Showing posts with label Battlefields. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Battlefields. Show all posts

Saturday, July 11, 2015

Enter the Civil War Trust Photo Contest



Civil War Trust
Civil War Trust
2015 Photo Contest
Calling all Shutterbugs: The Annual Photo Contest is here!
One hundred and fifty years ago, photography and the Civil War became forever linked when the conflict became the first to be extensively documented by photojournalists, such as Mathew Brady and Alexander Gardner. In honor of this, the Civil War Trust is proud to host its 20th annual photo contest, co-sponsored by History™ and the Center for Civil War Photography (CCWP). This year, a special category of photos will highlight the Civil War battlefields and sites associated with the 1865 conclusion of the Civil War — and the end of our Sesquicentennial focus.
So, as you visit battlefields and other Civil War sites this summer, bring along your camera and share your experience with other history lovers by entering your favorite images in the contest! Winning shots will be featured in upcoming Trust products, including our popular wall calendar. First-place winners of the five categories will also receive a one-year membership or membership extension in the organization.
Details here »
Looking for a camera-worthy event? Join us for an unforgettable experience in Gettysburg on Saturday, July 25: Walk in footsteps of soldiers across the the field of the Civil War's most famous attack — Pickett's Charge. It's a free, expert-led tour as part of our new Generations program — to participate, just bring someone with you that's at least a generation younger (or older) to grow a passion for history. After the morning program concludes, it's also the perfect opportunity to continue exploring Gettysburg and share a passion for photography.
Learn more about Walking Pickett's charge »
Read the official rules, dust off your tripod and share the beauty and history of your favorite battlefield in the world from June 1-August 1.

Copyright © 2014 Civil War Trust
1156 15th Street N.W. Suite 900, Washington, D.C. 20005
p 202-367-1861 | e info@civilwar.org

Monday, July 6, 2015

Another Opportunity to Save Historic Battle Land



Civil War Trust
Parker's Revenge 2015
Save Historic Lexington and Concord!
Captain John Parker’s first stand against the British regulars on April 19, 1775, ended badly. Seven of Parker’s 70 Minutemen were killed on Lexington Green, and several others were wounded. Rather than accept defeat, Parker rallied his men and lashed back at the enemy. When the British regulars returned from their unsuccessful errand to Concord, Parker’s men—and many other militiamen then mobilizing—were waiting for them. Concealed on a rocky hillside, the Minutemen ambushed the Redcoats, staggering them with a well-aimed volley. The outnumbered Massachusetts men couldn’t hold out for long against the British regulars, but Captain Parker had gotten his revenge. The American Revolution had begun.
The crucial part of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, known as Parker’s Revenge, is an incredible chapter in the story of the Revolutionary War. Today, Campaign 1776 announces an unprecedented effort to raise $141,500 to save one of the last remaining preservable acres from the pivotal battle. This prospective land acquisition, along with a new initiative to conduct battlefield archeological work to pinpoint the action in that area, will provide significant historical insight into the birth of our nation.
Article: Parker's
Lexington and Concord map
Princeton Battle Map

Copyright © 2014 Civil War Trust
1156 15th Street N.W. Suite 900, Washington, D.C. 20005
p 202-367-1861 | e info@civilwar.org

Saturday, February 7, 2015

After 150 years, Confederate submarine's hull again revealed

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — A century and a half after it sank and a decade and a half after it was raised, scientists are finally getting a look at the hull of the Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley, the first sub in history to sink an enemy warship.
What they find may finally solve the mystery of why the hand-cranked submarine sank during the Civil War.
"It's like unwrapping a Christmas gift after 15 years. We have been wanting to do this for many years now," said Paul Mardikian, senior conservator on the Hunley project.
The Hunley sank the Union blockade ship USS Housatonic off Charleston in February 1864 as the South tried to break the Union blockade strangling the Confederacy. But the sub and its eight-man crew never made it back to shore.
The Hunley was discovered off the South Carolina coast in 1995, raised in 2000 and brought to a conservation lab in North Charleston.
It was covered with a hardened gunk of encrusted sand, sediment and rust that scientists call concretion.


Conservator Virginie Ternisien works at removing the encrustation from the hull of the Confederate s …
Last May, it was finally ready to be bathed in a solution of sodium hydroxide to loosen the encrustation. Then in August, scientists using small air-powered chisels and dental tools began the laborious job of removing the coating.
Now about 70 percent of the outside hull has been revealed.
Mardikian said the exposed hull indeed has revealed some things that may help solve the mystery of the sinking.
"I would have to lie to you if I said we had not, but it's too early to talk about it yet," he said. "We have a submarine that is encrypted. It's like an Enigma machine."
He said the clues will be studied closely as scientists try to piece together what happened to the 40-foot submarine that night in 1864.
The Hunley had a 16-foot spar tipped with a charge of black powder that was exploded, sinking the Housatonic. After close examination of the spar two years ago, scientists speculated the crew was knocked unconscious by the shock wave of the explosion.
When the Hunley was first raised, scientists speculated the crew may have run out of air before they could crank back to the coast.
After the Hunley was raised, the sand and the silt and the remains of the crew in the interior were removed.
In April 2004, thousands of men in Confederate gray and Union blue walked in a procession with the crew's coffins four miles from Charleston's waterfront Battery to Magnolia Cemetery in what has been called the last Confederate funeral.

