150 th Anniversary of the [email protected]

No minutes from the December meeting as there was no business meeting.

REMINDER: DUES FOR 2014 ARE DUE NOW!!!! Send to Jim Marshall, address above

Civil War Historic Events in March Cape May County Civil War Round Table Newsletter 1860 February 2014 No major battles, etc. in 1860

Meeting Schedule: 1861 March 4 Lincoln inaugurated 21 March : Matthew Bruce : Confederate Cruisers 1862 18 April: 16 May: March 7-8 Battle of Pea Ridge (AR) 20 June: 8 Confederate ironclad Merrimac enters 18 July: Hampton Roads, destroys Union 15 August: warships 19 September: 17 October: 9 Battle of Monitor-Merrimac in Hampton 21 November: Roads ?? December: 21 First battle of Kernstown (VA)

28 Battle of Glorieta (NM) CMCCWRT Officers for 2014 1863 President: Marty Runner No major battles, etc. in 1863 1402 Rt 9 South, Lot 193, Cape May Court House, NJ 08210 1864 609-536-8235 No major battles, etc. i9n 1864 [email protected] 1865

Vice President: Lou Bishop Jr. March 2 Battle of Waynesboro (VA) 21 Schoolhouse Ln, Cape May Court House, NJ 08210 4 Lincoln inaugurated 609-463-9277 or 741-5438 25 Battle of Fort Stedman at Petersburg [email protected]

Secretary: Pat Munson-Siter 42 Franklin Ave., Villas, NJ 08251-2407 609-287-5097 [email protected]

Treasurer: Jim Marshall 202 Bartram Ln., Ocean City, NJ 08226 609 – 602 - 3243 1 Cape May County Civil War Round Table Newsletter = February 2014

