You have arrived at one small corner of the web: the 2006 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 of these battlefields are in danger of being lost forever, CWPT is making significant progress. In 2005 CWPT rescued 1,726 acres of hallowed ground at legendary battlegrounds like Gettysburg, Pa., Franklin, Tenn., and Chancellorsville, Va. Since our creation more than a decade ago, CWPT has protected 22,300 acres at 95 sites in 19 states.
Despite such successes, our work is far from done. We hope this report energizes our long-time supporters and new allies to continue the fight to protect and preserve these historic battlefields.
History Under Siege has two distinct components: the first section identifies the 10 most endangered battlefields in the nation, and the second section lists 10 additional "at risk" sites, rounding out the 20 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 study 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 historical significance and state of preservation. Whenever possible, CWPT has used the CWSAC rating system throughout this report. Battlefields are ranked from Priority I (sites considered the most threatened) to Priority IV (sites considered lost). CWSAC also ranks battlefields from A (most historically significant) to D (sites of local importance).
Progress Report
In partnership with several national and local preservation groups,
CWPT has been working tirelessly to save historic properties at sites
identified in previous editions of History Under Siege. Listed below
are a few of the successes achieved during the past twelve months.
Bentonville, North Carolina
It wasn't that long ago that Bentonville Battlefield was considered one of the most endangered battlefields in the nation. At the end of the 1990s, only 244 acres of the battlefield was protected from development. However, a partnership between CWPT, the North Carolina Natural Heritage Trust, and the Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site has helped save 580 additional acres at the site - more than tripling the size of the battlefield since 2003. The park now consists of 900-plus acres, with additional saves on the horizon.
Chancellorsville, Virginia
What began as a fight against a 2,300-house development on the heart of the Chancellorsville Battlefield has become a model for cooperation between the development community, local government and preservationists. In 2004 CWPT worked out an agreement with Tricord Homes to save 135 acres of the May 1, 1863, battlefield. CWPT is now working with Toll Brothers to save an additional 74 acres of the battlefield.
Fort Donelson, Tennessee
Recent successes at the site where Ulysses S. Grant demanded "unconditional surrender" from a Confederate garrison have allowed CWPT to preserve exactly 300 acres at Fort Donelson. Our most recent acquisition, a 69.2-acre parcel in late 2005, marks the last large tract available at the site. While several smaller properties remain, this preservation puzzle is now tantalizingly close to completion.
Franklin, Tennessee
Thanks to the dedication of preservation groups and increased local government involvement, the preservation situation in Franklin has changed dramatically. The City of Franklin paid half of the $5 million purchase price for a crucial 110- acre parcel on the eastern flank of the battlefield. And on November 30, the 141st anniversary of the battle, the city demolished a Pizza Hut location symbolic of the sprawl that has overtaken much of the battlefield.
Morris Island, South Carolina
For more than six years, national and local groups have been engaged in efforts to protect Morris Island, the site of fighting portrayed in the 1990 movie Glory. On February 2, 2006, the mayor of Charleston announced a deal between the city, the Ginn Company (a resort developer), and the Trust for Public Land to save 126 acres on the northern tip of the island. Now nearly the entire island is protected from development.
Wilson's Creek, Missouri
Through negotiations with regional developer Missouri Partners, Inc., CWPT and the Wilson's Creek National Battlefield Foundation were able to forge a "winwin" deal at Missouri's most important Civil War battlefield. More than 150 acres of core battlefield land inside the park's new boundary were saved, creating a buffer between the battlefield and the Terrell Creek housing development.
About CWPT
The Civil War was the most tragic conflict in American history. For
four long years, North and South clashed in 10,000 battles and skirmishes
that sounded the death knell for slavery and defined us as a nation.
More than 625,000 soldiers and 50,000 civilians perished as a result
of the war. CWPT is committed to protecting the last tangible links
to this tumultuous period in American history. With 75,000 members,
CWPT is the largest nonprofit battlefield preservation organization
in the United States. Its purpose is to preserve our nation's endangered
Civil War battlefields and to promote appreciation of these hallowed
grounds.
CWPT's principal goal is to preserve historic battlefield land through outright purchases, conservation easements, and partnerships with federal, state and local governments. Among the sites rescued by CWPT in recent months are key parcels at Gettysburg in Pennsylvania, Fort Donelson in Tennessee and Chancellorsville in Virginia. Over the years, CWPT has helped protect more than 22,300 acres in 19 states.
CWPT also maintains several outreach programs in support of battlefield preservation. These programs include: Hallowed Ground, our quarterly magazine; History Under Siege, an annual report on threatened Civil War battlefields; the Civil War Discovery Trail, a National Millennium Trail that links nearly 600 sites in 32 states; and Civil War Explorer, an online computer program that allows users to experience the war and its consequences.