Saturday, November 15, 2014

From the Trenches: Civil War Trust November 2014



----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Civil War Trust <info@civilwar.org>
To: james@spluuu.com
Sent: Monday, November 3, 2014 3:08 PM
Subject: From the Trenches: Civil War Trust November 2014

Civil War Trust

Preservation News - November 2014

479 Acres of Endangered Land at Chancellorsville

We've saved 40,000 acres—Help us save more at Chancellorsville!

From Our President

Jim Lighthizer Photo
November 2014
Dear Dedicated Preservationist,
As we announce a milestone previously thought unimaginable, please know that I am, above all, eternally grateful for the generous support of each and every one of you. Without your contributions, the Trust would be nowhere near saving the amount of land we've now preserved—more than 40,000 ACRES! That's the entire land area of Richmond, Va.! And none of it would have been possible without your unending generosity.
But, as I'm sure you know all too well, battlefield land continues to lie vulnerable to all kinds of unseemly development. That's why I am so pleased to announce our most recent campaign to save 479 acres of irreplaceable hallowed ground at Chancellorsville—a tract so vast that it encompasses the land both farthest west and farthest east of any acres previously saved at the Flank Attack, as well as nearly doubling the amount of land saved at this part of the battlefield!

By saving 479 acres at the most historically significant unprotected acreage at Chancellorsville, land that has been in the bull's eye of development for many years–by quickly taking advantage of perhaps the last chance to work with a cooperative developer to create a win-win situation where we get to save nearly 500 acres of hallowed ground while they get to build homes on nearby-but-not-historic land–you and I can save an irreplaceable piece of our nation's heroic past that, if we do not act, could become just another mass of ugly suburban sprawl.

The Civil War Trust has never had a better opportunity to save this much supremely significant battlefield land at Chancellorsville, and to help complete the story of one of America's most important battlefields.

Learn More About Chancellorsville »
- Jim Lighthizer, Civil War Trust President

Completion of North Anna Acquisition Pushes Civil War Trust Past 40,000 Acre Milestone

Acre Milestone Reached In May, we were excited to announce a major project at North Anna because it would protect nearly the entirety of that May 23, 1864 battlefield. In October, we were overjoyed when closing that landmark transaction pushed us past the 40,000 acre mark for saved land!


Saving Cedar Creek

Cedar Creek This new website tells the history of the Cedar Creek Battlefield, highlights the partnerships that helped make preservation possible—and provides a platform for future preservation initiatives.


127 Acres Transferred to Virginia State Parks

Civil War Trust Facebook Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe presided over a ceremony formally accepting the Trust's transfer of 127 battlefield acres to the Commonwealth at Sailor's Creek Battlefield Historical State Park and High Bridge Trail State Park.


Election of 1864

Civil War Trust Facebook As the nation prepares to head to the polls next week, we look back at the pivotal presidential election of 1864, when the war effort hung on the ballot box and Abraham Lincoln's second term was far from a certainty.


Save Hallowed Ground While Shopping

Amazon Smile Support the Civil War Trust every time you shop online with AmazonSmile. Visit smile.amazon.com, enter the Civil War Trust and start shopping. Amazon will donate .5% of the price of eligible purchases to the Civil War Trust.


November Civil War Battles

November Civil War Battles Expand your knowledge of the Civil War by learning more about some of the Civil War battles that occurred in the month of November. Access our history articles, photos, maps, and links for the battles listed below.

Dispatches from the Front Lines

Civil War preservation news from around the country
Help Save America's History
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Save a Battlefield
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Your Preservation Legacy

Guide to Legacy Giving
Estate planning can help you make a significant preservation impact without any cost to you during your lifetime.

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Join us as we continue to commemorate the sesquicentennial of the American Civil War! Visit www.civilwar.org/150 for sesquicentennial events, news and features.
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Events
March 20-22, 2015
2015 Color Bearer Weekend
Raleigh, NC
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June 3-7, 2015
2015 Annual Conference
Richmond, VA
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Wednesday, August 20, 2014

You Can Save Harpers Ferry!



Civil War Trust

Civil War Trust
Save Harpers Ferry
Harpers Ferry is one of the most historic places in the United States.
In 1783, Thomas Jefferson stood in awe of its beauty. Abolitionist John Brown raided the U.S. arsenal at Harpers Ferry in 1859, only to be captured by U.S. Marines led by Col. Robert E. Lee and Lt. J.E.B. Stuart. In 1861, General Thomas J. Jackson occupied Harpers Ferry, then returned in 1862 as "Stonewall," bringing about the largest mass surrender of U.S. troops of the Civil War.
Today, the Civil War Trust has the opportunity to save 13 acres at Harpers Ferry. This tract—the site of the historic Allstadt's Ordinary—played a pivotal role in John Brown's raid and was at the heart of the battlefield in 1862. Now, thanks to a phenomenal $19.41-to-$1 match, we can protect this crucial piece of American history and preserve it for future generations.
Video
Article
Photos
Map

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Save Three Richmond Battlefields


Civil War Trust

Save Three Richmond Battlefields

Not long ago, a Richmond developer was quoted in a local newspaper saying that "it's not a question of 'if'" he and others like him will soon be looking to develop the remaining unprotected battlefields around Richmond, "it's a matter of 'when'." Right now, we have a chance to save from development 69 critical acres at three battlefields in one of America's most highly threatened areas!

We are in the final stretch of the campaign. With your help, the Trust can forever secure these 69 acres at Glendale, Malvern Hill and First Deep Bottom.

From Our President

Jim Lighthizer Photo
October 2013
Dear Civil War Preservationist,
Greetings, my friend! As the end of the year draws near, we can look back on the numerous victories ensured by your generous support.
Just a couple of weeks ago, I had the pleasure of joining U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers (KY-05), Kentucky preservation leaders and many of our members from the Bluegrass State to announce the successful preservation of 95 key acres at the Mill Springs battlefield. These properties were the scene of intense fighting during the January 1862 battle, including the first documented bayonet charge of the Civil War, launched by the 9th Ohio Volunteer Infantry regiment.

I would like to thank each and every one of you for your part in this preservation success! But now is not the time for complacency; now is that crucial moment when we must hunker down and continue the fight for the future of America's hallowed ground.

Even as we celebrate this most recent accomplishment, we continue to move forward on another exciting opportunity, to forever protect 69 acres associated with three Richmond, Va.-area battlefields: at Glendale (also known as Frayser's Farm), Malvern Hill and First Deep Bottom. All three properties are important to telling the stories of their respective battles, with the Glendale site described as "every foot of the property saw action," and the Crew House at Malvern Hill serving as military headquarters for both Union and Confederate armies.

Friends, we're close to the finish line, with only $21,000 remaining to reach our goal. But, as many of you well know, close only counts in horseshoes and hand-grenades. With your support, we can make the final push for these sacred sites and list them as forever protected by year's end! I want to genuinely thank each and every one of you for the steadfast dedication and generosity enabling our organization to continue protecting America's hallowed ground.

Help Save Three Richmond Battlefields! »
- Jim Lighthizer, Civil War Trust President

Victory at Mill Springs!

Victory at Mill Springs! U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers (KY - 05) joined the Civil War Trust and Mill Springs Battlefield Association to announce protection of 95 acres of hallowed ground - with an opportunity to preserve even more.


Winners Announced in 2013 Photo Contest

Photo Contest The Civil War Trust is pleased to announce the winners of our photography contest, which encourages shutterbugs to capture the scenic beauty of Civil War battlefields and historic sites, cosponsored by History™ and the Center for Civil War Photography.

Bringing Battlefields to Instagram

Instagram Follow the Civil War Trust on Instagram to get daily Civil War photos delivered to your stream. Be sure to interact and contribute favorite images of your own.


"The Great Task Remaining Before Us"

Video An all-star cast, including filmmaker Ken Burns, author David McCullough, actors Sam Waterston, Matthew Broderick, Stephen Lang, and Medal of Honor recipient Paul W. Bucha recite one of the most famous speeches in American history - the Gettysburg Address.

Combined Federal Campaign

CFC If you are a federal or state government employee please support the Civil War Trust through your Combined Federal Campaign or State Workplace Campaign contributions. To learn more about how you can help save battlefields check out our updated CFC page.

Teacher Institute Video

Video Ever wonder what happens at one of the Trust's acclaimed Teacher Institutes? Learn how educators from across the nation come together to share the latest tips and techniques for bringing history to life in the classroom.

October Civil War Battles

October battles Expand your knowledge of the Civil War by learning more about some of the great Civil War battles that occurred in the month of October. Access our history articles, photos, maps, and links for the battles listed below:

Dispatches from the Front Lines

Civil War preservation news from around the country
Help Save America's History
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Save a Battlefield
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Save Battlefields with Every Purchase

It's easy to save battlefields with your new Civil War Trust credit card from Capital One.

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Your Preservation Legacy

Estate planning can help you make a significant preservation impact without any cost to you during your lifetime.

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Educators:

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Events
March 14-16, 2014
2014 Color Bearer Weekend
Winchester, VA
Learn More
May 28-June 1, 2014
2014 Annual Conference
Nashville, TN
Learn More
Charity Navigator 4 Star Charity