Saving History Saturday: American Battlefield Trust Preserves 326 Acres

Recently, American Battlefield Trust announced the preservation of 326 acres of battlefields at Second Manassas, North Anna, and New Market Heights. Here’s the latest adapted from the news release on their website:

At Second Manassas, 167 acres have been added to the more than 200 already protected and ensuring that none of that lend will ever be desecrated by the construction of “McMansions.”

Further to the south, 123 acres have been saved at North Anna, a key battle of Ulysses S. Grant’s 1864 Overland Campaign.  This site, initially occupied by Confederate forces, became the Union front line for the next 2 days of the battle, and contains the historic Fox mansion known as “Ellington”, the Fox school house, and the remnants of the Chesterfield Bridge that crossed the North Anna River.  The property was just recently listed on the National Register of Historic Places and stabilization work is being completed on the historic buildings with the assistance of a generous grant from the Jane & Arthur Flippo Foundation

Last — but by no means least — 33 acres of core battlefield land have been protected forever at New Market Heights. ?Here, on September 29, 1864, several regiments of the United States Colored Troops assaulted and successfully captured a section of Confederate earthworks. ?Fourteen of those brave soldiers received the Medal of Honor for their courage under fire.

All told, these 326 acres are valued at more than $5.6 million. But, thanks to an incredible $33.42-to-these $1 match, ABT supporters have saved these tangible pieces of American history for only $167,900.

Original news article here: https://www.battlefields.org/preserve/celebrate-our-victories/saved-three-va-battlefields