Most Endangered Battlefields 2008
History Under Siege
Introduction and Selection Process
In your hands you hold the 2008 edition of History Under Siege, the Civil War Preservation Trust’s (CWPT) annual report on endangered Civil War battlefields. This report is more than a list of threatened historic sites — it is also a plan for saving the last remaining links to a moment in history that defined us as a nation.
Although many battlefields are in danger of being lost forever, CWPT is making significant progress. In 2007 CWPT rescued more than 1,600 acres of hallowed ground at legendary battlefields like Champion Hill, Miss., Shiloh, Tenn., and Petersburg, Va. Since our creation two decades ago, CWPT has protected more than 25,000 acres at 99 sites in 18 states. Despite such successes, our work is far from done. We hope this report energizes both long-time supporters and new allies to continue the fight to protect and preserve these priceless treasures.
History Under Siege has two distinct components: the first section identifies the 10 most endangered battlefields in the nation, and the second section lists 15 additional “at risk” sites, rounding out the 25 battlefields we believe need the most immediate attention. No attempt is made to rank the sites within these two tiers — instead, the battlefields are listed in alphabetical order.
The selection process is lengthy and difficult. Sites are nominated by our membership, and final decisions are made with help and input from historians, preservationists and CWPT’s board of trustees. The sites included in the report are determined based on geographic location, military significance and preservation status.
In analyzing each site, CWPT consulted a 1993 study by the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission (CWSAC) that prioritized sites according to their historical significance and state of preservation. Whenever possible, CWPT has cited the CWSAC rating system throughout this report. Battlefields are ranked from Priority I (sites considered the most threatened) to Priority IV (sites considered all but lost). CWSAC also ranks battlefields from A (the most historically significant sites) to D (sites of local importance).
MOST ENDANGERED BATTLEFIELDS:
Intro & Selection Process
Google Map of Most Endangered Battlefields
Download the CWPT Most Endangered 2008 Report
(PDF)
View Photos of Endangered Battlefields
Become a Member of the Civil War Preservation Trust
