Fall 1995 Issue No. 59

newsletter of the AMERICAN BATTLEFIELD PROTECTION PROGRAM

U.S. Department of the Interior Heritage Preservation Services Division

REVOLUTIONARY AND ED BEARSS RETIRES FROM THE NPS WAR OF 1812 BILLS COMING Ed Bearss is one of Union gunboat Cairo. Others the most revered and accomplishments include locating two On September 8, 1995, Sen. James noted Civil War historians forgotten forts at Grand Gulf, , of our time, and it is with assisting in the designation of Grand Gulf as Jeffords (R.-VT) introduced the great sadness that the a State Military Monument, and founding the Revolutionary War and War of 1812 National Park Service Mississippi Civil War Round Table, which later Historic Preservation Act of 1995 in announced his retirement merged with the Jackson Civil War Round Table. the Senate. This bill is a companion to as of September 29,1995. In 1966, Bearss transferred to Washington Rep. DickZimmer's (R-NJ) similar Ed Bearss once wrote D.C., and in 1981 he became the National Park legislation introduced in the House of about the initial spark that Service's CniefTTistorian. Heheldthatposition Representatives on February 2, 1995. fgnited his interest in the Civil War. "Those until July 1994 when was appointed the NPS's If passed, the bill would expand aamiliar with my vita know that I began what Special Assistant to the Director on Military current federal programs for protecting utecame a life-long interest in the Civil War, its Sites. battlefields and direct the Secretary of causes, and results, during the winter of 1935- Bearss' work has earned him a great the Interior to carry out a study similar 56. I was then twelve years old and my parents many honors throughout the years. He was i ived on a cattle ranch at Sarpy, Montana, where Man of the Year at Vicksburg in 1963, received to that completed by the Civil War ' attended a one-room school. The teacher-the the Harry S. Truman Award for Meritorious Sites Advisory Commission in 1993. i mprobably named Ms. Montana Jones—taught Service in the field of Civil War History, and The study would identify sites and dl eight grades. The roads were dirt, every was voted a Fellow in the Company of structures associated with the wars, lamily had an outhouse, and there was neither Military Historians. Some of his awards determine their relative significance, dectricity nor telephones in the Sarpy received for his efforts in the areas of history assess short and long-term threats to community. Our nearest neighbors were the and preservation include the T. Harry their integrity, and provide alternatives 3arnards, whose farm was two and one-half Williams Award, the Bruce Catton Award, for their preservation and niles down Sarpy Creek. the Alvin Caiman Award, the Bell I. Wiley interpretation. ! The winter of thatyear was unusually cold, Award, and most notably the Distinguished A comprehensive assessment of vly father, a World War I Marine, liked to read Service Award, the highest honor bestowed Revolutionary War and War of 1812 by the Department of the Interior. wt loud and until that winter had habitually sites is critical to protection efforts. ead the family book that focused on the "Great His contributions to the field, his work Basic information such as the location tVar." He particularly liked the works of Capt. with the NPS, his writings, and his fohn Thompson, who in 1925 wrote Fix continuing volunteer efforts will always be of the sites is often in question. For bayonets! It was that winter my father read to appreciated. The staff of the ABPP wish to instance, at Eutah Springs Battlefield, ne and my brother JEB Stuart by Captain extent to Ed our gratitude for nurturing a SC, recent findings revealed that the [Tiomason, and since then I have been hooked young cause and a young program, our battlefield is not submerged in a made- mthe Civil War." esteem for his accomplishments and made lake as had been thought but is Bearss went on to earn a B.S. in Foreign stature, our never ending amazement at actually located nearby on dry land. service from , and later his depth of knowledge, our pleasure at Even when the location of a site is •inM.A. in history froni Indiana University. He his gifted storytelling, our affection for a known, there may be inadequate tegan his service with the NPS in Vicksburg, friend in battle and peace alike, and our documentation to understand fully a rfS, as Park Historian. His research, while there, best wishes for his continuing inspiration site's importance. ventually led to the discovery of the sunken and friendship. (Cont. on page 7) CRITERIA FOR SECRETARY APPROVES War Trust agreed that this approach SPENDING CIVIL WAR SPENDING COIN FUNDS "guarantees that every worthy application at least has a chance of COMMEMORATIVE receiving funds" and helps "ensure tha|| COIN REVENUES To date, surplus revenues for the the Secretary's approvals to expend cc sale of the Civil War Commemorative revenues will result in the best The ABPP and representatives of Coins total $5,000,000. According to preservation of historically significant the Secretary of the Interior have been the act that created the fund, The Civil battlefields." The Civil War Trust's working with The Civil War Trust to War Trust must use the revenues for application deadline is October 25, 19f establish criteria for how the Civil battlefield preservation, and the War Commemorative Coin revenues will Secretary of the Interior must approve be spent. The parties have agreed that the expenditure of the revenues. In July DEDICATION CEREMONY all of the principal revenue funds will and August, The Civil War Trust be used to preserve historically submitted three applications to the HELD FOR OPEQUON significant battlefield lands. Funding Secretary for approval. The first priority will be given to the Civil War application was for the purchase of 56 On September 18, a dedication Sites Advisory Commission's fifty acres of land below Schoolhouse Ridge ceremony was held on the site of Priority One battlefields. For each abutting Harpers Ferry National Opequon marking the first payment battlefield, funding priority will be Historical Park in West . The towards the acquisition of 222 acres o< given to the most historically land is in the core of the Harpers Ferry the site. The event was held on the evaj significant battlefield land, which usually battlefield. The second application was the 131st anniversary of the battle of falls within the battlefield core and study for repayment of a loan for partial Opequon (or Third Winchester as it wa areas as defined by the Civil War Sites purchase of 40-acres that are part of known to the Confederacy), which waai Advisory Commission. Integrity, the historic Grove Farm and at the edge fought September 19,1864, between thef imminent threats to that integrity, and of the Antietam battlefield in Maryland. forces of Lt Gen. Jubal A. Early and hisl mechanisms for long-term protection of The Grove Farm is where President nemesis, Maj. