 

We’ve had our eye on this property for years because we knew its enormous significance as the scene of not one, but two Civil War battles. And I’m so grateful to you and every supporter who helped come up with the down payment earlier this year so we could save this land from the bulldozer and the steamroller! 

But the year’s end is now here, and we need to raise $100,000 more before December 31st to see the first part of this transaction through.  

We must raise $100,000 by 12/31 to save twice-hallowed land in Fredericksburg.

 SAVE HALLOWED GROUND IN FREDERICKSBURG

The historic value of this land has been rightly recognized for decades, and not only by us. 

The National Park Service erected interpretive signage on Lee’s Hill way back in 1962, and this tract is in plain view of that and other Park Service exhibits. 

Yet this land at Fredericksburg is entirely unprotected and always has been. For all these years, the property owners have lived on it, but now, for the first time, the land can be preserved forever. 

I know it often feels like we are battling it out for the soul of our nation, that our history is under siege. 

But in the end, the victories we’ll secure will help to save these outdoor classrooms for all future generations while honoring those who fell on both sides, defining America’s story. 

‘Til the battle is won,

David N. Duncan
President
American Battlefield Trust

P.S. Please make your year-end gift to save this twice-hallowed land at Fredericksburg now. There’s no better way to commemorate the anniversary of the First Battle of Fredericksburg than to finish what we started and ensure this twice-hallowed ground is permanently protected!