Central Virginia Battlefield Trust 25th Anniversary Celebration
September 2021 marked CVBT’s 25th year of preserving endangered battlefields in central Virginia. “To date we have saved over 1,520 acres of battlefields that would have been lost forever, and we are proud of this accomplishment,” stated CVBT President Tom Van Winkle. “This is a testament to our founders, successive leadership, and board members.”
In celebration of the last quarter century CVBT presented a special three-day conference, October 8 through the 10. The event kicked off Friday evening at the CVBT office with the Presidents Reception. The event included complimentary beer
ABT President David Duncan (far right) CVBT President Tom Van Winkle (center) CVBT Executive Director Terry Rensel (left) ABT presentation to CVBT. and wine and a full array of hot and cold hors d’oeuvres created by Lisa Van Winkle. Indoor and outdoor tables were provided to allow attendees to be comfortable in a group. Guests were able to catch up with each other after postponement of many gatherings due to the pandemic as well as visit the CVBT base of operations.
Saturday was tour day. Remaining vigilant of the COVID situation, transportation to the two tour stops were by guests’ individual vehicles. Starting the day at 9:00 a.m. the group assembled at Salem Church, part of the May 1863 Chancellorsville campaign. Known in the preservation community as the “lost battlefield,” this site helped to start the local preservation movement in Central Virginia. Historian Kris White, Coauthor with Chris Mackowski of Chancellorsville’s Forgotten Front The Battles of Second Fredericksburg and Salem Church, May 3, 1863, served as tour guide. One attendee stated, “Kris’s energy and passion was palatable as he painted a picture of the battle that took place here.” Standing on the grounds, while enveloped by noisy Route 3 traffic and surrounded by modern buildings, brought home the reason this battlefield is commonly used to show what will happen when preservation efforts fall short.
After enjoying lunch at historic Alum Springs Park in Fredericksburg, the tour group pushed on to the day’s second stop, Sunken Road and Willis Hill on the Fredericksburg battlefield. Willis Hill was CVBT’s first-ever preservation victory in 1997. The property was sold to the then Civil War Trust (CWT) for $1.65 million with CVBT contributing as well. The CWT then sold the property to the NPS for $1.52 million absorbing the difference the NPS was not allowed to pay.
National Park Service Historian and author Frank O’Reilly, who The Fredericksburg penned Campaign, a lauded in-depth work on the 1862 battle, presented a riveting account of the action that took place in December. In Frank’s usual manner he had the group hanging on his every word. The battle allowed Confederates to choose well-fortified positions including posting the Washington Artillery atop Willis Hill. Captain Charles W. Squires posted two 3-inch rifled cannon in gunpits in front of the Willis Cemetery and beside one of the several brick structures on the crest. An excited tour guest said, “Frank painted a picture so vivid you could see it on your mind’s eye.”
Saturday culminated with the CVBT Banquet and Annual Meeting. Taking a page from CVBT history, the event took place on one of the organizations previously saved battlefields, in this case the “Stonewall Brigade” tract, part of the famous flank attack during the battle of Chancellorsville. “This was the first on site outdoor conference event in more than ten years,” CVBT President Tom Van Winkle recollected.
The evening event began with a social hour, then another tradition from CVBT’s past, a barbeque dinner with all the fixings. In the spirit of the celebration a special cake was created complete with the CVBT logo and notation of “25 Years Saving Hallowed Ground.” Opening the evening’s meeting President Van Winkle remarked how exciting it was to see, in person, all the guests. It had been 18 months since the last CVBT event due to COVID.
Van Winkle went on to review the preservation successes of 2020 and 2021.
First up was the newly purchased and preserved 1.1 acres on the Chancellorsville battlefield now known as the “Beckham Tract.” This acquisition was the last piece of the entire historic corner of Orange Plank and Plank roads. On the Wilderness battlefield, CVBT has acquired 30.2 acres of May 6, 1864, James Longstreet’s Confederate First Corps counterattack. Lastly an additional seventeen acres were added to the current seventy-two acres CVBT preserved at Myers Hill on the Spotsylvania Court House battlefield.
Three awards were presented to recognize those who have significantly influenced Civil War battlefield preservation. The coveted CVBT Ralph A. Happel Preservation Award was bestowed upon Donald C. Pfanz for penning the letter to several colleagues expressing concern over destruction of battlefield lands in Chantilly, located in northern Virginia. This letter began the modern Civil War battlefield preservation movement and led to creating the Association for the Preservation of Civil War Sites, the precursor to the current American Battlefield Trust, and groups such as the CVBT.
The Dr. Michael P. Stevens Preservation Award was given to Glenn Trimmer. Nestled in the woods of Stafford County, Va., are forty-one acres where the Union Army of the Potomac camped with their new commander General Joseph Hooker. During the winter of 1862-63, more than one hundred thirty-five thousand Union soldiers constructed huts, fortifications, and roads while General Hooker rebuilt his army. Glenn, the director of the nonprofit group The Friends of Stafford Civil War Sites at the time, proposed that a new park should be built on the forty-two acres of land owned jointly by Stafford County and Fredericksburg to honor the Union soldiers who camped there. Glenn, and the Friends of Stafford Civil War Sites, solicited support and materials estimated at over two million dollars. There was no taxpayer money used to
January 2022
Retired NPS Supervisory Historian Gregg Mertz (center) receives proclamation. CVBT President Tom Van Winkle (left) CVBT Vice President Chris Makowski (right).
