$2 Million Federal Grant Goes to Slaughter Pen Farm

[Dignann]

A good day for battlefield preservation.


Feds give $2 million to save Slaughter Pen Farm

Money will help save Slaughter Pen Farm in Fredericksburg, one of the most historically significant properties in the nation

By The Associated Press
October 16, 2006

Federal officials will give $2 million toward efforts to preserve historic Slaughter Pen Farm in Fredericksburg, helping protect what has been called one of the most historically significant properties in the nation, officials said Monday.

The gift will come in the form of a matching grant, U.S. Secretary of Interior Dirk Kempthorne said at a press conference that marked the first public event held at the site.

The cash will go toward a $12 million fundraising effort by the Civil War Preservation Trust to buy the property, recently threatened by burgeoning development.

"This federal grant is a crucial component in our campaign," said James Lighthizer, president of the nonprofit group. "Without it, we would simply be unable to meet our $12 million goal."

More than 5,000 casualties were inflicted at the farm during the Battle of Fredericksburg on Dec. 13, 1862, one of the most intense battles of the Civil War. Five Congressional Medals of Honor for valor were awarded for actions taken there that day.

But recent history hasn't been kind to the 208-acre property, located along historical Tidewater Trail in a booming commercial region. The property is near a major rail line and is zoned for industrial use, which preservationists say is tempting for commercial developers.

With loan help, the group was able to purchase the property after it went to market in December. Group leaders have since embarked on a major fundraising campaign and what has been called the most expensive private battlefield preservation effort in American history.

"The effort to preserve the Slaughter Pen Farm is a model for conservation partnerships throughout the nation," Kempthorne said.

The Civil War Preservation Trust has 70,000 members, and has saved more than 23,000 acres

http://www.fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2006/102006/10162006/1016farm

Eric

[billmatt04]

Re: $2 Million Federal Grant Goes to Slaughter Pen Farm

Hurrah! Glad that we're getting something from them. Are they matching it dollar for dollar from private donations?

[ley74]

Re: $2 Million Federal Grant Goes to Slaughter Pen Farm

Eric:

We looked for you at the dedication this morning. Were you there? It was a good crowd and the walking tour was first rate.

[Dignann]

Re: $2 Million Federal Grant Goes to Slaughter Pen Farm

Ley,

Yes, I was there. Sorry I missed you. It was a good crowd and Frank does give a good tour. Here's the transcript from his podium speech.


Slaughter Pen speech

Speech read by Frank O’Reilly, a historian with the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, while conducting a walking tour of Slaughter Pen, a crucial component of the December 1862 Battle of Fredericksburg.

Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star
October 16, 2006

This field is farming ground.

This field is battleground.

This field is hallowed.

This land was made fruitful by the sweat and toil of man.

This land also became the altar forthe of man.

On Dec. 13, 1862, this field became the frontline of the entire Civil War.

Union and Confederate soldiers paired off across this land at the mid-point between the opposing capitols of Washington and Richmond. This was the only point where the Union army had a legitimate chance at victory.

Union artillery set up here and pummeled the hills before you; and 8,000 Union soldiers rolled across this farm field and into those trees.

The Union army reached theConfederate line--and broke through.

But they met with General Stonewall Jackson, who contained the breakthrough and forced the Union troops back.

Confederates emerged from the trees ahead, and some surged into the field to capture the Union cannon.

They were stopped dead by a devastating fire, which forced them to leave this open field as well.

Five men earned the Medal of Honor on this field.

Over 9,000 men ended up killed, wounded or missing on this end of the battlefield--up toward half of them in this open field.

This is where the battle of Fredericksburg was won and lost on Dec. 13,1862. Once the Union lost here, there was nothing it could do to alter the outcome of the battle.

The aftermath was stirring and appalling. Both victors and vanquished were moved to pathos by this field.

Gen. Robert E. Lee was particularly struck by the remarkable contrast between the morning and the afternoon: All the pomp and circumstance of neatly aligned units, marching with precision, shoulder to shoulder, following colorful flags and banners--only to be replaced by broken clumps of disorganized survivors who limped back amid a field of death, destruction and mayhem.

He whispered to his chief lieutenant with emotion: "It is well that war is so terrible, or we would grow too fond of it."

A veteran of the area battlefields returned many years later, and met with the men he had once fought against.

He spoke of this entire area when he said: "This spot should be consecrated ground. No other has drunk so deeply of brave men's blood. The individual acts of valor and heroism performed here can never be known or properly told.

While revering the memory of our brave comrades who so gallantly fought through this unparalleled conflict of arms, I cannot but feel my heart stirred with a thrill of soldierly pride and admiration for the brave men on the other side [as well]."

This ground was nurtured by the labor of man, and it was consecrated by the valor of man--and saved by the dedication of man.

http://www.fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2006/102006/10122006/1016slaughterspeech

Eric

[DougCooper]

Re: $2 Million Federal Grant Goes to Slaughter Pen Farm

I am struck by this speed much the same as Edwin Everett felt after Lincoln's Gettysburg address...Frank said it all, extremely well, in a few minutes. Bravo...