Civil War Related Events Heroes or Enemies?" at the Museum of the March 2014 Confederacy in Appomattox. 1 pm. Free with museum admission. moc.org Most of these are from www.civilwartraveler.com ; check out the web site for lots more information! 8 VA Walking tour, "Civil War Leesburg," begins at the Balch Library, 208 W Market St, Leesburg. 10 am. Free. 703-737-7195. 1 VA Lecture, "Kilpatrick-Dahlgren Raid," at Walkerton Tavern, 2892 Mountain Road, Glen 8 VA Tours, "Women in the Civil War," special tours Allen, north of Richmond. 1 pm. Free. 804-652- of Ben Lomond Historic Site, 10321 Sudley 3409. Manor Drive, Manassas. On the hour, 11 am-3 pm. $5. 703-367-7872. 1 VA Walking tour, "Battle of Smithfield," meets at the Isle of Wight Museum in Smithfield. 2 pm. Free. 8 PA Lecture, "Spring 1864 Congressional Hearings on historicisleofwight.com Meade at Gettysburg: 'Witch hunt or fair play?'" at the Gettysburg NMP visitor center 1:30 pm. 1 VA Guided walking tour of Fort Huger, 15080 Talcott Free. nps.gov/gett Terrace, on the James River near Smithfield. 10 am. Free. 757-357-0115. 8-9 VA Living history, lectures and more, "Hampton Roads Weekend," annual event commemorating 1 VA Van tour, "Howlett Line," guided tour of the the anniversary of the Battle of the Ironclads at Confederate defenses at Bermuda Hundred south the Mariners' Museum in Newport News. Free of Richmond. Leaves from Henricus Historical with museum admission. Park. 10 am-2 pm. $15. Register: battleofhamptonroads.com chesterfieldhistory.com (click Civil War Tours). 9 VA Book talk, "The Amazing Legacy of James E. 1 MD Talk, "Women Soldiers in Civil War Armies," at Hanger, Civil War Soldier," at the Manassas the National Museum of Civil War Medicine in Museum. 2 pm Free. manassasmuseum.org Frederick. 2 pm. Free with museum admission. CivilWarMed.org 9 VA Lecture, "The Civil War Romance of Antonia Ford and Major Joseph C. Willard," at Historic 1 PA Lecture, "Battle of Brice's Crossroads — Nathan Blenheim, 3610 Old Lee Highway, in Fairfax. 2 Bedford Forrest's Greatest Victory," at the pm. Free. 703-591-0560. Gettysburg NMP visitor center 1:30 pm. Free. nps.gov/gett 9 PA Lecture, "Longstreet to the Rescue: The Battle of the Wilderness, May 6, 1864," at the Gettysburg 2 VA Conference, "'May God Forgive Me for the NMP visitor center 1:30 pm. Free. nps.gov/gett Order': The War Returns to the Valley," at the Hall of Valor Museum in New Market. $20. Sign 12 VA Talk, "Raiders, Rangers, and Rogues: Irregular up: shenandoahatwar.org Warfare in the Confederacy," at the Museum of the Confederacy in Appomattox. 12:15 pm. Talk 2 VA Talk, "General Phillip Sheridan's ," at the is free. moc.org Five Forks Battlefield visitor center near Petersburg. 2 pm. Free. nps.gov/pete 14 VA Talk, "Diabolical Designs: The Story of Dahlgren's Raid," at the Museum of the 2 PA Lecture, "‘Like the Oncoming of Cities’ — Confederacy in Richmond. Noon. Free with Freedom's Dilemma," at the Gettysburg NMP museum admission. moc.org visitor center 1:30 pm. Free. nps.gov/gett 15 PA Seminar, "East Cavalry Field: Cavalry Clash That 7 VA Bus tour, "Then and Now: An Illustrated Tour of Saved the Union," at the Gettysburg NMP. Half- the Peninsular Campaign. Begins at the Mariners' day lecture at the visitor center, half day on the Museum in Newport News. 9 am-6:30 pm. $145 battlefield. $95. Register: 717-339-2148. includes lunch/reception. Reservations needed. battleofhamptonroads.com 15 VA Van tour, "Wilderness and Spotsylvania Battlefields" begins at Lee Hall Mansion in 8 DC "Abraham Lincoln and States' Rights," special Newport News. 8 am-5 pm. $50. Reservations: day-long lecture series at the Ripley Center, 1100 leehall.org or 757-888-3371. Jefferson Drive SW. 9:30 am-4:15 pm. $130. smithsonianassociates.org (click Civil War). 15 VA "Glorious March to Liberty: Colored Troops in the Civil War," special 8 VA Talk, The Troops of the Microscopic Battlefield: program at the Dabbs House Museum, 3812 Nine 2 Cape May County Civil War Round Table Newsletter = February 2014

