President Lincolns famous or infamous Letter to Mrs. Bixby

The famous Bixby Letter / credit - Personal collection of John Tucker
While there have been many myths propagated during and hence the American Civil War, not may have come to such prominence as the supposed Abraham Lincoln letter to that of Mrs. Bixby.
 Some of you may recall the movie “Saving Private Ryan” where this letter was read. While the movie tended to lead the viewer to think the letter was factual, Hollywood sometimes does have a habit of making things up. Well the story goes that letter, noted for its compassion and prose, has been hailed since that time and even made its way into Stephen Spielberg’s movie which has  with General Marshall reading from the letter and using the letter as the reason why they were going to find Private Ryan.
 So what are the facts?
 In the fall of 1864, Massachusetts Governor John A. Andrew wrote to President Lincoln asking him to express condolences to Mrs. Lydia Bixby, a widow who was believed to have lost five sons during the Civil War. Lincoln's letter to her was printed by the Boston Evening Transcript. Later it was revealed that only two of Mrs. Bixby's five sons died in battle (Charles and Oliver). One deserted the army, one was honorably discharged, and another deserted or died a prisoner of war.
The authorship of the letter has been debated by scholars, some of whom believe it was written instead by John Hay, one of Lincoln's White House secretaries. The original letter was destroyed by Mrs. Bixby, who was a Confederate sympathizer and disliked President Lincoln. Copies of an early forgery have been circulating for many years, causing many people to believe they have the original letter.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, Nov. 21, 1864.
Dear Madam,--
I have been shown in the files of the War Department a statement of the Adjutant General of Massachusetts that you are the mother of five sons who have died gloriously on the field of battle.
I feel how weak and fruitless must be any word of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save.
I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.
Yours, very sincerely and respectfully,
A. Lincoln
Whereas many such incidents did have merit such as The five Sullivan Brothers who were lost when the ship to which all five were assigned, USS Juneau (CL-52) was sunk on 13 November 1942. In the case of the letter to Mrs. Bixby….well we may never know the truth.
The Bixby letter is not the only document attributed to Lincoln whose authenticity has been questioned by collectors, dealers and historians. In fact, there are many documents in circulation today that have been passed off as original Lincoln pieces that are actually forgeries. Handwriting and document experts have been able to expose many of the forgers, some of whom have been acknowledged as geniuses in the art of deception.
Ironically, on November 17, 2008 a report surfaced that the original Bixby letter may have been found. But, when you read that story you find that it suggests the signature on the new letter is not that of Lincoln. But, of Hay?
It is interesting to me, however, that in The Living Lincoln: The Man and His Times, in His Own Words by Paul M. Angle and Earl Schenck Miers, that they DO NOT mention any question as to Lincoln being the author. They simply say, “Superbly eloquent as the letter that Lincoln wrote to Mr. Lydia Bixby of Boston. This message, published in the Boston Transcript, appealed to the heart of the nation.” I’m not sure if they are suggesting that it was written as a political piece of prose with that purpose in mind, or if its publication resulted in appealing to the heart of the nation. Either way, whoever was the author, it is quite a remarkable letter.
Sometimes truth is truly stranger than fiction.
For more of my blogs and Civil War artiucles, please connect to;
http://civilwarfactsandcurrentevents.blogspot.com/

John Hay, Lincoln's Secretary of State / credit - Libaray of Congress

Mrs. Lydia Bixby

http://jamestown.wgrz.com/content/president-lincolns-famous-or-infamous-letter-mrs-bixby

The Museum of the Confederacy: Lee & Jackson Resources

The Museum of the Confederacy: Lee & Jackson Resources

Secession of a town in New York

New York town that belonged to the Confederate States of America.

As with most who write about history, no one can do it alone. I want to thank Mr. Steve Teeft, noted local Civil War historian and Director of the Echoes Through Time Civil War Museum and learning center located in the Eastern Hills Mall. Williamsville New York and to that of the late Benedict R. "Ben" Maryniak, noted local Civil War historian & author and well known and respected Buffaloian. They have been an inspiration to me.