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan. the land also will be taken into Lincoln was photographed meeting with Early's outnumbered Confederates were consideration. The Civil War Trust will General McClellan after the Battle of eventually overwhelmed and defeated at solicit requests for funding from a broad Antietam. The third application was great costs: more than 9,600 casualties. pool of eligible participants, which for the down payment to purchase 222 Opequon was one of the largest, most include state, local, and regional acres of land at the core of the Opequon desperately contested, and most importai governments, and non-profit private (or Third Winchester) battlefield. battlefields of the Shenandoah Valley. Tl organizations. The Civil War Trust may Although development has claimed preserved parcel contains much of the use the interest generated from the much of the Opequon battlefield bloody Middle Field where the Union iprincipal revenues for costs directly landscape, the 222 acres have good Nineteenth Corps was decimated by J0B4 associated with carrying out the coin integrity, are at the core of the batdefield, B. Gordon's Division. program. This could include salaries for and are key to interpreting the Civil War On hand to commemorate the battl staff processing the applications, site in the lower Shenandoah Valley. The and offer words of inspiration were ml visits, or title survey. Coin funds cannot Secretary of the Interior approved all strong supporters of preservation include be used for non-coin Civil War Trust three applications on August 14, 1995. Roger Kennedy, Director, NPS; H. programs. The ABPP will review all The revenue expenditure totaled Alexander Wise, Jr., Director, Virginia proposed expenditures of principal $1,033,172.25 Department of Historic Preservation; UJ revenues. The Secretary of the Special circumstances warranted Senators John Warner and Charles Roi Interior has delegated to the Assistant reviewing the three applications. Dennis Frye, President, Association f Secretary of Fish and Wildlife and Nevertheless, in the interest of fairness to the Preservation of Civil War Sites; Parks the job of approving or denying others who are subnutting applications Phillip Diehl, Director, United States the expenditures. Under the Civil War for coin revenues to purchase battlefield Mint; and Edgar M. Andrews, Commemorative Coin Act, the Secretary lands, Jan Townsend, Chief of ABPP, President, The Civil War Trust. of the Interior and the Secretary of the asked The Civil War Trust to submit Virginia Congressman Frank R.Wolf Treasury are responsible for auditing how future applications in large batches and addressed the guests, offering than! all of the coin funds (principal and only after it has reviewed all of the interest) are spent. applications. Townsend and The Civil (Cont. on page 6) -2- HISTORIC FARM battlefield. Governor Jones's vision in management are particularly pressing in targeting these funds to preserve the the immediate vicinity of Spring Hill BOUGHT AS ADDITION 'hallowed ground' both honors which is expected to expand TO PERRYVILLE Kentucky's proud heritage and substantially beyond its current BATTLEFIELD STATE strengthens the economy of the population of 3,300 in the coming years. PARK Perryville area. The Perryville Spring Hill's small-town charm, its Battlefield Commission is showing the historic character (manifested by the nation how effectively private citizens Civil War battlefield and several In the first major use of the $2.5 and government can work together to plantation homes), the beauty of its rural million in federal funds earmarked by preserve our past ~ for our future." landscape and its proximity to Nashville, Governor Brereton Jones for the For more information on the about 45 minutes drive on nearby Perryville Battlefield State Park, the purchase of the Widow Gibson Farm Interstate 65, all are factors in attracting Perryville Battlefield Commission please write to Kentucky Heritage growth to the community. bought the 150-acre "Widow Gibson Council, 300 Washington St., At the conclusion of its stay in the Farm" for $168,200. In 1862 the farm Frankfort, KY 40601 or The area, the Exchange Team presented its was at the center of fierce fighting in the Conservation Fund, Suite 1120, 1800 recommendations at a meeting in the Perryville battle that historians credit North Kent Street, Arlington, VA Spring Hill City Hall attended by more with keeping Kentucky in the Union. To 22209. than a hundred citizens and local complete the purchase, federal funds, provided through the Intermodal Surface officials. The team made Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA), recommendations regarding Spring Hill's were matched by grants from The potential to capture a greater share of the Conservation Fund and The Honorable SPRINGHILL HOSTS regional tourism market, the need to find Order of Kentucky Colonels of INTERNATL COUNTRY­ ways of protecting and interpreting the Louisville. battlefield, the need for an overall vision SIDE EXCHANGE for the future of the community and for a Governor Jones first announced the master plan to guide the community in grant award in 1992 saying, "Kentucky Ci: izens and local officials of achieving that vision. The Exchange is the first state in the nation to make Spring Hill and Maury County, gave Spring Hill and its neighbors an such a large commitment of federal Tennessee hosted a team of seven opportunity to showcase their enhanced program funds in conjunction experts in planning, community community before a group that included with historic preservation projects. development and preservation as part of representatives from the United Kentucky is a state rich in tradition and the American Battlefield Protection Kingdom, Canada, and various parts of heritage. The Perryville Battlefield is a Program-funded International the United States, including Iowa, New part of that heritage and has been Countryside Stewardship Exchange. York, Indiana, and Vermont. The deemed a National Historic Landmark." The week-long visit by the Exchange community honored the Southern Kent Masterson Brown, Chairman team culminated months of planning by tradition of hospitality by treating the of Perryville Battlefield Commission the Local Organizing Committee team to a variety of social events such as reported, "The Widow Gibson farm was (LOC), with the assistance of the luncheon at Rattle and Snap, a lavishly the site of the battle's heaviest fighting. Countryside Institute, sponsor of the restored National Historical Landmark It is where the Federal line was hit by a program. Through the LOC's efforts, plantation home, as well as a fish-fry massive Confederate assault that hurled team members interviewed a wide hosted by the Sons of Confederate I the Union forces back a mile." After a variety of individuals, groups, and Veterans. day of intense fighting and heavy organizations within the study area, a (•asualties, the outnumbered 10-mile corridor running along Highway With the conclusion of the team's 'Confederates withdrew from Kentucky, 31 from Thompson Station, south of visit, Spring Hill's Countryside crossing over into Tennessee. Franklin, to Columbia, the Maury Exchange moves into its third and final Frances H. Kennedy, director of County seat. Among the issues the phase: implementation. Members of the I The Conservation Funds Civil War Exchange team discussed were Local Organizing Committee and the riattlefield Campaign remarked, "We battlefield preservation, inter­ Regional Steering Committee will meet tare pleased to be working with the governmental relations, public in November to take action on the 'Perryville Battlefield Commission and education, zoning, growth management, report prepared by the Exchange Ithe state on the nationally significant and tourism. Issues of growth team.

