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Virginia Battlefields Make the ‘Most Endangered’ List
Preservation Virginia, the nation’s oldest statewide preservation organizations, included two Civil War battlefields in their annual list of the most endangered historic sites in Virginia. The Bristoe Station and Williamsburg battlefields were two of the eleven sites to gain this solemn designation in 2014. Despite their designation by the National Park Service as major actions, both battles have been largely neglected.
The listing resulted from two concerted grassroots efforts by local organizations that have been committed to the preservation of these sites.
Of the estimated 10,500 engagements during the Civil War, 384 are recognized by the American Battlefield Protection Program (NPS). 123 of those or 32 percent of the total are within the Commonwealth of Virginia. While frequently forgotten today, the battles of Bristoe Station and Williamsburg were pivotal engagements. The Civil War Sites Advisory Council (NPS) denotes Bristoe Station as a “Class A” battlefield, meaning that it had “a decisive influence on a campaign and a direct impact on the course of the war.” Williamsburg was ranked as a “Class B” battlefield, meaning that it has “a direct and decisive influence” on a campaign.
Bristoe Station, a small stop on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad in Prince William County would become one of the most fought-over ground in all of Virginia. The land attributed to the Battle of Bristoe Station is also the site of the 1862 Battle of Kettle Run, numerous maneuvers, and Confederate winter camps. On October 14, 1863 lead elements of Confederate General A.P. Hill’s corps caught Union General Meade’s rearguard at Bristoe Station. Using the Orange and Alexandria railroad bed for cover, Union troops easily repulsed the haphazard Confederate assault. The bloody nature of the attacks shocked the Confederates and allowed Meade to retreat that night. The Confederates suffered nearly 1,400 casualties, while the Federals sustained only 500. Additionally, three southern flags were captured and seven Union soldiers received the Medal of Honor for their actions that day. As a result of the casualties, Confederate President Jefferson Davis accused Hill of “a want of vigilance.”
Today, the area around Bristoe Station is part of fast-developing Northern Virginia. Housing developments, commercial strip malls, and a possible commercial cemetery on the battlefield continue to threaten this hallowed ground.
The Bristoe Station battlefield, in addition to its “Class A” distinction, was also listed as a “Priority I” battlefield in 1994. This meant that the battlefield had a “critical need for action by the Year 2000.” Today, only 140 acres of the 5,722 acre battlefield are preserved as a county park through the efforts of the Civil War Trust. Local groups such as the Bull Run Civil War Roundtable have stepped up to educate the community about the importance of protecting the site.
Located at the narrowest point on the strategic Virginia Peninsula, the Battle of Williamsburg (fought on May 5, 1862) was aimed at delaying the Union Army of the Potomac and its march on Richmond. While it was quickly out-shadowed in the newspapers, soldiers in blue and grey were still writing home about Williamsburg. For most, it was their first combat experience. For others, their fight around the old colonial capitol was analogous to those struggles of the American Revolution. At the end of the day over 4,000 soldiers lay dead or dying around the old colonial capital. Union General Hancock earned his moniker “The Superb,” and seven soldiers received the Medal of Honor for actions. Williamsburg also seasoned both officers and enlisted men, providing them with the experiences which would set the tone for the rest of the war. Lastly, as part of a larger campaign, it made clear that the issue and institution of slavery could no longer be ignored.
152 years later, Williamsburg’s Civil War story is still overshadowed. Ironically, surrounded by other nationally-renowned historic sites, rarely do residents or visitors even know about the battlefield. The 2009 Civil War Sites Advisory Council reported only three percent of the 10,369-acre battlefield was preserved and that it “needed additional protection.” By 2010 when the Civil War Trust declared the site “at risk,” no friends group, preservation plan or interest existed. Today only 342 acres of the battlefield are preserved. Concurrent with this latest recognition by Preservation Virginia, hundreds of acres are being developed. In response to this continued threat the Williamsburg Battlefield Association has emerged as a local grassroots organization to advocate for the preservation of the remaining acreage.
Both the Bull Run Civil War Roundtable and the Williamsburg Battlefield Association strive to educate the public about their region’s lesser-known Civil War history. Furthermore, they network with regional and national organizations and advocate for the preservation of these sites. The nomination to the “Most Endangered List” helps spread the word about these sites to a larger audience and epitomizes the type of grassroots work required to prevent the total loss of these cultural resources. The listing opens larger conversations within communities in an educational manner – aimed at defusing politics and avoiding disparaging property owners. By garnering a larger, better-educated audience, these two organizations add strength to their efforts at the local municipal level where land use decisions are made. Additionally, these efforts afford the organizations the experience and partnerships they need to launch successful advocacy campaigns, to document the sites, and to remain relevant as community organizations. Both nominating organizations hope that more land can be preserved and interpreted to visitors and that the battlefield landscapes will become a benefit to their local communities.
In the height of the sesquicentennial commemorations it is hard to escape the apparent omnipresence of the Civil War. From the TV, news stands, museums, and parks to nation-wide fundraisers by land trusts, it seems almost every eye is turned towards this aspect of our nation’s story. However, despite this attention hundreds of battlefields go unnoticed and are threatened with development everyday. It is only through the hard work and constant efforts of local groups and individuals that preservation initiatives are successful.