Donald Pfanz (center) receives CVBT’s Ralph Happel award. CVBT president Tom Van Winkle (left) CVBT Vice President Chris Makowski (right).
build this park. The park opened on April 27, 2013.
Recently retired Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park Supervisory Historian Greg Mertz was recognized with a proclamation from the CVBT for his career spanning over thirty-five years. Greg has been a friend and supporter of the CVBT, as well as many other battlefield groups for years, many times lending his expertise and guiding CVBT programs. Greg is the founding president of the Rappahannock Valley Civil War Round Table and a past vice-president of the Brandy Station Foundation.
Also attending this special anniversary event were many special guests. Under the tent, with a light rain falling, several stories regarding their experience with CVBT over the years were shared. Founding CVBT Board of Directors member Jim Pates recounted the history behind the organization’s creation based on the need for an association to preserve battlefields the NPS was not authorized to purchase.
Kristen Talking Spalding, the Superintendent of Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, spoke about the relationship the CVBT enjoys with the NPS. Kirsten went on to state how important it is that endangered battlefield land outside NPS boundaries and those inside that they are not able to yet purchase is protected.
Chris Mackowski, CVBT Vice President, Editor in Chief of Emerging Civil War, historian, and author excitedly expounded on the importance of the battlefield preservation cause. As a former NPS historian, Chris conveyed the critical need to physically walk on the battlefield and recount what happened where you stand.
Mark Perrault, long time CVBT partner and supporter, stepped up to the podium and declared why he and his wife are supporters. Mark stated “CVBT is preserving endangered battlefields in one of the most difficult areas in Virginia.”
Two CVBT friends, unable to attend the evening, forwarded some comments that were read to all. Author and historian Gordon C. Rhea wrote, “I have deep affection for Central Virginia’s Civil War battlefields. Back in late 1970’s when I was working as an Assistant United States Attorney in Washington, I began visiting the battlefields around Fredericksburg in my scarce down-time.” “It is both a blessing and a curse, however, that those fields occupy beautiful country and are easily accessible from heavily populated urban centers such as Washington, Richmond, and burgeoning metropolises like Fredericksburg.” “I am eternally grateful to organizations such as the Central Virginia Battlefield Trust that many of the battlefields in the Wilderness and scores of other historic sites have retained their historic luster instead of evolving into golf courses, resorts, and housing developments.” “I have been a friend of CVBT almost since its inception, and I consider it among the top preservation organizations in the country.”
Recently retired NPS Chief Historian and author John Hennessy offered a note stating, “The biggest mistake any community can make is to assume that the National Park Service can do it alone—protect these priceless historic pieces of hallowed ground by itself. This community, and most notably the founders of the CVBT, recognized this long before most. Through the CVBT, the ethic of land preservation that the NPS had preached for two decades found its way into the fabric of this community.” “The mobilization of the CVBT in the late 1990s was astonishing to watch— one of the great experiences of my career. Non-profits form every day, of course. But this one had an energy and panache unlike anything I had ever seen.” “Vision, determination, endurance, and personal commitment have translated into a great gift of heritage and perpetual open space to both this region and this nation.”
Rounding out the evening a special guest, David Duncan, President of the American Battlefield Trust, was in attendance and surprised CVBT with a presentation and gift. David spoke to the audience and touted the relationship both the CVBT and the ABT has realized
for years. How each organization compliments each other and lends support when the other requires it. David agreed with Tom Van Winkle’s mantra of “It does not matter who gets the credit, just get the job done.” David presented CVBT with a beautiful, framed map of all the CVBT preserved properties on the four battlefields and included those that both the ABT and CVBT partnered in saving.
The three-day conference and celebration concluded Sunday morning with a breakfast on historic Stevenson Ridge on the Spotsylvania battlefield. This beautiful event site sits adjacent to Spotsylvania National Battlefield and has trenches running through the back of the privately owned property. Along with a terrific buffet breakfast, the group was treated to a talk given by keynote speaker A. Wilson Greene, retired from a forty-four-year career as a battlefield preservationist, National Park Service historian, and museum director. Will served as an historian and manager at five national historic sites, and then led the development and operation of Pamplin Historical Park and the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier. His presentation, reflecting on battlefield preservation’s past and future, included the fascinating story regarding the creation of the nation’s first large Civil War battlefield preservation organization, the Association for the Preservation of Civil War Sites (APCWS) for which Will was the first President. Many parallels were drawn with the founding of CVBT.
CVBT President Tom Van Winkle rendered closing remarks emphatically thanking all the CVBT partners for their support through the years. “None of what we have accomplished in this last twenty-five years could have been done without you.” he stated.