Mile Road near Richmond. 1 pm. Free. 804-652- manassasmuseum.org 3411. 28 VA Book talk, "Robert E. Lee and War & Peace," at 15 VA Seminar, "1864," annual event at the Jarman the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond. Auditorium, Longwood University in Farmville. Noon. Free with museum admission. moc.org Speakers begin at 9 am. Free. Directions: longwood.edu 29 MD Conference, "Maryland and the Civil War," at the Carroll County Community College in 15 VA Living history, "Jack Tars and Virginia Boatmen Westminster. Annual conference examines the on the James and Appomattox Rivers," at Grant's war's impact on the region. 9:30 am-3 pm. $45 Headquarters at City Point in Hopewell. 10 am- (less for local or Maryland residents) inlcudes 4:30 pm. Free. nps.gov/pete lunch. Enroll, more info: carrollcc.edu/events/civilwar_event.asp 15-16 VA Living history, "Military Through the Ages," at the Jamestown Settlement near Williamsburg. 29 VA Book talk, "Robert E. Lee in War and Peace," a Includes Civil War camp and demonstrations. collection and study of photographs, at the Free with site admission. historyisfun.org Museum of the Confederacy in Appomattox. 1 pm. Free with museum admission. moc.org 20 VA Lecture, "Women in the Civil War," at the Lloyd House, 220 N Washington St, Alexandria. 7:30 29 VA Walking tour, "Historic Point of Rocks," pm. Free. historicalexandria.org Bermuda Hundred Union hospital site, fortifications. Starts at 10 am at 201 Enon Church 22 VA Bus tour, "When the Northern Line Held: Road, Chester. $8. Register: Defending Washington in 1864. Day-long tour of chesterfieldhistory.com (click Civil War Tours). the capital's area fortifications. Begins at Fort Ward in Alexandria. $100. Details, registration: 29 VA Talk, "Abraham Lincoln at the Siege of 703-746-4848. fortward.org Petersburg," at Grant's Headquarters at City Point in Hopewell. 2 pm. Free. nps.gov/pete 22 VA Symposium, "Winter Encampment," focus is on huge Union camp 1863-1864, at the Germanna 29 VA Living history and ranger talks, "Battle of Fort Community College Technical Center in Gregg," anniversary activities at Fort Gregg, part Culpeper. 8 am-4 pm. $65. 540-727-8849 or of the Petersburg National Battlefield. 10 am-4:30 friendsofcedarmountain.org pm. Free. nps.gov/pete

22 VA Lecture, "Confederate Memorial Day in 30 VA Film and discussion, "Shenandoah," at the Alexandria from 1866 to the Present," at Historic Henrico Theater, 305 E Nine Mile Road, Blenheim, 3610 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax. 2 pm. Highland Springs. 2-4:30 pm. Free. 804-652- Free. 703-591-0560. 3409.

22 VA Lecture, "USS Monitor 's Turret Reveals Her 30 VA Gallery tour, "Fateful Lightning: Religion and the Secrets," at the Mariners' Museum in Newport Civil War," at the American Civil War Center at News. 1 pm. Free with admission. Historic Tredegar in Richmond. 1 pm. Free with MarinersMuseum.org museum admission. tredegar.org

22 PA Seminar, "East Cavalry Field: Cavalry Clash That 30 VA Anniversary living history and ranger talks at the Saved the Union," at the Gettysburg NMP. Half- Five Forks battlefield near Petersburg. 10 am-4 day lecture at the visitor center, half day on the pm. Free. nps.gov/pete battlefield. $95. Register: 717-339-2148.

22 PA "An Evening with the Painting," after-hours extended look at the at the Gettysburg NMP visitor center. 5 pm. $20. gettysburgfoundation.org

23 VA Lecture, "1864 — The Year of Total War in the ," at Historic Mount Zion Church, 40309 John Mosby Highway, Aldie. $10/adult. 540-687-6681.

23 VA Book talk, "Robert E. Lee in War and Peace," at the Manassas Museum. 2 pm Free. 3 Cape May County Civil War Round Table Newsletter = February 2014

Over the next two weeks, tens of thousands of visitors and reenactors will converge on Gettysburg to mark the 150th Are you on Facebook? anniversary of the great battle.

In the last decade, the park service has erased modern intrusions Be sure to visit the Cape May County Civil from the 6,000-acre battlefield at a rapid pace, demolished an War Round Table Facebook Page!! observation tower, a motel, a car dealership, modern houses, and most recently the controversial Cyclorama building. Overlooking the field of Pickett's Charge - the Confederates' final assault on the third day of the fighting. the building was the subject of a 15-year lawsuit.

The park service has also uncovered Civil War-era farm lanes and stone walls, replanted orchards, and rebuilt fences. The work is part of a comprehensive, multimillion-dollar project to rehabilitate features within the park boundaries. Park officials eschew the word restoration because they feel it is impossible to perfectly re-create the historic landscape.

Early park planning, driven by a single-minded philosophy of the victors to preserve only what mattered to the North, opened up huge swaths of the battlefield to development.

