Blue & Gray Education Society Completes Campaign at Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site.

Every battlefield has a story to tell—and true to those words, I am pleased to announce that the Blue & Gray Education Society has successfully completed our fundraising campaign at Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site. Thanks to the generosity of individuals and organizations that answered the call, 55 brand-new interpretive panels, featuring updated graphics, will now tell the story of this significant battle. I look forward to seeing the results during Lee White’s “Fall 1862 Kentucky Tour” (September 30–October 4, 2026).

Speaking of 2026 tours, our schedule is now posted on the website, featuring a variety of Civil War and Revolutionary War programs led by some of the nation’s foremost historians. Our goal is to have all 1st Quarter 2026 tours open for registration by the end of this month. I hope to see you on the battlefield.

I am pleased to announce, after discussions with Eric A. Jacobson, Chief Executive Officer of the Battle of Franklin Trust, that Blue & Gray—together with the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area—will help fund 23 new interpretive panels at Franklin and Spring Hill battlefields in Tennessee (15 at Spring Hill and 8 at Franklin). Our share of the project is $15,000, and we are already off to a strong start with a generous $1,000 gift. By mid-September, we’ll have a fundraising link available for contributions. In the meantime, please contact me directly if you’d like to give right away.

I encourage you to spread the word to like-minded organizations. I’m calling on Civil War Round Tables, as well as Sons of Confederate and Union Veterans camps, to support this important effort. Every $50 or $100 donation makes a real difference in telling the story of the men who fought at these two key Tennessee battlefields.

On another note, I’m excited to share our Blue & Gray Education Society YouTube Channel—your home for engaging, accessible explorations of America’s past. Our content ranges from quick facts to in-depth lectures, designed for history enthusiasts of all levels. Every view, like, and subscription helps us reach more Civil War buffs and lifelong learners around the world. Subscribe today and join us in uncovering the battles, leaders, and everyday lives that shaped our nation.

Finally, a heartfelt thank you to our new and renewing members since my last update. Your support enables us to do this important work. If you have not yet joined or renewed, I encourage you to visit our website and make the commitment today. Remember, every battlefield has a story to tell, and sharing those stories is at the heart of the Blue & Gray Education Society.

As always, thank you to the generous members and volunteers who make our success possible. I couldn’t do this without you.

Feel free to reach me at (434) 770-7325 or via email at BgesExDir@gmail.com.

 Wade Sokolosky
Executive Director, BGES

 

Preservation Victory at Cross Keys, Virginia

CROSS KEYS, Virginia — The Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation has preserved the historic Union Church site at Cross Keys Battlefield, securing a two-acre parcel of hallowed ground that played a key role in the beginning of the Battle of Cross Keys on June 8, 1862. This purchase adds to the Foundation’s ongoing efforts to protect and interpret battlefields and related sites throughout the Shenandoah Valley.

Located southeast of Harrisonburg, VA, near the intersection of Battlefield Road and Keezletown Road, the Union Church site is adjacent to the recently preserved 98-acre Webb Farm and has long been considered the place where the battle began. On the eve of the battle, soldiers of the 15th Alabama Infantry took shelter in and around the church and cemetery, covering the main approach from Harrisonburg. Their early morning fight with Union forces marked some of the opening shots of the battle.

The preservation of the property was made possible through a generous bequest from Ms. Marlys Armentrout, a devoted supporter of battlefield preservation. Her legacy gift enabled the Foundation to work with the owners of Union Church, the Cross Keys–Mill Creek Ruritan Club, which has cared for the site for decades, to ensure its permanent protection.

“We are honored to preserve this sacred ground,” said Keven Walker, CEO of the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation. “Thanks to Ms. Armentrout’s generosity and the stewardship of the Ruritan Club, we can now ensure that future generations will be able to visit and learn from this historically significant site.”

Jon Oliver, President of the Cross Keys–Mill Creek Ruritan Club, emphasized the importance of the preservation effort: “By this action, the property is now preserved for the community in perpetuity. It will not be changed or destroyed.” He added, “This enables the Ruritan to do more of the same work we do every day, with other community groups, which makes the community a better place to live.”