-3- PROGRESS IS MADE ON Information on thousands of men, *Mainstreet Planning for Alumni Park THE CIVIL WAR collected from Navy muster rolls, has and Lincoln Square, $27,000 to been entered into a research database. Gettysburg Borough. SOLDIERS SYSTEM The three year project is a cooperative effort of Howard University, the NPS, * Study to Update Historic District The Civil War Soldiers System--a and Naval Historical Center, with Ordinances, $10,000 to Gettysburg database of soldiers names, regimental funding from the U.S. Department of Borough. histories, descriptions of battles and Defense's Legacy Program. skirmishes, and more—has been in If you are interested in entering development Concept Plan & cost progress for many years. Actual data data for the CWSS project, please write estimates for Governmental Cultural entry of the 5.5 million names began in to the Civil War Soldiers Index, P.O. District and Downtown Strategic Plan, 1993 and is still going strong with the Box 3385, Salt Lake City, Utah 84110- $75,000 to Gettysburg Borough. participation of many and various 3385. Any organizations wishing to groups and individuals. volunteer should contact: Curt Witcher, historical District Buildings Study, Approximately 90,000 names have Federation of Geneological Societies, Phase I, $5,000 to Gettyburg Borough. been entered up to this point, and the Manager, CWSS Names Data Entry United Daughters of the Confederacy Project, Allen County Library, 900 Comprehensive Plan and ordinance (UDC) have agreed to help the National Webster Street, Box 2270, Fort Wayne, documentation, $2,500 to Gettyburg Park Service in this monumental effort IN 46801 or email Mr. Witcher at Borough. by entering approximately 1.25 million [email protected]. US. Confederate names. This endeavor will development of comprehensive plans be formally announced at the UDC's and land use guidelines, $5,000 to annual meeting in November 1996, Staban Township. which will kick off a year long commitment to the data entry process. *The American Battlefield Protection GETTYSBURG Program also awarded $23,000 this year Approximately 90,000 BATTLEFIELD HISTORIC to Friends of the National Parks at DISTRICT RECEIVES NPS Gettysburg to revise and expand the names have been entered GRANTS National Register documentation for the up to this point... Gettysburg Battlefield Historic District.

