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Preservation group hopes to preserve another 85 acres at Chancellorsville Date published: 11/17/2009
By RUSTY DENNEN A key piece of the Chancellorsville Battlefield associated with Confederate Gen. Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson's 1863 flank attack is the next acquisition target of a Civil War preservation group. The Civil War Preservation Trust yesterday announced a $2.1 million campaign to buy 85 acres, known as the Wagner Tract, along State Route 3 east of Wilderness Church. The property includes 2,000 feet of frontage on the north shoulder of historic Orange Plank Road and lies within Chancellorsville Battlefield. There, on May 2, 1863, Jackson led the flanking maneuver during bloody fighting that turned the tide of the battle in favor of the South. "This land is arguably one of the most historically significant pieces of hallowed ground CWPT has ever saved, and we have just got to get it," said James Lighthizer, the organization's president. Historian Robert K. Krick said yesterday that preservationists have been talking to Frank Wagner, a Fredericksburg veterinarian, for several years about acquiring the land. "This is a big one. I'm prone to say this is the second-most-important [battlefield] land in the country" behind a tract on the Richmond battlefield, Krick said. "We've taken the initiative because this is so stunningly important." Timing is crucial, CWPT spokesman Jim Campi added. The Washington, D.C.-based preservation group is seeking $708,300 from the Virginia Civil War Historic Site Preservation Fund which expires in December. CWPT hopes for another $500,000 from the federal Transportation Enhancement Program. The remainder will come from donations from CWPT members. The trust has preserved other significant land at Chancellorsville, including 215 acres where the battle raged on its opening day. The purchase price for that was $4 million. The Battle of Chancellorsville began May 1, 1863, and lasted almost three days. It was considered Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's greatest victory. Lee divided his army in the face of superior Union forces, sending Jackson on his 12-mile flanking march around the Army of the Potomac. After the Confederate rout of the Union 11th Corps, Jackson was accidentally shot by his own men and died five days later. The Fredericksburg area has been a prime focus for CWPT's preservation efforts. Three years ago, in its biggest purchase ever, CWPT bought Slaughter Pen Farm for $12 million. The 216 acres east of Fredericksburg on Tidewater Trail links critical components of the Battle of Fredericksburg. Other major CWPT acquisitions in Virginia: 1,708 acres at Trevilian Station in Louisa County, for $1.9 million; Glendale in Henrico County, 566 acres for $5.6 million; Third Winchester in the Shenandoah Valley, 431 acres, $5.8 million. For an interview by Robert Krick on the site, civilwar.org/video/bob-krick-at-the-wagner-tract.html More by Robert Krick on Jackson's flank attack, civilwar.org/battlefields/chancellorsville/chancellorsville-histo ry-articles/flankattackkrick.html For a map of the property, civilwar.org/battlefields/chancellors ville/maps/flankattackmap.html Rusty Dennen: 540/374-5431
Date published: 11/17/2009
of Virginia was part of the Civil War, why then do they build houses in some places and then preserve other plots of land? Surely, some people have their homes built on "hallowed ground." Are they going to do one of those silly reenactments on this land, keeping the war going in the minds of the people?
Said Virginia is $2.8 billion short. You'd have us believe an organization with republican's could get state money by a lame duck. CWPT should do what's best for the commonwealth and refuse the money considering our budget situation.
Struggling to understand the lens of ignorance that concludes that the Civil War Preservation Trust is a group of "those liberals."
The state is broke (i.e. rest areas) but he is going to give these liberal's $708,000 to buy land. If your family was having a financial disaster, would you be out buying land with your last bit of savings???
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