The Union Church site will be incorporated into the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Tourism Infrastructure Plan, which includes walking trails, interpretive signage, and wayfinding improvements. New signage has already been installed at the Union Church property as part of this plan, helping visitors understand the site’s historical significance, which ties into additional signage at four other sites across the battlefield that are now open to the public.

Since 2001, the Foundation has preserved more than 7,600 acres at 16 battlefields throughout the Shenandoah Valley, including more than 1,900 acres in Rockingham County. The preservation of the Union Church site represents another step forward in protecting the Valley’s irreplaceable historic landscapes.

Another Major Victory in Prince William Digital Gateway Fight!

Preservation battles are often long and difficult – and can be focused on process and procedure as much as historic significance. That’s why, when persistence and patience pay off, the victory is all the more meaningful.

Opponents of the effort to build what would be the world’s largest data center complex, located on part of the historic Second Manassas Battlefield, scored a major victory on August 7. Circuit Court Judge Kimberly Irving ruled in favor of the Oak Valley Homeowners Association’s claims that a lame-duck Board of Supervisors in Prince William County improperly approved the rezoning for the Prince William Digital Gateway.

This ruling was on a separate lawsuit proceeding in parallel to one filed by the American Battlefield Trust and other preservation advocates. However, it focused on many of the same issues we are prepared to argue before the Virginia Court of Appeals, lending strength to our case. And a one-two punch from multiple levels of the legal system would be doubly devastating to the deep-pocketed data center companies we are fighting.

It’s also important to remember that, even if the ruling stands, it does not ultimately prevent all data center construction. Instead, it voids the 2023 rezoning vote and requires the developers to begin the process again. However, since community outrage over this development proposal and its approval process was so high, significant turnover on the Board of Supervisors may yield a more preservation-friendly outcome. With local advocates better mobilized and voters more educated about the far-reaching and cumulative impacts of data centers, backroom dealing and clandestine processes will not stand.

We are deeply grateful to the Coalition to Protect Prince William County and other nonprofit partners for their support of our legal challenge, as well as the Oak Valley Homeowners Association for undertaking their own legal opposition to this improper rezoning. The ability to have both cases considered independently has proven to be a true blessing, and Oak Valley’s courageous stand is symbolic of the Trust’s philosophy that we are always stronger working together in meaningful coalitions with members who approach the threat with their own unique expertise and angle.

Please ensure you are following the Trust on social media and subscribed to our Action Alert emails to always have the latest updates on this and other preservation battles.

Sincerely,

Jim Campi
Chief Policy and Communications Officer
American Battlefield Trust

P.S. Help us continue the struggle against the Prince William Digital Gateway and other threats to our historic battlefields. Your gift today will help us save these national treasures from the backhoe and bulldozer.

Help save 74 acres of American history

Across America, the very places where our Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War soldiers fought for our nation are disappearing.

Right now, 74 acres at three historic battlefields in Arkansas and Virginia are at risk of being lost forever to development. But if we act quickly, we can protect them permanently.

Here's what's currently at stake:

  • Pea Ridge, Arkansas – 3 acres
    This will be our first preservation here, right next to Pea Ridge National Military Park. In March 1862, Union forces secured a critical victory that helped keep Missouri in the Union. Without protection, this tract could be lost to large-scale home construction.

  • Deep Bottom, Virginia – nearly 6 acres
    Just 600 feet from surviving Civil War fortifications, this land saw six Union brigades surge forward in August 1864, two of them under heavy fire. Confederate counterattacks pushed them back across this very ground — land now targeted for development.

  • Saltville, Virginia – 65 acres

    The site of two Civil War battles, Saltville was home to the South’s most important saltworks — essential to preserving food for the Confederate army. On October 2, 1864, the 5th U.S. Colored Cavalry fought uphill under a “terrific fire” to capture enemy rifle pits. This history remains on the landscape — but not for long if developers get their way.

Once this land is developed, its history will be lost forever.