A Gettysburg battle plan: The field as it once was Before the U.S. War Department took over the park in 1895, = By Amy Worden, Inquirer Staff Writer veterans' groups that oversaw initial land acquisition believed that only Union battle positions should be preserved. POSTED: JUNE 24, 2013 Commercial interests began snapping up property along GETTYSBURG - During the monumental battle fought here Confederate lines, building tourist cabins, diners, even a roller 150 years ago, Powers Hill played a key role as a signal station rink. As the 50th anniversary in 1913 approached and again with and artillery position guarding the main route to Washington. the 75th anniversary in 1938 and the centennial in 1963, more development came. In addition, many private properties Over time the fields turned to forest and few visitors made the remained within park boundaries, so many in some spots that short trek up the boulder-filled hill at the southeastern corner of whole villages like the one named Pinchgut cropped up. Gettysburg National Military Park for the view. "There was a struggle over whether this would be a historic or Because there wasn't one. amusement park," Adelman said.

Before last year you could not see the battlefield for the trees. The National Park Service took over battlefield management in Today, after trees have been clear-cut, a nonhistoric house 1916 with a very different approach: that the only way the full demolished, and a small parcel of land purchased, a visitor can battle story could be realized would be to preserve Confederate stand beside the boulders, look out across the Baltimore Pike positions, too. Thus began the nearly century-long process of clear over to Culp's Hill and understand exactly what was at reclaiming the battlefield, tearing down commercial structures. stake. Gone are the Home Sweet Home motel, which sat on Steinwehr "Seeing the landscape as soldiers saw it is paramount to Avenue at the edge of Pickett's Charge; a Ford dealership, understanding the battle," said Garry Adelman, director of which was the last commercial enterprise within the park's history and education at the nonprofit group Civil War Trust and boundaries and stood where the 's 11th Corps was a licensed battlefield guide for 20 years. overwhelmed on July 1, 1863; and the 300-foot-tall observation tower - the subject of court battles that predated its construction in 1974 - that was finally seized by eminent domain and Powers Hill is just one project among many that the National demolished in 2000. Park Service has undertaken in the last decade or so to bring back the battlefield and help expand visitors' understanding of what took place here. The park service also works with the remaining landowners to secure easements ensuring that the property still in private hands will not be developed.

4 Cape May County Civil War Round Table Newsletter = February 2014

"Every quarter acre is very important," said Adelman. On a recent tour of some of the park's rehabilitated sites, Lawhon paused to point out two features once lost to history: Because of its prominence, Gettysburg among all Civil War the replanted apple orchard and newly uncovered Trostle Farm battlefields has attracted more private resources to help drive lane, near where Union Gen. Dan Sickles, his leg shattered by a land acquisition, said Adelman, whose group has played a lead Confederate cannonball, had sought cover with his troops. role in helping purchase so-called outparcels, privately held properties in the park. Under siege by Confederates, with no access to water, the soldiers stuffed themselves with apples to quench their thirst But at the same time, the park management bears the burden of while they awaited supply troops using that farm lane. being the most scrutinized. "They were tearing unripe fruit off the trees," Lawhon said. "We While Gettysburg has not faced some of the major commercial know that because so many soldiers wrote about it in their projects that have threatened several of Virginia's most diaries," she said. important Civil War sites - the Disneyworld theme park once envisioned at the Manassas battlefield in the early 1990s or a Standing by a swamp white oak - one of the remaining "witness Wal-Mart near the Wilderness in more recent years - battlefield trees" that stood during the battle - Lawhon explained how preservationists nonetheless have found themselves in a bringing back the historic landscape enhances the visitor's succession of skirmishes over the last eight years to halt experience. construction of a planned casino near the southwestern corner of the battlefield. "You can see how Sickles would have taken shelter in the orchard, how troops brought artillery cannon pieces up Trostle's Developers two years ago lost their bid for a casino license and lane to help him," she said. "And why he made the decisions he the project was shelved. did."

