Civil War battlefield in Williamsburg donated to Civil War Trust

Governor Terry McAuliffe March 24 announced the protection of 65 acres of Civil War battlefield in Williamsburg. The land is being donated by Anheuser-Busch to the Civil War Trust, a nonprofit organization devoted to preserving America’s battlegrounds.

The property played a pivotal role in the 1862 Battle of Williamsburg, the first pitched battle of the Peninsula Campaign.

On May 5, 1862, more than 70,000 troops clashed in the Battle of Williamsburg. Fighting broke out as Confederate troops were retreating from Yorktown following a month-long siege by the Union Army. Close to 4,000 soldiers died, and the battle ended indecisively, the governor’s office said in a news release.

“I am thrilled that two great institutions, the Civil War Trust and Anheuser-Busch, have joined together to protect this important property,”  Governor McAuliffe was quoted as saying in a news release. “Across the country, there is a critical need to preserve battlefields. It’s estimated we lose an acre every hour. In Virginia, we are dedicated to reversing that trend so that these treasures can be a benefit to tourists and to our economy for generations to come.”

The Civil War Trust hopes the property will be the anchor for a future battlefield park. In the mean time, the Williamsburg Land Conservancy, a local land trust, will oversee the site.

“We could not be more excited about this opportunity,” Jim Lighthizer, president of the Civil War Trust was quoted as saying. “By donating this land for preservation, Anheuser-Busch continues its tradition of honoring our nation’s military and supporting American history. It also protects, for the first time, a significant portion of the Civil War battlefield at Williamsburg.”

The site’s preservation will offer several benefits.

“The protection of this property will add valuable open space to the community and enhance the region’s opportunities for heritage tourism,” said Virginia Secretary of Natural Resources Molly Ward. “Our Civil War battlefields are places for visitors to learn and quietly contemplate that difficult period of history.”

The property donated by Anheuser-Busch is the largest part of Williamsburg Battlefield ever set aside for preservation. It is the only piece of the property protected from development, according to the news release from the governor’s office.

“The hallowed grounds in Williamsburg echo this country’s history and should be protected,” Rick Shippey, senior general manager of Anheuser-Busch’s Williamsburg brewery, was quoted as saying in the news release. “As a long-time member of the Williamsburg community and supporter of our country’s military, Anheuser-Busch is honored that this partnership resulted in the opportunity to preserve sacred lands for future generations.”
 
The Civil War Trust has preserved more than 40,000 acres of battlefield land in 20 states. More than half of the acres preserved are in Virginia.