From the slopes where the 5th U.S. Colored Cavalry charged under fire, to the fields where Union brigades fought at Deep Bottom, to the ridgeline of Pea Ridge — these hallowed places must be preserved.

PROTECT THIS LAND NOW

In total, this is four tracts at three battlefields in two states — irreplaceable pieces of our nation’s story. We need to raise the final $245,500 to secure them forever.

Once bulldozers arrive, this hallowed ground will be gone forever. Please help us protect it now.

 

With gratitude,

David N. Duncan, President
American Battlefield Trust

Help Preserve the 3rd Massachusetts Light Artillery Tract at Spotsylvania

We're Almost 40% Towards Our Goal!

In May, we announced our latest preservation effort, the 3rd Massachusetts Light Artillery tract at Spotsylvania.

 

This 7.2-acre parcel is one of the last undeveloped parcels along Brock Road just outside of the Spotsylvania Battlefield Park boundary. It contains over a dozen artillery lunettes.

 

Through the generosity of the preservation-minded landowner, we have the rare opportunity to obtain these seven acres at a greatly reduced cost, thus resulting in a one-to-one match on the land’s appraised value. Yet even at its lowered price, with additional fees associated with its acquisition such as appraisals, surveying, and closing costs, CVBT needs your help to make sure this battlefield land remains undeveloped and looks much like it did 160 years ago.

 

There are several key reasons to make sure these pristine acres are saved forever. First, in doing so it will maintain the current rural condition of this historic greenspace. Second, and as mentioned above, preserving the extensive artillery lunette cultural resources on this ground highlights its importance during the fighting at Spotsylvania. Third, saving the 3rd Massachusetts Light Artillery tract helps add another piece to those tracts already saved by CVBT, the American Battlefield Trust, and the National Park Service in this immediate area, which in turn advances the process of eventually connecting them all. Additionally, this is one of the last tracts along this section of Brock Road without a modern structure on it. No demolition is needed, which would otherwise add to the expense of returning this ground to its wartime appearance. Lastly, when purchased, interpreted, and opened, this land will be an invaluable resource for Civil War enthusiasts, as well as the general public, to learn about our nation's shared past and to enjoy its surrounding nature.

 We are well on our way to meeting our fundraising goal and preserving this land forever. To learn more about this historic piece of ground, and how you can join with us in protecting it, click here.

Donate Now!

NEWS FLASH - Judge Halts Data Center Near Manassas

ABT image

By Chris Mackowski on August 8, 2025

A judge in Prince William County, Virginia, has voided a county rezoning plan that would have paved the way for a series of massive data centers on the edge of Manassas National Battlefield Park.

Prince William County Circuit Court Judge Kimberly Irving's ruling on Thursday came following a trial back in June. The suit was filed by the Oak Valley Homeowners’ Association and several local residents who live near the proposed site of the data centers.

Blake Myers, who heads the Bull Run Civil War Roundtable's preservation committee, joined ECW to explain the lawsuit and the impact of the judge's ruling.

YouTube discussion: https://youtu.be/GQ1hB_QgqP0

The American Battlefield Trust has more information about the preservation effort to protect the Manassas battlefield from data centers.

$2.8 Million Gift for Restoration Work at Vicksburg

from Emerging Civil War

By Terry Rensel on August 9, 2025

The Friends of the Vicksburg National Military Park & Campaign recently announced a $ 2.8-million gift to restore the battlefield.

The gift, from preservationist, and founding board member John Nau III, will be matched by a $2.5-million grant from the National Park Service’s Centennial Challenge program for restoration work on the Vicksburg battlefield.

The focus of the project will be the restoration of the Illinois Memorial, the most visited monument in the park, as well as the removal of a post-war building that was built on the battlefield.

“Standing on restored battlefield ground gives visitors a chance to truly understand the story of Vicksburg— not just read about it, but feel it,” said Bess Averett, executive director of the Friends of Vicksburg National Military Park. “Thanks to the generosity of our donor, John Nau III, and the partnership of the National Park Service, we are reclaiming this hallowed ground and restoring one of the most significant monuments in the country."