The American Civil War was not simply blue vs. gray. Not simply North vs. south. This epic war touch everyone on different levels. Just being from the north did not mean you thought only of the Union. Id did not mean you were for or against slavery or states’ rights. This was in the truest sense of the words, a Civil War. Although civil it was not.

Then there was the New York town that belonged to the Confederate States of America.

Anyone who has dabbled in history knows of the draft riots in New York City and that the potential of the city seceding from the union, not to join the south but rather to become neutral leaving it able to deal and trade with both warring sides. This was not the case for all of New York.

The town in question is sometimes known as "Two Rod" - The real name is Town-line, NY. It is located on the boundary line between Lancaster & Alden of which the name came from.

Primarily it was a German community and rested on the northern edge of Lancaster which was a strong Democratic area, lodged between a strong Republican areas.

In 1861, many of the southern states, left the Union and joined the Confederate States of America, including Town-line. The town’s folk voted in the early summer of 1861 to leave the Union, and by a wide margin, (84 to 40) seceded from the Union. It was rumored that many of the men in town had left to join the Confederacy (documents show 12 out of 100 males of enlisting age, who did serve). There were only 100 souls over the age of 21.

The reasons are unclear but an article in the Buffalo, New York Newspaper from 1945 cite discontent with President Lincoln’s, treatment of confederate soldiers at a POW camp in Elmira, the interest of self rule or perhaps an incident by some runaway slaves at a local underground railroad stop. It was also reported that Town Line sent five men through the union lines to fight for the Confederate States under General Robert E. Lee. Other reasons stated were that they were unhappy with being forced to comply with President Lincolns request for 75,000 men and refused to comply.  Being that most of their German community had recent left the OLD country, because of strife, and being a farming community, they were troubled. There were a number of men who did join the Union army (about a dozen, documented).

By 1864, most of the residents who succeeded in town were being badly harassed (terrorized as it was described), and packed up the plantation and their homes, and moved to a settlement in St. Catherine’s, Ontario, Canada.

When the WBTS ended, things went somewhat back to normal, just a few returned families that lived in the area.

It wasn’t until it was brought up about the 1920's (from the town advisor in Alden) that Town-line was not paying taxes, and was still technically "out of the Union", but nothing was done about it.

It came up again in the 1930's and again in 1945. The town had formed a special committee to do something about it, and this special committee chairman even wrote President Truman about their problem.

The President gave them some advice: {paraphrase: Why don’t you run down the fattest calf in Erie County, barbecue it and serve it with fixins, and sort out your problems}

They voted in Dec 1945 and they vote failed again, but in Jan 26, 1946, the persons living in Town-Line, NY officially re-joined the Union, some 26 days after the last two southern states (Mississippi & Alabama), officially joined. By rejoining this made Town-line, NY the last stronghold of the Confederacy.

The town made national news, and held a party to celebrate their rejoining and had several Hollywood starts came out (Cesar Ramaro "the joker" among others).

Today, the residents can still find reminance of the Secession around. The large fire hall, on

Broadway Road

(Rt 20) has a unique patch that they where on their arm, that reads....

"Last of the Rebels 1861-1946, Town Line, NY - Fire Dept" and their fire equipment has a saying over there department logo that states "Rebel Rescue". and on their shoulder patch.

The desk where the signing of secession and rejoining still exist at the Alden, NY Historical Society.

They may have not left the Union for the same reasons as the other southern states (that being states rights), but they did believe in town rights - and held out longer than any other state or former Confederate community.

Today is Lee-Jackson Day - NBC12 News, Weather Sports, Traffic, and Programming Guide for Richmond, VA |

