News Release

National Park Service awards over $2 million to protect 238 acres at seven Civil War battlefields

Deep in the heart of the Chickamauga Battlefield, the forest appears as it most likely did during the Civil War.

American Battlefield Trust

News Release Date: July 27, 2023

Contact: [e-mail]

WASHINGTON – The National Park Service (NPS) awarded $2,218,056 in Battlefield Land Acquisition Grants through the American Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP) today to protect 238 acres, including seven battlefields in Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina and Virginia.  

State and local governments spearhead projects funded by ABPP grants to protect significant battlefield landscapes that are vital to the shared history of their communities and the nation. The Land and Water Conservation Fund, which reinvests revenue from offshore oil and natural gas leasing to help strengthen conservation and recreation opportunities across the nation, makes these awards possible.  

“We are proud to help these state organizations and their partners to preserve and protect the irreplaceable historic and cultural landscapes in their communities through local stewardship of these hallowed grounds,” said NPS Director Chuck Sams.    

During the Civil War, the mountainous terrain of southern Tennessee and northern Georgia was a landscape of concern for both armies of the North and the South as they competed for access to supplies, reliable communication, as well as control of the rail hub and iron works of Chattanooga. Nestled in the mountains of Georgia, Chickamauga Battlefield’s legacy is one of bravery and courage. Farmers, merchants and other regular folk comprised the troops that fought valiantly in the name of patriotism. Nearly 160 years later, the preservation of these lands honors their lives and sacrifice. The property preserved today remains wooded as it was during the Civil War. The conservation easement will ensure the land will remain hallowed and honored by the bravery and commitment to patriotism shown by those who fought.  

Today’s awards are to: 

• Georgia Department of Natural Resources, $172,133.16 for preservation of 4.08 acres at Chickamauga Battlefield in Catoosa County, Georgia. 

• Mississippi Department of Archives and History, $367,926.00 for preservation of 94.5 acres at Brice’s Cross Roads Battlefield in Prentiss County, Mississippi. 

• Mississippi Department of Archives and History, $231,805.00 for preservation of 1.5 acres at Chickasaw Bayou Battlefield in Warren County, Mississippi. 

• North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, $257,605.00 for preservation of 86.36 acres at Wyse Fork Battlefield in Jones and Lenoir Counties, North Carolina. 

• Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, $429,372.50 for preservation of 7.36 acres at Cedar Mountain Battlefield in Culpeper County, Virginia. 

• Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, $605,750 for preservation of 41 acres at Malvern Hill Battlefield in Henrico County, Virginia. 

• Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, $153,464.87 for preservation of 3 acres at Reams Station Battlefield in Dinwiddie County, Virginia. 

 The NPS ABPP’s Battlefield Land Acquisition Grants empower preservation partners nationwide to acquire and preserve threatened battlefields on American soil. In addition, the program administers three other grant programs: Preservation Planning, Battlefield Interpretation and Battlefield Restoration grants. Financial and technical assistance support sustainable, community-driven stewardship of natural and historic resources at the state, Tribal and local levels.   

Battlefield Land Acquisition Grants are available on a rolling basis. To learn more about how to apply, head to the NPS ABPP’s website. For questions about NPS ABPP’s grants, please email the program. 

www.nps.gov  

About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 425 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.