Folks as this year moves toward winter, we should celebrate this one far and wide. We have a long way to go and many of us labor tirelessly to help CWPT, CVBT, Friends of various fields, etc in the struggle to save these fields from development, natures wrath and simple neglect. Take a moment and reflect on the victories of 2006 and resolve to keep it going...and if not yet on board, get involved to enable future victories. A good start is to join CWPT and/or your local preservation organization...and if you can, help us out on the ACPP.

[Dignann]

Re: $2 Million Federal Grant Goes to Slaughter Pen Farm

Saving Slaughter Pen

Civil War Preservation Trust gets $2 million from federal government toward its quest to raise $12 million to cover the purchase price of Slaughter Pen Farm

By RUSTY DENNEN

Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star
October 17, 2006

DIRK Kempthorne was thanking the Civil War Preservation Trust for saving a key part of the Battle of Fredericksburg, a small American flag behind the podium fluttered in the breeze, then toppled over.

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Kempthorne paused during the ceremony at Slaughter Pen Farm yesterday morning as several people rushed forward to reposition the Stars and Stripes.

He didn't miss a beat.

"I don't know how you felt," he told the 160 people gathered on the field under a crisp blue sky when the flag hit the ground. "But how many flags fell?" he wondered about Dec. 13, 1862, when the Spotsylvania County cornfield earned its name. It became known as the "slaughter pen" after the Union Army failed to dislodge dug-in Confederates on a nearby ridge.

Kempthorne was among dignitaries who spoke at the farm on Tidewater Trail, east of Shannon Airport. He was there to announce that the federal government was chipping in $2 million toward CWPT's $12 million purchase of the property.

Kempthorne, a former U.S. senator and former Idaho governor, praised the preservation group for its efforts to save Civil War sites. His great-grandfather, Pvt. Charles Kempthorne, fought with a Wisconsin infantry unit and was wounded at Antietam, Md.

"Abraham Lincoln said any nation that does not honor its heroes will not endure. Today, we honor our heroes," Kempthorne said.

The $2 million is part of a grant from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund.

The Washington-based CWPT purchased the property, known locally as the Pierson Farm, in June. It was the highest price ever paid by a private preservation group for Civil War land.

CWPT borrowed the money from SunTrust Bank, which gave it favorable terms. CWPT has been hustling to raise the money to cover the purchase.

In addition to the $2 million pledged by Kempthorne, CWPT has raised about $1 million from its membership, and the Fredericksburg-based Central Virginia Battlefields Trust has pledged another $1 million.

Money also is available from the Virginia Civil War Sites Preservation Fund, created during this year's General Assembly session. The legislature appropriated $500,000 for the program and CWPT can apply for a grant.

House Speaker Bill Howell, R-Stafford County, and State Sen. Edd Houck, D-Spotsylvania, were instrumental in creating that program, and were present yesterday.

"This is a great moment--just a tremendous opportunity to put aside land so historic and so valuable," Howell said. The event was the culmination of public and private initiative, which the state supports.

Houck said the need to preserve important sites is evident.

"This is my home county. When I moved here, there were 20,000 people. Now it's in excess of 100,000. Development creates economic development, but it also encroaches on hallowed grounds," he said.

CWPT President Jim Lighthizer said only a concerted effort made the purchase possible.

"So this is truly a remarkable event. It didn't happen by accident; it was a partnership of a lot of people," he said, reading a long list of thank yous including Spotsylvania County officials.

"We're about where we wanted to be at this point, about a third of the way, maybe a little more toward our fundraising goal," said Jim Campi, a CWPT spokesman.

CWPT members Fred and Susan Forman drove down from Fairfax with their dogs, Magellan and Molly, to see the trust's newest acquisition.

After seeing development in and around Fairfax, "battlefield preservation is important to us," Fred Forman said.

Frank O'Reilly, a National Park Service historian, put the importance of Slaughter Pen in perspective, telling the crowd, "Union and Confederate soldiers paired off across this land at the mid-point between the opposing capitals of Washington and Richmond. This was the only point where the Union army had a legitimate chance at victory.

"This is where the Battle of Fredericksburg was won and lost. Once the Union lost here, there was nothing it could do to alter the outcome. "

He then led a two-hour walking tour of the 208-acre site where more than 9,000 men were killed, wounded or missing that day--over half of them in a corn-stubble field behind where an old farmhouse now stands.

Five Union soldiers earned the Medal of Honor on the killing fields of Slaughter Pen Farm.

And O'Reilly noted this is where Gen. Robert E. Lee, after the battle, uttered the words, "It is well that war is so terrible, or we would grow too fond of it."

http://www.fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2006/102006/10172006/229661/index_html?page=1

Eric