Two years ago, the park with private funds completed purchase of the 100-acre Gettysburg Country Club, on the western edge of the park where Confederate and Union troops clashed on the battle's first day. The rehabilitation strategy there is essentially planned neglect.

Park spokeswoman Katie Lawhon said they were letting the once well-groomed greens go fallow as the park winds down its rehabilitation to-do list.

This spring, the park finally demolished the massive Cyclorama building that stood along at the heart of the battlefield.

The concrete structure was erected in 1963 to house the historic Cyclorama painting depicting Pickett's Charge, now displayed in the new visitors center a mile away.

Lovers of modern architecture and the son of its famed architect, Richard Neutra, fought until the bulldozers arrived to preserve it, arguing that it, too, was now part of the historic Gettysburg landscape.

Removing the building has allowed the park service to reclaim Civil War Trust Announces Another Successful Ziegler's Grove, where Union soldiers repelled Gen. 's forces on the battle's final day. Year For Battlefield Preservation NATIONAL NONPROFIT PROTECTED 2,700 ACRES OF Lawhon said future plans for the park will be less noticeable to HALLOWED GROUND IN 2013 — INCLUDING SOME the average visitor: maintaining the landscape, keeping tree OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT PROJECTS IN THE growth at bay, caring for the orchards, and repairing fencing. ORGANIZATION’S HISTORY — AS IT ECLIPSED THE 38,500 ACRES SAVED MARK

5 Cape May County Civil War Round Table Newsletter = February 2014

(Washington, D.C.) – In a year when Americans completed a $3.6 million national fundraising campaign to commemorated the 150th anniversary of some of the most preserve 56 acres atop historic Fleetwood Hill on the Brandy momentous battles of the Civil War, the Civil War Trust Station Battlefield in Virginia. These two campaigns were continued its crusade to preserve the nation’s most significant among the most ambitious in the organization’s history. hallowed ground. Thanks to the generosity of its nearly 200,000 members and supporters, coupled with its strategic partnerships Throughout the year, the Trust strove to coordinate preservation with government officials and nonprofit groups throughout the initiatives with the ongoing 150th anniversary commemoration nation, the Trust protected more than 2,700 acres of battlefield of the Civil War. Most notably, the Trust protected 109 acres at land in 2013. This brings the total acreage saved by the Reed’s Bridge , the site of the opening clash of the Battle of organization to 38,500 acres at 122 historic sites Chickamauga, in a campaign that coincided with the battle’s sesquicentennial. This success at Chickamauga was announced “Without a doubt, 2013 will long be remembered as one of the during the Tennessee Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission’s most exciting years in the history of battlefield preservation,” October 2013 signature event. Trust president James Lighthizer said. “Thanks to the steadfast dedication of our members, friends and partners, we have protected 2,700 acres of the most hallowed ground in America. It is a proud legacy of the Civil War sesquicentennial commemoration that will be enjoyed for many generations to come.”

Working closely in cooperation with willing landowners and preservation partners, the Trust completed 47 transactions at 30 individual battlefields in 10 states. The battlefields where land was preserved in 2013: Antietam, Md.; Ball’s Bluff, Va.; Bentonville, N.C.; Brandy Station, Va.; Brice’s Crossroads, Miss.; Cedar Mountain, Va.; Chancellorsville, Va.; Chattanooga, Tenn.; Chickamauga, Ga.; Cold Harbor, Va.; Cool Spring, Va.; Deep Bottom, Va.; Fort Donelson, Tenn.; Gettysburg, Pa.; Glendale, Va.; Harpers Ferry, W.Va.; High