A milestone will be marked in As reported in the July Gettysburg February of 1996, when data entry of Quarterly, The National Park Service the names of African Americans in the has announced a total of $95,200 in United States Colored Troops (USCT) is technical assistance grants to help to be complete. As a companion to that preserve historic resources in the 11,000 data, a memorial is to be erected in acre Gettysburg Battlefield Historic Washington, DCs Shaw neighborhood District. The District was added to the DON'T FORGET.... in the spring of 1997. The National Register of Historic Places in neighborhood was named after Col. 1975 and includes structures, lanes, Battlefield Update and Robert Shaw, commander of the 54th farmsteads, landforms, and other other ABPP Publications can be Massachusetts regiment. The memorial landscape features associated with the accessed on the Internet. was the brainchild of D.C. Council- battle. The 1995 grants are: member Frank Smith. The memorial You can find Battlefield Update at: with the soldiers' names will be at the *Regional Transportation Study, http:/Avww. cr. nps.gov/abpp/ comer of U Street and Vermont Avenue $30,000 to Adams County. latest html in northwest Washington, D.C. and the ABPP home page at: The History Department at Howard *Plan for the use of the Sachs Covered http:/Avww. cr.nps.gov/abpp/ University is also conducting research to Bridge area and update the County abpp.html identify African American sailors who Comprehensive Plan, $8,000 to Adams served during the Civil War. County.

