The American Battlefield Trust-- Part 2: From APCWS to CWT to AMT

A second non-profit battlefield presentation group, the Civil War Trust, was created in 1991.  This group was able to acquire and preserve 6,700 acres of land in the eight years of its existence.

On November  19, 1999, the APCWS and Civil War Trust merged to form a single organization, the Civil War Preservation Trust.to streamline and  strengthen efforts.  On January 11, 2011, the name was shortened to just the Civil War Trust (CWT)

On Veterans Day, November 11, 2014, the CWT partnered with the Society of Cincinnati (hereditary group of officers of the Continental Army) to save endangered American Revolution and War of 1812 battlefields.

So, Now You Know.  --Old Secesh

The Civil War Trust Is Now the American Battlefield Trust

As alluded to in the last post, the Civil War Trust has expanded its scope to saving battlefields from the American Revolution and the War of 1812.  As such, it has changed its name to the American Battlefield Trust.

All battlefields are sacred and worthy of saving as much as possible.

So, Welcome ABT.  --Old SeceshTrust

Good News for the Battle of Bentonville-- Part 3

Development does pose a problem at Bentonville because of its close proximity to I-95 and I-40. The two counties, Johnston and Wayne have grown a lot in the past 50 years.

The federal Civil War Sites Advisory Commission says the battle had "a decisive influence on a campaign and a direct impact on the course of the war." This combination of historic significance and pending threat has earned Bentonville a Priority I, Class A rank, the highest possible designation for really important and threatened sites.

The Civil War Trust (formerly Civil War Preservation Trust) is the largest nonprofit battlefield preservation organization in the United States. Its goal is to protect the battlefields and to promote education and heritage tourism. So far, the organization has preserved more than 32,000 acres of battlefield land in twenty states, 1,919 in North Carolina.

www.civilwar.org.

Always Happy to See More Land Saved. --Old Secesh

Good News at the Battle of Bentonville-- Part 2

The Battle of Bentonville was fought in Johnston County, near Goldsboro, North Carolina March 19-21, 1865, and is regarded as the Confederate Army's "Last Stand in the Carolina." The loss here as well as Lee's surrender at Appomattox a few weeks later caused Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston to surrender April 26th.

Fighting raged over 6,000 acres, the largest battle in North Carolina and more than 4,500 casualties on both sides.

What makes Bentonville even more important is the miles or original trenches and the fact that most of the battle took place in a largely rural, agricultural area. It is estimated that the thousands of visitors annually to the site spend $7 million in Johnston County tourism.

In this most recent addition, nine properties were bought, each adjacent to previously acquired lands for a total of 1,435 acres.

More to Come. --Old Secesh

Good News at the Battle of Bentonville

From the March 21st Goldsboro (NC) News-Argus "Bentonville battle site to grow thanks to grant from N.C. Heritage Trust."

Well actually, also thanks to the group I belong to, the Civil War Trust (until a short time ago, The Civil War Preservation Trust). Now, this is always great news to hear that some Civil War battleground land has been saved.

The Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site will be adding another 120 acres thanks to the two afore-mentioned organizations. The NC Natural Heritage Trust Fund has given a $350,000 grant and that will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Civil War Trust. With this new addition, the site will expand to 1,435 acres.

I imagine this will mean a request for money to the CW Trust members. I always give when the site has something to do with North Carolina or coastal operations.

More to Come. --Old Secesh

Fort Fisher Looking for Park Day Volunteers

From the March 9th Wilmington (NC) Star-News.

From 8:30 to 1 pm Saturday, April 2nd, volunteers are needed to help beautify and preserve Fort Fisher.

Park Day is in its 15th year and created by the Civil War Preservation Trust organization. Costs are funded by History (former History Channel) and endorsed by the Take Pride in America, a division of the US Department of the Interior. (Park Day also takes place at Civil War sites all over the country.)

Volunteers, age 10 and up participate and it is appropriate for scouts, service clubs and church groups.

At noon, volunteers will be treated to lunch provided by the Friends of Fort Fisher, a non-profit group.

Maybe they will get Britt's Donuts!!!

Let's Go Clean Up That Fort. --Old B-Runner

Saving More of Bentonville Battlefield-- Part 4

In the newsletter, there was a quote from Private R.J. Heath of the 34th Illinois who was at the battle.

