McDowell Battlefield - SAVED!

[BobDenton37thVA]

Folks,

I am pleased to announce that last month the Lee-Jackson Foundation closed on the remaining 422-acre piece of the McDowell Battlefield. With this purchase, the entire 572-acres of the "bloody ground" of the Battle of McDowell have been saved for the enjoyment and education of current and future generations of civil war enthusiast and historians. The section that completed the site's preservation included the position of the entire Confederate center (including the 12th GA) and left flank, the Federal right flank, and the approaches used by the Federals as they moved into position to assault the position of the 12th GA.

We want to thank the efforts of all our donors, the reenactment community, and supporters over the past 10 years, who have all contributed greatly to this worthy effort. McDowell comprises the only battle site of Jackson's Valley Campaign that has been wholly preserved, the remaining sites (1st Kernstown, Front Royal, 1st Winchester, etc.) having been either obliterated by development or under tremendous development pressure.

Here's a link to an article in the Highland Recorder that gives the details of the sale:

http://therecorderonline.com/index.php?id=858

With regards,
Bob Denton
Battle of McDowell 2007 Event Committee

[Dignann]

Re: McDowell Battlefield - SAVED!

Excellent news, Bob!! I have no doubt that your McDowell events had some involvement in this. I dare say that few of us knew much about the Battle of McDowell, let alone where it was fought, prior to attending our first event there. That, coupled with the public awareness that the battles and living histories generated, opened the eyes of many people.

Eric

[Eric Tipton]

Re: McDowell Battlefield - SAVED!

Bob:

That is great to hear! Congratulations to all you boys out there for your hard work. Eric is right, you guys have done a helluva job of keeping people aware of this site.

[lthull3rdla]

Re: McDowell Battlefield - SAVED!

This is certainly great news!!!

Lthull3rdla
Shreveport, La

[Richmond Depot]

Re: McDowell Battlefield - SAVED!

Excellent news Bob. Your efforts have really paid off.

[NYCivilWar]

Re: McDowell Battlefield - SAVED!

Bob,

This is certainly great news! Does the foundation have any plans to increase their interpretation of the battle with this new addition to their holdings; be it through waysides or interpretive programs?

Kyle M. Stetz

[Michael Comer]

Re: McDowell Battlefield - SAVED!

Beuatiful area, McDowell. While familiar with the military action, I had never seen that part of the country until I came out there with the ad hoc Western company in 2005. I was very impressed with the look of the land and locality and am very glad to see it has been preserved. My thanks go out to all those that have worked so hard to make this happen.

[Marc]

Re: McDowell Battlefield - SAVED!

Congrats Bob, I guess all those past events in the cold and rain and the mud were all worth everyones' time and effort.:D

[BobDenton37thVA]

Re: McDowell Battlefield - SAVED!

Bob,

This is certainly great news! Does the foundation have any plans to increase their interpretation of the battle with this new addition to their holdings; be it through waysides or interpretive programs?

Kyle M. Stetz

Kyle,

We're really not sure of the eventual fate of the Lee-Jackson Foundation's acquisition other than it has been preserved "in perpetuo". We are all pushing for an increased interpretive effort, particularly up on Sitlington's Hill (the core battlefield). The trail system is really quite inadequate, there are only a few interpretive signs, and some of them are factually incorrect. This is not surprising though, as the battlefield is about 75% wooded and the terrain difficult to "read".

Our fund-raising efforts at the event this year will principally go towards the endowment of the new Allegheny Highlands Museum in the Town of McDowell, which also serves as the interpretive center for the battlefield. But we have been "suggesting" the battlefield needs work, which it surely does. One of the things we'll be doing prior to this year's event (we just got permission from Lee-Jackson to do it) will be removing some broken down (and really quite dangerous) barbed-wire fences that run just below the 12th GA position and also perpendicular to it. One of these fences has only a strand or two left, and it would be easy for someone to trip or cut themselves quite badly on it. We'll also be cleaning up deadfall, which will be converted into firewood for this years event.

Regards,
Bob D.