Bridge, Va.; Kelly’s Ford, Va.; Malvern Hill, Va.; Peeble’s Cotton Gin Park rendering Farm, Va.; Perryville, Ky.; Rappahannock Station, Va.; Sailor’s Creek, Va.; Second Manassas, Va.; Shepherdstown, W.Va.; These 2,700 acres of hallowed ground preserved in 2013 would South Mountain, Md.; Totopotomoy Creek, Va.; Vicksburg, not have been saved without the dedication of Trust partners: Miss.; White Oak Road, Va.; Wilson’s Creek, Mo. American Battlefield Protection Program, National Park Service, Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site, Jefferson County Historic Landmarks Commission, North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site, Tennessee Historical Commission, Tennessee Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission, Tennessee Department of Transportation, Virginia Department of Historic Resources, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation and Virginia Department of Transportation. Numerous organizations also contributed to these preservation successes, including Brandy Station Foundation, Brice’s Crossroads National Battlefield Commission, Cedar Mountain Stone, CFC Farm Center, Culpeper Wood Preservers , Franklin’s Charge, Friends of Cedar Mountain Battlefield, Central Virginia Historian Bud Hall holds a picture of the "for sale" signs and Battlefields Trust, Friends of Vicksburg National Military Park development proposals that once threatened the land where he's and Campaign, Georgia Battlefields Association, Georgia standing, now owned by the Trust. Piedmont Land Trust, Historic Polegreen Church Foundation, Journey Through Hallowed Ground , Kipps Nursery, Land Particularly exciting was the acquisition of two properties Conservancy of Adams County, Land Trust for Tennessee, Land targeted for decades by the battlefield preservation community. Trust of the Eastern Panhandle, Lyndhurst Foundation of In February, the Trust and Franklin's Charge announced the Chattanooga, Maryland Environmental Trust, Maryland preservation of the Dominos strip center in Franklin, Tenn., the Historical Trust, Mill Springs Battlefield Association, National centerpiece of a three-year campaign that included multiple Parks Conservation Association, Northern Virginia Regional parcels and fundraising totaling more than $3.2 million. A few Park Authority, Piedmont Environmental Council, Richmond months later, in August, the Trust announced it had successfully Battlefields Association, Battlefields 6 Cape May County Civil War Round Table Newsletter = February 2014

Foundation, Shepherdstown Battlefield Preservation prestigious 2013 Top-Rated Award by GreatNonprofits, the Association, Shenandoah University, Williams Family leading provider of user reviews about nonprofit organizations. Foundation of Georgia and Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield In addition, Charity Navigator, America’s leading charity Foundation. evaluator, awarded the Trust its fifth-consecutive 4-star rating, an honor bestowed on only four percent of charities assessed by “These are selfless individuals and organizations who continue the organization. to stand by the Trust and our members – year in and year out – to save America’s hallowed ground,” Lighthizer said. “Our job “This was a truly remarkable year for the Trust, but I would be would be a whole lot harder without the tireless efforts of these remiss if I did not remark on the tremendous loss of our friend, leaders, along with many of our elected officials who fight – former chairman and a beacon in the battlefield preservation tooth and nail – for programs essential to our efforts.” movement, Henry Simpson,” Lighthizer said. “First and foremost, Henry was my friend. He was a born leader who In addition to its land acquisition successes, the Trust continues motivated and inspired a new generation of battlefield promoting greater appreciation and understanding of the Civil preservationists. Henry will be sorely missed, but with the War through its innovative educational programs and digital guidance of our new chairman, Michael Grainger, we will honor offerings. In 2013, the group’s flagship website, his service and his memory by preserving even more of www.civilwar.org , received more than 4.5 million unique visits America’s hallowed ground in the coming year.” – an increase of 83 percent from 2012. Moreover, fans of the Trust’s Facebook page increased by 30 percent to more than Governor McDonnell Announces Donation of 181,000 users. Battlefield Lands to Commonwealth by Wal-Mart