Today is Lee-Jackson Day - NBC12 News, Weather Sports, Traffic, and Programming Guide for Richmond, VA

non-Civil War related but still interesting

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Cyberstalking on Facebook? The cowardly trolls of Facebook and what you need to know

caption

Cyberstalkers, The trolls of the internet / credit;http:/www.christianlittle.com/stupid-people/cornell-university-teaches-cyber-stalkers-how-to-stalk-better/
ON the WGRZ Channel Facebook page, recently I posted a subject on the Greatest Generation and the enemy that attacked them at Pearl Harbor. I used references of news reports that used the word "Jap." One person became upset with not the fact that America was attacked on that day nor that 1000’s died but rather he said the word was not PC.
From there on his comments, anger and frustration grew. With each post I made, his comments became more personal in nature and obscene. He encourages several others to persist in this venture.
It is a shame that people have to stoop so low that they engage in such gutter language and treatment. To the point of trying to gain information on you, where you live, make untrue and false statements.
I refer to them as cyber trolls. You can tell sometimes because when they have lost an argument or can no long engage they revert to such action.
So what is it? Cyber stalking is the use of the Internet or stalk, follow or harass someone. It may include false accusations, monitoring, making threats, identity theft, and damage to data or equipment, the solicitation of minors for sex, or gathering information in order to harass. The definition of "harassment" must meet the criterion that a “reasonable person” in possession of the same information, would regard it as sufficient to cause another reasonable person some sort of harm. This could be mental, or even sometimes physical.
Most stalking laws require that the perpetrator make a credible threat of violence against the victim; others include threats against the victim's immediate family; and still others require only that the alleged stalker's course of conduct constitute an implied threat.  While some conduct involving annoying or menacing behavior might fall short of illegal stalking, such behavior may be a prelude to stalking and violence and should be treated seriously.
So what are the signs to look for?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyberstalking
makes the following remarks and bullets as to what to look for.

• False accusations. Many cyber stalkers try to damage the reputation of their victim and turn other people against them. They post false information about them on websites. They may set up their own websites, blogs or user pages for this purpose. They post allegations about the victim to newsgroups, chat rooms or other sites that allow public contributions, such as Wikipedia or Amazon.com.
• Attempts to gather information about the victim. Cyber stalkers may approach their victim's friends, family and work colleagues to obtain personal information. They may advertise for information on the Internet, or hire a private detective. They often will monitor the victim's online activities and attempt to trace their IP address in an effort to gather more information about their victims.
• Encouraging others to harass the victim. Many cyber stalkers try to involve third parties in the harassment. They may claim the victim has harmed the stalker or his/her family in some way, or may post the victim's name and telephone number in order to encourage others to join the pursuit.
• False victimization. The cyber stalker will claim that the victim (the person being stalked) is harassing him/her. This phenomenon has been noted in a number of well-known cases.
• Attacks on data and equipment. They may try to damage the victim's computer by sending viruses.
• Ordering goods and services. They order items or subscribe to magazines in the victim's name. These often involve subscriptions to pornography or ordering sex toys then having them delivered to the victim's workplace.
• Arranging to meet. Young people face a particularly high risk of having cyber stalkers try to set up meetings between them

Facebook along with ,any other social media channels do offer “block” keys but that is only good for the receiver on that page. Others can still read comments posted by the stalker. The stalker can also use other media outlets to propagate their attacks.

The Boston Globe offers some advice at;
http://www.boston.com/ae/books/gallery/cyber_safety/

From the US Department of Justice:

Prevention Tips

• · Do not share personal information in public spaces anywhere online, nor give it to strangers, including in e-mail or chat rooms. Do not use your real name or nickname as your screen name or user ID. Pick a name that is gender- and age-neutral. And do not post personal information as part of any user profiles.
• · Be extremely cautious about meeting online acquaintances in person. If you choose to meet, do so in a public place and take along a friend.
• · Make sure that your ISP and Internet Relay Chat (IRC) network have an acceptable use policy that prohibits cyber stalking. And if your network fails to respond to your complaints, consider switching to a provider that is more responsive to user complaints.
• · If a situation online becomes hostile, log off or surf elsewhere. If a situation places you in fear, contact a local law enforcement agency.
  