Preservation Virginia, the nation’s oldest statewide preservation organizations, included two Civil War battlefields in their annual list of the most endangered historic sites in Virginia. The Bristoe Station and Williamsburg battlefields were two of the eleven sites to gain this solemn designation in 2014. Despite their designation by the National Park Service as major actions, both battles have been largely neglected.
The listing resulted from two concerted grassroots efforts by local organizations that have been committed to the preservation of these sites.
Of the estimated 10,500 engagements during the Civil War, 384 are recognized by the American Battlefield Protection Program (NPS). 123 of those or 32 percent of the total are within the Commonwealth of Virginia. While frequently forgotten today, the battles of Bristoe Station and Williamsburg were pivotal engagements. The Civil War Sites Advisory Council (NPS) denotes Bristoe Station as a “Class A” battlefield, meaning that it had “a decisive influence on a campaign and a direct impact on the course of the war.” Williamsburg was ranked as a “Class B” battlefield, meaning that it has “a direct and decisive influence” on a campaign.
Bristoe Station, a small stop on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad in Prince William County would become one of the most fought-over ground in all of Virginia. The land attributed to the Battle of Bristoe Station is also the site of the 1862 Battle of Kettle Run, numerous maneuvers, and Confederate winter camps. On October 14, 1863 lead elements of Confederate General A.P. Hill’s corps caught Union General Meade’s rearguard at Bristoe Station. Using the Orange and Alexandria railroad bed for cover, Union troops easily repulsed the haphazard Confederate assault. The bloody nature of the attacks shocked the Confederates and allowed Meade to retreat that night. The Confederates suffered nearly 1,400 casualties, while the Federals sustained only 500. Additionally, three southern flags were captured and seven Union soldiers received the Medal of Honor for their actions that day. As a result of the casualties, Confederate President Jefferson Davis accused Hill of “a want of vigilance.”
Today, the area around Bristoe Station is part of fast-developing Northern Virginia. Housing developments, commercial strip malls, and a possible commercial cemetery on the battlefield continue to threaten this hallowed ground.
The Bristoe Station battlefield, in addition to its “Class A” distinction, was also listed as a “Priority I” battlefield in 1994. This meant that the battlefield had a “critical need for action by the Year 2000.” Today, only 140 acres of the 5,722 acre battlefield are preserved as a county park through the efforts of the Civil War Trust. Local groups such as the Bull Run Civil War Roundtable have stepped up to educate the community about the importance of protecting the site.
Located at the narrowest point on the strategic Virginia Peninsula, the Battle of Williamsburg (fought on May 5, 1862) was aimed at delaying the Union Army of the Potomac and its march on Richmond. While it was quickly out-shadowed in the newspapers, soldiers in blue and grey were still writing home about Williamsburg. For most, it was their first combat experience. For others, their fight around the old colonial capitol was analogous to those struggles of the American Revolution. At the end of the day over 4,000 soldiers lay dead or dying around the old colonial capital. Union General Hancock earned his moniker “The Superb,” and seven soldiers received the Medal of Honor for actions. Williamsburg also seasoned both officers and enlisted men, providing them with the experiences which would set the tone for the rest of the war. Lastly, as part of a larger campaign, it made clear that the issue and institution of slavery could no longer be ignored.
152 years later, Williamsburg’s Civil War story is still overshadowed. Ironically, surrounded by other nationally-renowned historic sites, rarely do residents or visitors even know about the battlefield. The 2009 Civil War Sites Advisory Council reported only three percent of the 10,369-acre battlefield was preserved and that it “needed additional protection.” By 2010 when the Civil War Trust declared the site “at risk,” no friends group, preservation plan or interest existed. Today only 342 acres of the battlefield are preserved. Concurrent with this latest recognition by Preservation Virginia, hundreds of acres are being developed. In response to this continued threat the Williamsburg Battlefield Association has emerged as a local grassroots organization to advocate for the preservation of the remaining acreage.
Both the Bull Run Civil War Roundtable and the Williamsburg Battlefield Association strive to educate the public about their region’s lesser-known Civil War history. Furthermore, they network with regional and national organizations and advocate for the preservation of these sites. The nomination to the “Most Endangered List” helps spread the word about these sites to a larger audience and epitomizes the type of grassroots work required to prevent the total loss of these cultural resources. The listing opens larger conversations within communities in an educational manner – aimed at defusing politics and avoiding disparaging property owners. By garnering a larger, better-educated audience, these two organizations add strength to their efforts at the local municipal level where land use decisions are made. Additionally, these efforts afford the organizations the experience and partnerships they need to launch successful advocacy campaigns, to document the sites, and to remain relevant as community organizations. Both nominating organizations hope that more land can be preserved and interpreted to visitors and that the battlefield landscapes will become a benefit to their local communities.
In the height of the sesquicentennial commemorations it is hard to escape the apparent omnipresence of the Civil War. From the TV, news stands, museums, and parks to nation-wide fundraisers by land trusts, it seems almost every eye is turned towards this aspect of our nation’s story. However, despite this attention hundreds of battlefields go unnoticed and are threatened with development everyday. It is only through the hard work and constant efforts of local groups and individuals that preservation initiatives are successful.