Building on the momentum of the ongoing commemoration of DONATED LAND IN ORANGE COUNTY IS AFFILIATED the sesquicentennial of the Civil War, the Trust introduced WITH BATTLES OF CHANCELLORSVILLE AND several interactive offerings highlighting battles and events WILDERNESS commemorating 150th anniversaries in 2013. Over the course of the year, the Trust debuted 360 degree panoramic tours of the Gettysburg and Chattanooga battlefields, which are available via www.civilwar.org/360 . The organization also released three additions to its Battle App® series that provide GPS-enabled, multimedia smartphone tours of Vicksburg, Gettysburg and Appomattox. More than 200,000 users downloaded one of these products in 2013. In addition, the Trust unveiled the Civil War In4 web series and launched a new website that provides a fresh perspective on America’s most famous speech: “Behind the (Richmond, Va.) - Scenes: Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.” Governor Bob McDonnell announced today that Wal-Mart has donated to the Commonwealth of Virginia more than 50 acres of land in Orange County associated with the Civil War battle of Chancellorsville and most notably with the battle of the Wilderness.

“We are delighted by this generous and voluntary gift from Wal-Mart,” said Governor McDonnell. “It’s another demonstration of Wal-Mart’s role as a good and positive corporate citizen in Virginia, whose presence here serves long range goals for our vitality.”

Henry Jordan, Senior Vice President, Eastern Seaboard Wal- Mart said, “Wal-Mart is extremely pleased that we have both found a home for our new store in Orange County while donating the property at the originally proposed site to the Panorama View of Lookout Mountain Commonwealth. In this way, we have been able to give back to the community and serve the needs of our customers.” During 2013, the Trust received a variety of awards and recognitions for its work. In July, its membership magazine, Virginia’s Department of Historic Resources, the agency that Hallowed Ground, again earned top honors for outstanding will receive and steward the donated land, has worked quietly quality through the APEX Awards for Publication Excellence – with Wal-Mart to complete a the donation documents and its its fifth-consecutive Grand Award. The organization also acceptance. Those documents are now final and will be record continued to earn accolades for its sound fiscal management and by Wal-Mart. The department holds or co-holds numerous commitment to top-notch donor relations, receiving a easements on thousands of acres of privately-owned battlefield 7 Cape May County Civil War Round Table Newsletter = February 2014 lands throughout the commonwealth, easements that protect the “With this donation, Wal-Mart successfully fulfils the lands from future development. commitment made in 2011 to choose an alternate site and work to set aside the original location,” said Jim Lighthizer, president “This is a wonderful legacy gift from Wal-Mart that comes of the Civil War Trust. “The Commonwealth and Virginia’s during the mid-point of the Sesquicentennial of the Civil War,” Department of Historic Resources are ideally suited to be said Kathleen S. Kilpatrick, director of the Department of stewards of this resource, safeguarding its integrity for future Historic Resources. “We look forward to working with generations of Americans to visit and study. We deeply community leaders to steward the property and realize its appreciate Wal-Mart’s gift and the Commonwealth’s potential for public benefit. We are grateful to the Company willingness to facilitate this important milestone in the and to Speaker Bill Howell, Chairman of the Sesquicentennial protection of battlefield lands.” Commission, for his work to encourage the donation.”

“On behalf of the entire Sesquicentennial Commission, I want to thank Wal-Mart for this generous donation,” added Speaker Bill Howell. “The Civil War is an important part of Virginia’s history. This donation will allow for the preservation of these historic lands for future generations.”

Wal-Mart had originally purchased the land, which was zoned for development, for construction of a Wal-Mart Supercenter store, a decision the company was willing to revisit when the site’s close affiliation with Chancellorsville and Wilderness were brought to light.

Wal-Mart has since then selected, purchased, and constructed a store at an alternative site four miles west of the original site located at the intersection of Routes 3 and 20. The company’s alternative site was supported by the National Trust for Historic USS Monitor Preservation, the Civil War Trust, and other groups who today applauded the donation.

Cape May County Civil War Round Table

Cmccwrt.com

8 Cape May County Civil War Round Table Newsletter = February 2014