  What To Do If You Are Being Cyber stalked
• · If you are receiving unwanted contact, make clear to that person that you would like him or her not to contact you again.
• · Save all communications for evidence. Do not edit or alter them in any way. Also, keep a record of your contacts with Internet system administrators or law enforcement officials.
• · You may want to consider blocking or filtering messages from the harasser. Many e-mail programs such as Eudora and Microsoft Outlook have a filter feature, and software can be easily obtained that will automatically delete e-mails from a particular e-mail address or that contain offensive words. Chat room contact can be blocked as well. Although formats differ, a common chat room command to block someone would be to type: /ignore [person's screen name] (without the brackets). However, in some circumstances (such as threats of violence), it may be more appropriate to save the information and contact law enforcement authorities.
• · If harassment continues after you have asked the person to stop, contact the harasser's Internet Service Provider (ISP). Most ISP's have clear policies prohibiting the use of their services to abuse another person. Often, an ISP can try to stop the conduct by direct contact with the stalker or by closing their account. If you receive abusive e-mails, identify the domain (after the "@" sign) and contact that ISP. Most ISP's have an e-mail address such as abuse@(domain name) or postmaster@(domain name) that can be used for complaints. If the ISP has a website, visit it for information on how to file a complaint.
• Contact your local police department and inform them of the situation in as much detail as possible. In appropriate cases, they may refer the matter to state or federal authorities. If you are afraid of taking action, there are resources available to help you, Contact either: -The National Domestice Violence Hotline, 800-799-SAFE (phone); 800-787-3224 (TDD) -A local women's shelter for advice and support.

As with my posting on any Facebook, at no time should any follower or poster be subjected to constant attacks. Once and a while in the matter of debate on a subject, I can see some banter back and forth but for the constant trolling by persons who may wish harm on the singled out victim, is not just wrong but could become civil if not criminal in nature. To have an honest opinion is one thing and to have a debate on a post is one thing but this is now gone beyond that, to the point of stalking. Remember. Most will act in a cowardly manor and attempt to belittle you but, do not trust them. If you feel threatened, report them.
In any event, DO NOT allow these people to control your lives

The Civil War Preservation Trust, devoted to the preservation of Civil War battlefields

Civil War Preservation Trust logo -credit http:/www.civilwar.org/
We are into the 150th annversity of the American Civil War. While many of us remember that war from our history class, many do not realize just how much of our past is being taken away, distroyed or harmed in the name or progress. Thanks to groups such as The Civil War Preservation Trust, and the donations and contributions of many, we are saving our nations past for the future.
http://www.civilwar.org

The Civil War Preservation Trust is America's largest non-profit organization (501-C3) devoted to the preservation of our nation's endangered Civil War battlefields. The Trust also promotes educational programs and heritage tourism initiatives to inform the public of the war's history and the fundamental conflicts that sparked it.
Preservation Revolution: 
A Short History of the Civil War Preservation Trust
The Civil War Preservation Trust story began in 1987, when twenty or so stalwart souls met to discuss what could be done to protect the rapidly disappearing battlefields around them.  They called themselves the Association for the Preservation of Civil War Sites (APCWS) and they were spurred to action by destruction of Northern Virginia battlefields like Chantilly, where today only five acres remain.  Watching the constantly expanding suburbs of Washington, D.C., they knew that it was only a matter of time before other battlefields were similarly swallowed up.  The only way to save these sites for posterity, they decided, was to buy the physical landscapes themselves.
As word of efforts to protect these battlefields spread among the Civil War community, both membership and accomplishment lists began to grow steadily.  The dedicated supporters who answered that original call to arms remain some of battlefield preservation’s most ardent supporters, and many of those early leaders are no less involved in the organization today.  Others, like Brian Pohanka, Jerry Russell, Annie Snyder and Carrington Williams, are sorely missed, although we work to honor their memories by continuing the work they started.
In 1991, another national organization, the Civil War Trust (CWT), was founded to further efforts to protect these vanishing historic landscapes.  Eight years later, in an attempt to increase the efficiency with which preservation opportunities could be pursued, the two groups merged to become the Civil War Preservation Trust (CWPT).  Shortly thereafter Jim Lighthizer, a former Maryland Secretary of Transportation, became president of the new nonprofit group.  During his government career, Lighthizer pioneered the use of Transportation Enhancement highway funds for historic landscape preservation.  The program has, to date, saved more than 4,500 acres of Maryland battlefield land, and has become a model for similar projects in other states.
With a single organization combining the influence and resources of its two successful predecessors, a battlefield preservation revolution began.  At the time of the merger, APCWS and CWT had a combined membership of approximately 22,000 members.  Today, CWPT’s membership roster has roughly tripled the base of preservationists from which we draw support.  By 1999, the two organizations had saved a combined total of 7,000 acres of battlefield land, but since joining forces, CWPT has permanently preserved a further 19,000 acres of hallowed ground.  By saving battlefield land at four times the rate of the National Park Service, this organization, which began so humbly two decades ago, has become the number one entity saving battlefield land in America today.
Now in its third decade in the business of land preservation, CWPT recognizes the importance of working closely with partner groups, federal and state agencies, local governments, community-minded businesses and willing sellers who see the intrinsic benefits of historic preservation.  We will continue to use every means at our disposal to leverage the generous gifts of our donors with a variety of government grant programs.  We will continue to run a lean organization with some of the lowest overhead costs in the conservation business, devoting the most time, effort and money possible to the preservation of battlefield land.  We will continue working to educate Americans about the plight of the fields where our national identity was shaped.  And we will continue to be on the front lines of preservation, standing guard over history.