-A- CWT RELEASES THE admission fees, hours of operation, of this current option for 131 acres CIVIL WAR DISCOVERY informational phone numbers (if makes this the largest purchase in available), visitor services, schedules of APCWS history, and perhaps the larges TRAIL GUIDEBOOK events and directions from the closest private-sector battlefield purchase ever state highway are provided for each site. undertaken." The parcels being The Civil War Trust's Official Each year, the guidebook will be acquired at Mill Springs will be their Guidebook to the Civil War Discovery updated with new states and sites. Any first purchase in Kentucky, marking an Trail contains 100 pages of information state or site interested in becoming part important milestone for the APCWS. linking over 300 sites in 16 states. The of the Discovery Trail should contact If you would like more information guidebook is intended to inspire and Susan Brazelton at (202) 326-8419 regarding these purchases please teach the story of the Civil War and its contact the APCWS at (703)371-1860, impact on America. The Trail includes The Discovery Trail has been made possible through the efforts of The Civil or write APCWS, P.O. Box 1862, such sites as Ford's Theater in Fredericksburg, VA 22402. Washington, D.C., where President War Trust with assistance from the Lincoln was shot; Antietam National National Trust for Historic Preservation, Battlefield in Maryland, the site of the the National Park Service, and state bloodiest one day battle in American agencies and local communities. Alamo history; antebellum plantations in Rent A Car, Inc., a founding sponsor of Mississippi and Tennessee; and where The Civil War Trust, has also made TEXAS CREATES hundreds of African American Soldiers significant contributions. Copies of the guidebook can be MILITARY SITES purchased at a cost of $4.95, which PROGRAM includes shipping and handling. To order by credit card call (800)- The Texas Historical Commission CWTRUST or send a check or money announced the recent passage of order to: The Civil War Trust, 1225 legislation creating a Military Sites Eye Street, NW, Suite 401, Washington, program. The commission will work DC, 20005. with other governmental entities to identify sites, located both inside and outside Texas, that saw significant military action or service, or that APCWS WILL ACQUIRE involved military events which helped shaped the state's history. ADDITIONAL 146 ACRES The commission may encourage the ACROSS THREE STATES designation of sites identified through local community landmark programs, As reported in the Association for the state historical marker program, the the Preservation of Civil War Sites' National Register of Historic Places, th< newsletter, the Board of Trustees voted National Historic Landmarks Program, fought and died at Port Hudson, to acquire three more individual parcels the World Heritage List or other Louisiana. The Trail also includes of battlefield land totaling 146 acres. appropriate programs. battlefields, historic homes, railroad This will bring the number of properties Texas is one of seven states that has stations, cemeteries and parks. All of that APCWS has agreed to protect this a battlefield commission. The remainin] the sites included in the guidebook were year to eight. six commissions protect battlefields in selected by The Civil War Trust for their Battlefield lands being acquired Georgia, Maryland, Mississippi, historic significance and educational include 131 acres at Brice's Cross Oklahoma, Tennessee, and at the value. Roads in northeast Mississippi, 10 acres Perryville Battlefield in Kentucky. The guidebook provides an at Mill Springs, KY and 4.5 acres at For more information on the overview of the role each of the 16 Harpers Ferry, WV. In 1994 the Military Sites program contact the states played in the War, and provides a APCWS obtained an option for 705 Texas Historical Commission, P.O. Box map to locate sites within each state. A acres of land at Brice's Cross Roads. 12276, Austin, TX 78711-2276 or call short description, information on According to the APCWS, "the addition (512) 463-6094.