"I was there [Bentonville] with a regiment that had faced Beauregard at Shiloh and Bragg at Stones River; that had participated in nearly every battle of the Army of the Cumberland...but for desperate valor on the part of the rebels, and for a desperate resistance...of our own men we saw nothing in four years of army life to compare with...Bentonville."

He was not alone. In hundreds of letters, diaries and reports, men on both sides testified to the extreme ferocity of the three-day 1865 battle:

"...we heard the bullets whistling their death song..."

"...like one continuous peal of heavy thunder..."

"...all agree it was one of the hottest places we were ever in..."

By this late date, under the circumstances with Confederate forces retreating everywhere in the face of huge numbers of Federals sweeping across what was left of the Confederacy and Lee in a death lock with Grant at Petersburg, it is a wonder that the southerners would have put up such a courageous resistance.

Quite the Battle Even If It Is Sort of Unknown. --B-R'er

Saving More of Bentonville Battlefield-- Part 3

You can visit the CWPT's website at www.civilwat.org/bentonville10. for more information.

They have a special four pages of maps for the purchase. The first day map, showing the first day of fighting, shows that the CWPT is saving part of the land on which the "Last Grand Charge of the Army of the Tennessee" occurred.

On the second day map, it shows the CWPT's attempt to save surviving remnants of earthworks.

Then, the third day map shows land the organization wants to acquire where Gen Johnston had to flee on foot, narrowly missing being captured by Federal forces.

The cost for the 240 acres comes out to about $3,152 an acre.

Here's Hoping Enough Money Will Be Raised for These 240 Acres as Well As the Legacy Campaign. --Old B-Runner

Saving More of Bentonville Battlefield-- Part 2

The Civil War Preservation Trust (CWPT) has already saved 906 acres so this new 240 acres will bring the total to 1,146. Plus, the State of North Carolina has saved 334 acres. According to CWPT, this total makes Bentonville one of the best preserved battlefields in the nation.

Back on March 19-21, 1865, Confederate General Joseph "Old Joe" Johnston fought Union General William "Billy" Tecumseh Sherman in one last attempt to stop US progress across the Carolinas.

In addition, the purchase will set in motion an 18-month CWPT "North Carolina Legacy Campaign which will have a total of 455 acres saved at Bentonville and Wyse Fork Battlefield in Kinston.

In the Legacy Campaign there are thirteen different properties under contract or working on contract with a total cost of $2,206,700.

Bentonville is rated a Priority I.I, Class A by Congress which means it is one of the eleven most important pieces of hallowed ground in America that need to be urgently preserved.

Not Through Yet. --Old B-Runner

Saving More of Bentonville Battlefield

I belong to the Civil War Preservation Trust (CWPT) where I put my money where my mouth is. I pay my dues and every so often donate extra money to battlefield acquisition, especially if it involves my birth state of North Carolina. I figure that if you are a Civil War buff, you should not only write, research and read about the war, you should actively support efforts to save as much as you can while you still can.

At the end of June, the CWPT's President James Lighthizer sent a letter informing us of the Trust's latest project to save 240 acres of Bentonville Battlefield. These acres are in four separate parcels. And, even better, every dollar I donate will be matched by a grant the Trust has arranged so its doubling my bucks.

My donation won't be a lot, $50 to be exact, but every little bit helps.

Maybe they can purchase some acres where they can have the 150th anniversary re-enactment in a place where visitors can ACTUALLY SEE IT.

This Fifty Bucks Is For You, Bentonville. --Old B-Runner

Most Endangered-- Part 3: Gettysburg and Monocacy

The Civil War Preservation Trust's Most-Endangered Battlefields List, continued


GETTYSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA-- July 1-3, 1863

THREAT: Many historical significant sites are still outside boundaries of the military park. A Comfort Suites Motel under construction on Cemetery Hill adjacent to Evergreen Cemetery.

Gettysburg Country Club, site of Confederate attacks on McPherson Ridge, has gone bankrupt. Who knows what will be built there.


MONOCACY, MARYLAND-- July 9, 1864

Officials in Frederick County are considering having a waste-to-energy facility built near Worthington Farm near the Monocacy River. The proposed 350-foot smokestack will be easily viewed from the whole battlefield. The site will be only a few hundred yards from from the park.

Saving Old Battlefields, One at a Time. --B-Runner

Battery White to Be Preserved

The April 5th Georgetown (SC) Times reports good news that the remains of battery White will be protected and preserved from now on thanks to an agreement between the Belle Isle Yacht Club and South Carolina Preservation Trust signed this past Saturday during the 63rd annual plantation tour.

