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