CWPT Names Most Endangered Battlefields

On March 18th, the Civil War Preservation Trust (CWPT) unveiled its annual report on the status of the nation’s historic battlegrounds. The report, entitled History Under Siege™: A Guide to America’s Most Endangered Civil War Battlefields, identifies the most threatened Civil War sites in the United States and what can be done to save them.

“In town after town, the irreplaceable battlefields that define those communities are being marred forever,” said CWPT president James Lighthizer. “As we approach the Sesquicentennial of the bloodiest conflict in our nation’s history, we need to be more aware than ever of the importance of preserving these sacred places for generations to come.”

Joining Lighthizer at the news conference announcing the report was actor Richard Dreyfuss, who is also an avid student of history and has been involved in numerous documentary projects, including The Great Battles of the Civil War and Lincoln.

Of the growing need for historic preservation Dreyfuss said, “These hallowed battlegrounds should be national shrines, monuments to American valor, determination and courage. Once these irreplaceable treasures are gone, they’re gone forever.”

Four of the ten sites on the list are NPS areas (noted with asterisks):

1. Monocacy, Maryland *
2. The Wilderness, Virginia *
3. Port Gibson, Mississippi
4. Cedar Creek, Virginia *
5. Fort Gaines, Alabama
6. Gettysburg, Pennsylvania *
7. New Market Heights, Virginia
8. Sabine Pass, Texas
9. South Mountain, Maryland
10. Spring Hill, Tennessee