Saving History Saturday: Central Virginia Battlefields Trust Preservation Effort at Spotsylvania
The Central Virginia Battlefields Trust (CVBT) recently announced a new preservation effort as part of the first day’s fighting at Spotsylvania along the Brock Road.
The parcel, which CVBT is referring to as the 3rd Massachusetts Light Artillery tract is 7.2 acres and is near CVBT’s previously preserved 5th Corps/Brock Road property (14.4 acres).
On May 8, 1864, the renowned “Iron Brigade” under Brig. Gen. William Robinson launched their assault from the 3rd Massachusetts Light Artillery tract towards Laurel Hill. The Federal forces fell back, and Lt. Aaron E. Walcott, commanding the 3rd Massachusetts Light Artillery, after the wounding of Capt. Augustus P. Martin, fell back “about half a mile to a small knoll which commanded the valley of a little stream [eventually] emptying into the Po River.” Over the next few days several V Corps artillery batteries occupied the position, constructing lunettes that remain to this day.
This land is currently undeveloped, and by saving it CVBT will not only be able to maintain the historic green-space in it natural condition, preserve the extensive artillery lunettes on this ground, as well as add another piece to land already saved by CVBT, the American Battlefield Trust, and the National Park Service in the area.
At the 2025 CVBT Spring Seminar, the owners of the tract spoke with CVBT about the property. They originally bought it planning to build an artillery museum, featuring the lunettes, which never happened.
After several conversations, the owner agreed to sell the property to CVBT at a bargain, taking a tax deduction for half the value. This means that CVBT can preserve the land, which includes a dozen artillery lunettes, and every dollar donated saves two dollars’ worth of land.
CVBT is currently raising $100,000 to preserve the land and to begin preparing the land for interpretation and public access. To learn more, visit CVBT’s website.