-5- ATLANTA CAMPAIGN focusing on a single aspect of OPEQUON preservation: interpretation, tourism, CONFERENCE HELD (cont. from page 2) site acquisition/land conservation, to those involved and remind all that there is still much to do. "Our job is not Numerous individuals and agencies over now. It is merely begirming. Two iterested in the preservation of sites million must still be raised to pay off the slated to the Atlanta Campaign remaining debt. Because this is a athered for a two-day work session in battlefield with national significance, )ecatur, GA, on September 13. The Americans all across the United States onference focused on developing a can help by purchasing more Civil War oherent strategy for preserving the Commemorative Coins. Then, we must itlanta campaign as a whole. develop plans, with the assistance of Conference sponsors—the ABPP, the local historians and the American issociation for the Preservation of Civil Battlefield Protection Program at the Var Sites (APCWS), and the Georgia Civil National Park Service, to interpret this Var Commission—and many others were significant battlefield so that visitors can ivited to share their knowledge and tour this beautiful site. Also, the xpertise by giving brief presentations and Governor, local officials, and the Park anticipating in one of four work groups, and resource preservation/designation. Service, business persons and private resentations offered overviews of the Afterwards, each group summarized its groups should build on their articipating agencies, history and conclusions and goals for all the partnerships to preserve and interpret ignificance of the Atlanta Campaign, attendees. The conference concluded the Civil War sites in the Shenandoah arious sites within the campaign, and with a statement of commitment to those Valley and attract tourism to the region. reservation options. Participants then goals and the possibility of meeting The start so far is a good one and we ivided into work groups, with each again in the future to assess progress. should continue these efforts".

U.S. MINT LAUNCHES Your support is needed now to make this campaign a success. With the FINAL COIN SALES holidays approaching, consider giving the EFFORT coins to friends and family. You will not only be giving a treasured gift, you will be A last minute push to sell the U.S. becoming a member of a larger community Minted Civil War Coins and related gift helping the worthy cause of battlefield items is in effect. Revenues to this point preservation. have totaled only $5,000,000, far short of To order a catalog please call 1-800- the anticipated $21,000,000. Barring an 258-6200. act of Congress, these coins cannot be minted after December 31, 1995.

Strategies to increase revenues include extensive mailings to numismatic collectors and to a large number of Civil War affinity groups. The Mint has also inserted an additional half-dollar coin into the popular prestige set in order to heighten further its appeal.

-6- BEARSS TO LEAD SPRING REV WAR BILL NOTICE HILL, FRANKLIN TOUR (cont. from page 1) For those who have written to The On October 13-14, nationally As he introduced the bill (H.R. Civil War Trust requesting a grant acclaimed historian Ed Bearss, former 810) Sen. Jeffords stated, "the application but have not yet received Chief Historian of the National Park American people are ever more one, please contact the Preservation Service, will lead a seminar tour on The interested in the story of their Nation's Advisory Committee, The Civil War Death of the Army of Tennessee for the past [and] want their history protected Trust, 1225 Eye St., NW, Suite 401, Blue and Gray Education Society and interpreted." Please contact your Washington, DC 20005. Applications (BGES). Proceeds above the cost of the local Representative or Senator to voice must be received by the Trust by event will be applied to battlefield your support of the bill or to receive October 25, 1995, to be considered for interpretation and other nonprofit more information. the first round of grants. programs. BGES is currently working with the Association for the Preservation of Civil War Sites on the interpretation of APCWS land at Port Republic and A limited number of copies of the Study McDowell battlefields in Virginia. on Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Other nationally known historians will Valley are still available and can be provide lectures on the 14th of October. obtained at no cost by contacting the For information or reservations call ABPP at (202) 343-9505 or by fax BGES at (804) 797-4535, or write Box (202) 343-1836 or by mailing a letter to 129, Danville, VA 24543-0129. ABPP, National Park Service, P.O. Box 37127, Washington, DC, 20013-7127.

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This publication is financed by the United Stales Department of the Interior, National Park Service truer Title VI of ire Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended: 504 of the Rchabiliution Act of 1973, as amended; and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended, the I ruled Stales farpartrnent of the Interior prohibits diaciiminalion on the basis of race, color, raitional origin, handicap, or age in its programs. If you believe you have been dtscnmtnstod against in any program, facility, or if you desire further inferrotion please write: Offioc of Pnual Opportunity, Nalioml Park Service, P.O. Ben 37127, Washington, DC 30013-7127.