We have our 5 finalists for the GettysNerd Game Show! Tickets are still available for the live finale on June 30 at the Adams County Historical Society: www.battlefields.org/events/ultimate-gettysnerd-li…
On this day in history (June 17, 1775): After the historic engagement at Lexington & Concord in April, British forces retreated back to their camps in Boston while local patriot militias from Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and what is now the State of Vermont, formed on the outskirts of the city. British Commander-in-Chief Thomas Gage was under pressure to quash the rebellion, and attacked Colonial forces on a hill in Charlestown, later becoming known as the Battle of Bunker Hill. After the battle, Benjamin Franklin famously wrote "we were once friends, we are now enemies." Historian Jim Percoco details the fight from Boston.
Today we were joined by Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin to celebrate transferring more than 2,000 acres of land saved by the American Battlefield Trust at Brandy Station and Cedar Mountain to create Virginia's newest State Park! Preserving these two battlefields for future generations has been in the works for 40 years. It was a truly amazing day for all our staff, members and supporters. Thank you to everyone involved! www.battlefields.org/visit/culpeper-battlefields-s…
On this day in history (June 3, 1808): Jefferson Davis was born in Fairview, Kentucky. His great-great grandson, Bertram Hayes-Davis, joins us for an overview of Davis's life, from West Point and the U.S. House of Representatives to being President Franklin Pierce's Secretary of War, before being elected as the President of the Confederate States of America in 1861.
Our friends at Andersonville National Historic Site are having special ceremonies this weekend for Memorial Day. Great opportunity to engage with our National Parks if you are visiting or live in the area! fb.watch/sfqJS6G8cA/
160 years ago today, this photo was taken.
On this day in history (May 18, 1863): The Siege of Vicksburg begins. The Mississippi River was the primary conduit for supplies and communication through the south as well as a vital lifeline for goods going north. To Confederate President Jefferson Davis, Vicksburg was the "nailhead that holds the South's two halves together." From May 1 through May 17, Union forces led by Ulysses S. Grant fought through Mississippi at places like Port Gibson, Raymond, Jackson and Champion Hill before beginning a 47-day-siege of the crucial city on May 18. Just one day after George Meade's victory at Gettysburg, Confederate General John C. Pemberton surrendered Vicksburg to Grant on July 4. Join former Chief Historian of Vicksburg National Military Park Terry Winschel as he explains all of this in 4 minutes and 59 seconds!
On this day in history (May 15, 1864): As part of a major Union offensive, General Ulysses S. Grant ordered General Franz Sigel to move up the Shenandoah Valley cutting the rail lines utilized by Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. To oppose the Federals, General John C. Breckenridge collected a scratch force of two infantry brigades, one cavalry brigade, and a battalion of cadets from the Virginia Military Institute to secure the Valley. Confederate victory resulted in Sigel losing his command of Valley forces to David Hunter. Our very own Sarah Kay Bierle details the fight.
On this day in history (May 7, 1864): General Sherman complimented Grant's Overland Campaign in the Eastern Theater with his own efforts to take Atlanta in the Western Theater against Joseph E. Johnston's Confederate forces. When studying the Civil War it is crucial to remember that campaigns and battles in opposite theaters are often occurring at the same time. Historian Douglas Ullman, Jr. details the many battles making up the Atlanta Campaign such as Kennesaw Mountain, New Hope Church, Resaca and Rocky Face Ridge.
On this day in history (May 4, 1864): General Grant began his first campaign in the Eastern Theater after being promoted to General-In-Chief by Abraham Lincoln, a rank that had only been awarded on two other occasions (George Washington and Winfield Scott). The campaign versus Lee's Army of Northern Virginia consisted of some of the most notable battles of the Civil War, including The Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House and Cold Harbor. Historian/Battlefield Guide Dave Richards details the actions that led the Union Army to Richmond.
The American Battlefield Trust is America's largest non-profit organization (501-C3) devoted to the preservation of our nation's endangered Civil War, Revolutionary War, and War of 1812 battlefields. The Trust also promotes educational programs and heritage tourism initiatives to inform the public of the wars' history and the fundamental conflicts that sparked it. Our office is located in Washington, D.C.