Protecting Hallowed Ground: Accomplishments to Date

The Civil War Battlefield Campaign has, with its partners, protected more than 9,400 acres of historic lands through 83 projects in 14 states.

We are grateful to the donors recognized in the following project summaries, to The Gilder Foundation, the Heinz Foundation, Silver Eagle Distributors, the Turner Foundation, the Nichols Foundation, and to the hundreds of individual donors who make our work possible.

Featured Projects by State

RICHARD KING MELLON FOUNDATION

The Conservation Fund thanks the Richard King Mellon Foundation and its American Land Conservation Program aimed at augmenting the efforts of public conservation agencies. The Foundation has acquired historic land on eight Civil War battlefields. The Conservation Fund assists the Foundation on evaluation, acquisition, and transfer of land. Gifts from the Foundation to public land conservation agencies include the Cornfield and West Woods at Antietam as well as historic land on the battlefields at Five Forks, Champion Hill, Appomattox, Chancellorsville, Manassas, Wilderness, and Gettysburg.

Antietam, Maryland
The Cornfield, where the Federals were hit by Confederate artillery fire, was donated to the Antietam National Battlefield. The West Woods, where U.S. forces suffered more than 2,200 casualties in 20 minutes, were also donated to the Antietam National Battlefield. An additional 12 acres, in the field of fire where J.E.B. Stuart's artillery slowed the attacking U.S. troops, were donated to the Antietam National Battlefield on the 135th anniversary of the battle. More than 10,000 U.S. troops attacked across the 179-acre Roulette Farm toward a country lane in such intense fighting that it became known as Bloody Lane. The farm was donated to the Antietam National Battlefield on the 136th anniversary of the battle.

Appomattox, Virginia
On these 371 acres, the Federal cavalry and infantry blocked the Confederates' escape route to the west. Later that morning, Lee surrendered to General Grant. The land was donated to the Appomattox Court House National Historical Park.

Champion Hill, Mississippi
These 825 acres, on the greatest battlefield of General Grant's critical Vicksburg Campaign, were donated to the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

Chancellorsville, Virginia
The foundation protected the Jackson Trail by purchasing 422 acres and donating an easement over the land to the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park and the fee ownership to Spotsylvania County for watershed protection and as a recreation area. The Foundation also protected the Jackson Trail and a heron rookery by purchasing 160 acres and donating an easement over the land to the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park and the fee ownership to Spotsylvania County.

Five Forks, Virginia
This great Virginia battlefield, known as the "Waterloo of the Confederacy," was protected by the donation of 1,115 acres to the Petersburg National Battlefield.

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
These 269 acres on East Cavalry Field were the battleground for the U.S. Cavalry and J.E.B. Stuart's forces on July 3, 1863. They were donated to the Gettysburg National Military Park.
This 44-acre historic farm adjoining East Cavalry Field was donated to the Gettysburg National Military Park.

Manassas, Virginia
These 25 acres, the center of Stonewall Jackson's line during the Confederate victory at Second Manassas in August, 1862, were donated to the Manassas National Battlefield Park.

Wilderness, Fredricksburg, Virginia
More than 135 acres were donated to the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park on the battlefield where the armies of Grant and Lee met for the first time: May 5-6, 1864.