The structure that is being removed was once a visitor center, as well as having served as staff housing. Over a century of exposure to the weather has led to extensive deterioration of the Illinois Monument. Work is expected to take a year, and the monument will be closed to the public while the work is completed. The demolition work on the post-war building has already begun.

To learn more about this and all the work that the Friends of Vicksburg National Military Park & Campaign, click here.

UPDATED - Help Secure Preservation Victory in West Virginia

Friends,

I’m thrilled to present another preservation opportunity: for just $33,000, we can preserve more than 23 acres of battlefield that is some of the most threatened in the Valley, if not the nation!

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 you will see that every one of these acres must be preserved – especially on a battlefield that is now almost totally lost to development.

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.

Donate to Save 23 Acres at Hoke's Run!

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!

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. To date, we've raised $50,000 and are just $33,000 away from our goal! That’s it! If we can come together and raise $33,000, 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 $33,000, we can win this fight at Hoke's Run!

See you at the Front,

Keven Walker, Chief Executive Officer
Shenandoah Valley Battlefields

ABT Continues “Reclaiming” Franklin Battlefield with Latest Victory

When we celebrated our 60,000th acre saved last month, I told you our work was far from over. Much of our nation’s hallowed ground remains threatened by development, which is why today’s announcement brings me appreciation and inspiration to continue our fight.

Thanks to your generosity and support, we’re declaring victory on two crucial properties totaling one and a half acres on the Franklin Battlefield. A small parcel of land, yes. But also a critical one: this was the “warehouse tract” surrounded by land that the Trust and its partners have protected piece by piece over the years. Now, Franklin’s Charge will own, steward and restore this land to augment and unify the site.

As with other expensive Franklin projects, this work would not have been possible without the availability of matching grants from the federal American Battlefield Protection Program and the Tennessee Civil War Sites Preservation Fund (TCWSPF), administered by the Tennessee Wars Commission, a division of the Tennessee Historical Commission, State Historic Preservation Office, as well as support from local preservation groups and local government investment.

Less than 20 years ago, the Franklin battlefield was almost entirely swallowed by development. An article in National Geographic showed the world neon Pizza Hut signs looming over its monuments to demonstrate the plight of America’s historic battlefields. How things have changed! Today, Franklin is a major Nashville suburb with a thriving downtown that’s embraced its historic past. All this happening in parallel to the Trust and its partners preserving  nearly 200 acres to better tell the heart-wrenching story of this battle.

Franklin was once considered to be among the most threatened Civil War battlefields in America, but incredible preservation efforts in recent decades have saved and restored a significant portion of the battlefield. Thanks to your support, this land will be acquired by Franklin’s Charge to be interpreted for generations to come.

The Battle of Franklin 

On November 30, 1864, Confederate Gen. John Bell Hood, determined to defeat Union Maj. Gen. John M. Schofield’s Army of the Ohio before they could reach Union reinforcements Nashville, launched a massive frontal assault of around 20,000 men across open ground in Franklin.

From late afternoon into dusk, Confederate troops stormed the Union breastworks but were met with devastating artillery and musket fire. The attack resulted in more than 8,500 casualties, nearly 75 percent of them Confederate. The six Southern generals killed, with many more wounded or captured, made it greatest  loss of such senior officers in any Civil War battle. As the fighting slowed, Schofield was able to withdraw and reach Nashville, setting the stage for Hood’s final defeat at the subsequent Battle of Nashville, effectively ending the war in Tennessee.

The newly saved tracts are located just a few hundred feet south of the historic Carter House in Franklin and saw heavy casualties during the fighting. Scores of Confederate soldiers were killed or wounded on the property, and dozens of soldiers were buried there, before being exhumed and moved to the McGavock Confederate Cemetery.

This hallowed ground would be lost forever without your support. Battlefield preservation is truly a team effort, and you have our sincerest thanks. Our victories are your victories.   

‘Til the battle is won,

David N. Duncan
President
American Battlefield Trust

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.