“The Civil War Trust is thrilled that the Battlefields Foundation is preserving key hallowed ground, such as these 23 acres at McDowell. This land, when added to what has already been saved there by our two organizations as well as others,

will put us even closer to one of our main objectives: substantially completing this historic battlefield. We are so grateful for strong local preservation groups like SVBF, who are the crucial ‘boots on the ground.’ I encourage every American who cares about saving our nation’s history to support them to the fullest extent you can.” Jim Lighthizer, President Civil War Trust

Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation

BOARD OF TRUSTEES:

Allen L. Louderback Like our friends and partners at the Civil War Trust, the Shenandoah Valley Chairman Battlefields Foundation (SVBF) is working every day to preserve and protect

Nicholas P. Picerno battlefields and to tell the story of the . Vice Chairman I’m writing today to ask you to join our fight in the Shenandoah Valley and help me Robert T. Mitchell, Jr. Secretary save 23 acres at the very center of the McDowell battlefield. The Battle of McDowell is the fight that set the stage for General Thomas J. “Stonewall" Jackson’s 1862 Brian K. Plum Treasurer successes in the Valley – the battle that Ed Bearss (a member and longtime supporter of our foundation) calls, “... the most important battle of Jackson’s masterful 1862 John P. Ackerly, III Valley campaign.”

Childs F. Burden The parcel I need you to help me save is situated along the historic Staunton and Michael A. Garber Parkersburg Turnpike and is one of the last few parcels in the heart of the battlefield

J. Roderick O. Graves that are not yet preserved. If we act now, you can save this unbelievably important piece of hallowed ground and bring the total acres that the SVBF has helped to Julie V. Langan preserve at McDowell to 1,007! Those 1,007 acres of battlefield land will be Joe T. May protected forever!

David R. Ruth You, more than most, understand how very hard it is to save Civil War battlefields. If Kenneth R. Rutherford we’re going to save these 23 acres at McDowell, I need your help now more than ever. Not to mention the hallowed ground located at 20 battlefield sites throughout Norman C. Smiley the Shenandoah Valley. C.J. Steuart Thomas, III

I’m not sure if you are aware that an estimated 14,000 acres of core battlefield remain unprotected in the Shenandoah Valley – 14,000 acres that you can still save. The Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation is the managing entity of the This is the very ground where Jackson fought and won his pivotal 1862 Valley federally designated Shenandoah Valley campaign, and where Jubal Early clashed with Phillip Sheridan in a string of fateful Battlefields National and decisive battles in 1864. Historic District

Over the last 15 years the SVBF has preserved nearly 4,500 acres throughout this Valley but these opportunities are not limitless and are extremely time sensitive. I need you to help save what remains – to help me act quickly – or these battlefield lands will be lost forever.

But let me get back to the preservation task at hand – the 23 acre parcel at McDowell.

When you look at the map that I’ve enclosed for you, you will see the target property clearly marked and I think that you will be as moved as I am by how important it is to save this part of the battlefield.

It was across this ground and up along the Parkersburg Pike that the 82nd and the 3rd West were sent by Brigadier General Robert Schenk in an attempt to turn the right flank of Jackson’s defensive line on Sitlington’s Hill.

The Ohio boys of the 82nd turned south, leaving the pike, and headed up a long draw toward the top of the hill. The loyal Virginian’s (soon to be West Virginians) advanced further east along the pike and through the target property.

Near the eastern end of the parcel that I’m asking you to help me save, these hardy mountaineers of the 3rd encountered those of the 31st Virginia, who steadfastly blocked their advance. Ironically, both of these regiments had companies who were originally formed in the Town of Clarksburg, Virginia (West Virginia). When the fighting ensued, these opposing units came so close to one another on both sides that soldiers remembered recognizing old friends – friends who were now mortal enemies. Far from home, they met along the pike with deadly purpose ... brother against brother, neighbor against neighbor, in a fight that raged in the gathering darkness.

Now it’s up to you and I to save the place where Virginia fought Virginia as north and south battled for control of a mountain in a sea of mountains. It is up to us to save these 23 acres.

With a purchase price of $150,000, once costs associated with the transaction are met, the acquisition of McDowell will cost the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation about $160,000. We have secured a grant of $60,000 from the Commonwealth of Virginia and need to raise the balance from private supporters like you. Like the owners of the 23 acres at McDowell, landowners throughout the Valley are approaching us – wanting to save their battlefield properties.

Just this summer, because a landowner approached SVBF directly, we were able to save the Opequon Crossing site on the Third Winchester battlefield where the first shots of that battle were fired.

This past spring, a landowner at the Tom’s Brook battlefield approached SVBF wanting to preserve 24 acres of core battlefield land where George Custer and his cavalry drove off Confederate defenders in what would become famously known as the “Woodstock Races.” By the time you get this letter we will have closed on that property – 24 acres saved forever!

Thanks to these landowners who trusted the SVBF, who know our reputation and have seen our level of commitment, we were able to save these properties; properties which in many cases have been handed down from generation to generation. We owe it to them and future generations to do everything possible to preserve every inch of these battlefields that we can…

In the last 18 months the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation has preserved over 600 acres - that’s a rate of almost 1 acre per day!

We’ve been at this a long time and we’re not going to give up the fight until all of the core battlefield land that can be saved in the in the Shenandoah Valley has been protected. That’s my promise to you and to all of our members and supporters. That’s our promise to the men who fought and the men who died on these fields.

The heart of the battlefield at McDowell is almost 100 percent preserved. Today, you can save 23 more acres of this hallowed ground that witnessed “key action that enabled Jackson to paralyze the armies of Fremont, Banks, and Shields,” states Ed Bearss.

Please make a contribution and help us close this deal. Help us save the McDowell battlefield and all the battlefields of the Shenandoah Valley.

There is one more thing that I need to tell you - this property is so important that SVBF Trustee Childs Burden has lead the charge in protecting this property by rallying fellow Trustees and some of our biggest contributors. These Trustees and donors have pledged to match every contribution, dollar for dollar, up to $25,000! To further demonstrate how important preserving the McDowell Battlefield is, the entire SVBF Staff has pledged a donation to this project as well!

As an organization, we have come together to do everything we can to make this project a success, now, we just need you to help us achieve our goal. If you cannot give $1,000, then please consider $500! You may even choose to commit to a monthly donation. Just know that whatever you are able to give – every dollar that you give will save over 6 square feet of this battlefield!

Please make a contribution and help us close this deal. Help us save the McDowell battlefield and all the battlefields of the Shenandoah Valley. I look forward to hearing from you.

All the best,

Keven M. Walker Chief Executive Officer

P.S. Make sure you check out the insert about SVBF’s upcoming National Conference “1864: The Turn to Total War” that we will be hosting this April in Atlanta – It’s going to be an amazing event and it would be great to see you there!

Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation PO Box 897 9386 Congress St. New Market, VA 22844 ph 540.740.4545 / 888.689.4545 ShenandoahAtWar.org Facebook.com/ShenandoahAtWar

Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation