For more information, contact:
Edward E. Dunleavy
President,
Shepherdstown Battlefield Preservation Association Inc.
(917) 747 - 5748

PARK SERVICE STUDY AFFIRMS LOCATION & SIZE OF SHEPHERDSTOWN CIVIL WAR BATTLEFIELD

In an update of the 1993 Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields, the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission (CWSAC) has provided information that sites the location of the 1862 Battle of Shepherdstown and provides more information about the actual size of the core of the battlefield. The report concludes that the core of the battlefield, as defined, is 1,534.4 acres; 1,034.64 acres in West Virginia (WV) and 499.76 acres in Maryland (MD). More importantly, the study concludes that the potential National Register boundary amounts to 4,259.32 acres; 2,502.71 acres in WV and 1,756.61 acres in MD. The report notes that four WV battlefields, including the Shepherdstown site, “have the largest percentages of Study Area land to land potentially eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places land. The ABPP (American Battlefield Protection Program of the National Park Service) believes that all of these battlefields should be viewed as higher priorities for preservation.”

Edward Dunleavy, speaking as President of the Shepherdstown Battlefield Preservation Association Inc. (SBPA) stated that: “this report should finally put to rest the insistence by some that the battle took place only on the bluffs over looking the Potomac River. Not only was the fighting over a large area of northern Jefferson County, the importance of the battle is not to be under-estimated. General Robert E. Lee intended to continue the Maryland Campaign and, on September 19, 1862, after retreating from MD, issued orders to the Army of Northern Virginia to cross the Potomac back into MD at Williamsport. An important reason that Lee changed those orders and retreated south was the Battle of Shepherdstown which convinced Lee that the Union Army of the Potomac was pursuing his troops aggressively. Two days later President Abraham Lincoln was able to issue the Emancipation Proclamation.”

The Civil War Battlefield Preservation Act of 2002 directed “the Secretary of Interior acting through the American Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP) of the National Park Service, to update the ... (CWSAC) Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields.” Funding for the update was provided by Congress in Fiscal Year 2005 and 2007.Early this month the report for WV was released and provided information about each battlefield relative to the size of: 1) the study area; 2) the core area; and 3) the potential National Register boundary area.

“The Study Area represents the historic extent of the battle as it unfolded across the landscape.” It contains the area in which the troops were maneuvered and deployed immediately before, during and after combat. In the case of the Battle of Shepherdstown, the study area totals 4,549.21 acres; 2,792.6 in WV and 1,756.61 in MD. “Historic accounts, terrain analysis and feature identification inform the delineation of the Study Area boundary.”

“The Core Area represents the areas of fighting on the battlefield. Positions that delivered or received fire, and the intervening space and terrain between them, fall within the Core Area.” This is frequently described as “hallowed ground”. “On current WV maps,” Dunleavy stated, “this area is approximately from Teague Run in the west to Rattlesnake Run in the east and as far south as Engle-Moler Road and Aspen Pool Farm. In MD, the area runs from Ferry Hill in the west to about Millers Sawmill Road in the East and approximately 3/8 of a mile north of the Potomac.

SBPA continues to focus on trying to save the “core” of the “core” or about 300 acres. “Our focus is on that area where most of the fighting occurred in WV”, stated Dunleavy, “it remains in relatively pristine condition and would be perfect for a Civil War Battlefield Park, not only preserving ‘hallowed ground’ but encouraging heritage tourism in Jefferson County.

Dr. Thomas Clemens, a noted Civil War historian, a Board member of SBPA and the President of Save Historic Antietam Foundation (SHAF) commented that “much of the battlefield site in MD is included within the C & O Canal National Park. In addition, many historians view the Shepherdstown Battle as the end of the Battle of Antietam and the SHAF has been active for more than 20 years in preserving battlefield land in MD.”

A copy of the CWSAC report can be obtained at:
http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/abpp/CWSII/CWSIIStateReportWV.htm

The Shepherdstown Battlefield Preservation Association Inc. (SBPA), organized in 2004, is a non-profit, Section 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to saving and preserving the site of the 1862 Battle of Shepherdstown. SBPA has preserved 84 acres by way of conservation easements granted by members who own property on the site. For more information and to purchase the book entitled: Shepherdstown: Last Clash of the Antietam Campaign September 19 – 20, 1862 ; please visit www.battleofshepherdstown.org

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PRESS RELEASE:
BATTLEFIELD GROUP PROPOSES COUNTY RIVER PARK

For Immediate Release – July 30, 2009
Shepherdstown, West Virginia

For more information, contact:
Edward E. Dunleavy
President,
Shepherdstown Battlefield Preservation Association Inc.
(917) 747 - 5748

BATTLEFIELD GROUP PROPOSES COUNTY RIVER PARK

At the weekly meeting of the Jefferson County Commission, the Shepherdstown Battlefield Preservation Association Inc. (SBPA) proposed that the County pursue an opportunity to purchase 13 acres on the Potomac River for use as a County park. Ed Dunleavy, President of SBPA, cited a communication he had with the owner of the parcel who indicated that he was willing to negotiate its sale if the land was “used for park/historic activity.”

The parcel is historic and could be used for boat access to the Potomac River. The land is an important part of the County’s industrial history containing the remnants of a Cement Mill and kilns that operated from 1829 until 1904. The product of the mill was used to construct the C&O Canal and buildings in Washington D.C. It is also of great historical value because it is part of the site of the 1862 Battle of Shepherdstown. The battle, fought on September 19 and 20, 1862, was the bloodiest Civil War battle in what is now West Virginia involving more than 9,000 troops and resulting in 677 casualties.

While Dunleavy pointed out that he does not know the value of the property, he suggested to the County Commission that funds for the purchase could come from the $250,000 that SBPA obtained for the County through the Federal Transportation Enhancement program. The Civil War Preservation Trust agreed to supply the matching funds. In addition, Dunleavy reminded the Commission that the County had set aside $100,000 to purchase battlefield land.

Dunleavy’s presentation included a letter from the property’s owner indicating his willingness to negotiate with the County. Also, he included letters of support to pursue this opportunity from the President of the Jefferson County Parks and Recreation Commission and the Chairman of the Jefferson County Historic Landmarks Commission.

The Shepherdstown Battlefield Preservation Association Inc. (SBPA), organized in 2004, is a non-profit, Section 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to saving and preserving the site of the 1862 Battle of Shepherdstown. SBPA has preserved 84 acres by way of conservation easements granted by members who own property on the site. For more information and to purchase the book entitled: Shepherdstown: Last Clash of the Antietam Campaign September 19 – 20, 1862 ; please visit www.battleofshepherdstown.org

UPDATE:
BATTLEFIELD GROUP PROPOSES COUNTY RIVER PARK

In an unprecedented, earth-shaking vote, the Jefferson County Commission agreed, unanimously, with the essence of SBPA's proposal to pursue a Potomac River Front Park. They voted, 5 to 0, to begin action to extend the Transportation Enhancement Grant that soon expires and unanimously recommended that the County's Parks and Recreation Commission (PRC) pursue the purchase of the "Cement Mill Property". Informally, they appeared to agree that if the PRC successfully negotiated the purchase the property, the County Commission would allocate the $100,000 set aside several years ago to purchase battlefield land to the purchase of the "Cement Mill".

And they say miracles never occur.

-SBPA Board of Directors

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The Battle of Shepherdstown was fought on September 19 – 20, 1862 over approximately one square mile, east of what was then Shepherdstown, Virginia and south of the Potomac River and Boteler's (aka Packhorse) Ford. The battle was the last of three battles fought during the Army of Northern Virginia's (ANV) Antietam or Maryland Campaign. Approximately 9000 troops took part in the Shepherdstown battle with 677 casualties about equally divided between the Union Army of the Potomac and Robert E. Lee's troops. The battle's significance is that it was a contributing factor in Lee's decision to reverse the order to move north back into Maryland. As a consequence, the ANV retreated up the Shenandoah Valley toward Winchester. That retreat allowed the Union Army to declare a military victory and enabled President Abraham Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation.

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The Shepherdstown Battlefield Preservation Association Inc. (SBPA), organized in 2004, is a non-profit, Section 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to saving and preserving the site of the 1862 Battle of Shepherdstown. SBPA has preserved 84 acres by way of conservation easements granted by members who own property on the site. For more information and to purchase the book entitled: Shepherdstown: Last Clash of the Antietam Campaign September 19 – 20, 1862 ; please visit www.battleofshepherdstown.org