The fort/battery was built during the Civil War as protection of Winyah Bay and Georgetown.

The fort's features will be "retained and maintained in their current condition forever." Future development of the six-acre site will not be allowed. The local Daughters of the Confederacy and Sons of Confederate Veterans have been maintaining a park there.

A few years back, there was some worry about the yacht club's planned clubhouse, but it was built adjacent to the battery instead of in front of it which would have blocked a remarkable view of the bay and ocean.

You can learn more at www.batterywhite.org.

Of course, yacht club sounds a bit on the "private" side to me. Hopefully they will keep it open for us regular folk so we can see it.

Always Good to get This Kind of News.

CWPT's Top Ten Most-Endangered Civil War Sites

Actor Richard Dreyfuss announced the Civil War Preservation Trust's top ten endangered sites.

They are:

Fort Gaines, Alabama
Cedar Creek, Virginia
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Monocacy, Maryland
New Market Heights, Virginia
Port Gibson, Mississippi
Sabine Pass, Texas
South Mountain, Maryland
Spring Hill, Tennessee
Wilderness, Virginia

I'll be telling the particulars on each in the near future, but Wilderness is because of a proposed Wal Mart.

Let the Public Know. --Old B-Runner

Fifteen More Threatened Sites

The Civil War Preservation trust also listed 15 more sites that are at risk.

They are:

1. Brandy Station, Va.
2, Fort Monroe, Va.
3. Fort Morgan, Al.
4. Fort Stevens, DC
5. Glorieta, NM
6. Hoke's Run, WV
7. Honey Springs, Ok.
8. Kennesaw Mountain, Ga.
9. Lovejoy's Station, Ga.
10. Mansfield, La.
11. Petersburg, Va.
12. Richmond, Ky.
13. Sheperdstown, WV
14. South Mountain, Md.
15. Yadkin River Bridge, NC

Ten Most Endangered Civil War Sites-- 2008

The Civil War Preservation Trust has issued it's annual list of ten most endangered Civil War Sites.

This year, they are as follows:

1. Antietam, Maryland
2. Cedar Creek, Virginia
3. Cold Harbor, Va.
4. Hunterstown, Pa.
5. Monocacy, Md.
6. Natural Bridge, Fl.
7. Perryville, Ky.
8. Prairie Grove
9. Savannah, Ga.
10. Spring Hill, Tn.

This is a great way to bring the plight of our battlefields and sites to the attention of the American public. I am a proud member of this organization which has saved hundreds of acres of our Hallowed Ground.

For more information: www.civilwar.org

That They Who Have Perished. --Old Blockade-R

Missouri's Important Role in the Civil War

The Nov. 5th Voice of the Day, evidently out of Springfield, Mo. (a great Route 66 town, by the way), discussed Missouri's role in the Civil War. It was titled "Missouri was significant state during the Civil War" by Len Eagleburger, author of "The Fighting 10th" about the 10th Missouri Cavalry, US.

I didn't know that Missouri had the 3rd most engagements during the war, floowing Virginia and Tennessee. The state also sent more men to war in proportion to its size than any other state, 199,111, and they served on both sides.

The sesquicentennial of the Civil War is coming up in 2011. That'd be 150 years. The Missouri legislature has passed a bill to help sponsors on the Civil War Discovery Trail to put up interpretive panels in key spots throughout the state in order to draw attention to state's heritage in the war.

Currently. there is also a bill in both Federal houses called the Sesquicentennial Act. This will provide much-needed funding on the national level.

There are several Civil War groups in Springfield as well.

The Civil War Round Table of the Ozarks (I used to belong to the Chicago CW Round Table)
James H. McBride Camp of Sons of Confederate Veterans(I belong to the Camp Douglas Camp SCV)
Phelps Camp Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
Mary Phelps Daughters of Union Veterans (I hadn't heard of this group before)
Wilson Creek National Battlefield Association

I'm a bit surprised there is no Daughters of the Confederacy there.

The SCV Camp is raising money to dedicate a memorial to General James H. McBride in his Texas County home.

The Civil War Preservation Trust, a national organization that I also belong to, well, as soon as I get my dues in), is having a regional conference in Springfield in early 2008.

Glad to Hear the Cause Is Being Furthered in Springfield and Missouri. --B-Runner