CWPT Land Preservation Techniques
The Civil War Preservation Trust preserves land utilizing several well established conservation strategies. Ultimately, these efforts are guided by our mission to preserve significant battlefield land in perpetuity. For those interested in preserving a property we invite you to contact our real estate department directly.
We work only with willing sellers and each project is unique in its own way. However, in general, there are two types of preservation transactions:
1. Preservation in which the landowner retains ownership
( i.e. Conservation Easements )
2. Preservation that transfers ownership

( i.e. “Fee simple transactions” )

In order to determine what to buy and what preservation strategy best suits the project we first consult with a landmark study in the world of battlefield preservation, the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report (“CWSAC”).
The CWSAC Report was completed in 1993 by a 15-member Commission established by Congress to identify the most historically significant Civil War sites. Out of the nearly 10,000 battles and skirmishes of the war the report identified 384 principle battlefields worthy of preservation.
Once CWPT determines whether a prospective property is listed as a CWSAC eligible site, we utilize our Geographic Information System (“GIS”) computerized mapping capabilities to locate the potential property in relation to the historic landscape.
If a property is within the recognized boundary of a CWSAC eligible battlefield we must next determine how best to preserve the property. Generally, CWPT either purchases a permanent conservation easement or purchases the property outright in order to preserve the integrity of the land. Each type of transaction is described in greater detail below.

Conservation Easements Explained
A conservation easement is defined as, “A legal agreement between a landowner and an eligible organization (qualified land trust or state entity) that restricts future activities on the land to protect its conservation values in perpetuity.” Thus, the landowner still retains ownership of the property, but the permanent easement will protect the land from future development.
In most cases a conservation easement:
Does not allow for new structures, unless they are necessary for an agricultural operation.
Restricts any changes to the topography of the landscape.
Restricts the ability to subdivide a property.

Conservation easements can be very advantageous to landowners for several reasons:
Preservation of family land in perpetuity
Federal Income Tax benefit
Certain State Income Tax benefits
Estate tax benefits
Property tax benefits
Fee Simple Transactions Explained
There are several types of transactions that transfer ownership of a property which are described in greater detail below:
1. Sale or Donation of Land

CWPT generally pays fair market value for land, but landowners can sell for less and receive tax benefits.

2. Bargain Sales

Landowner sells land to land trust for less than fair market value which creates a charitable income tax deduction based on the difference between the land's fair market value and its sale price.

3. Sale Subject to Life Estate

Landowner sells or donates a remainder interest to land trust, but retains right to live and use property; land trust gains control upon death of landowner.

4. Sale/Leaseback Option

Landowner sells land to land trust, and then leases property back.

5. Sale to Conservation Buyer

Landowner sells land to conservation buyer at fair market value, and then the conservation buyer preserves the land and benefits from tax incentives. 

Once CWPT determines the best preservation strategy, the Trust must determine how to pay for the transaction. Funding for CWPT preservation projects generally comes from the following sources:

Federal Grants (Civil War Battlefield Preservation Program, Transportation Enhancement Program, Farm & Ranchland Protection Program)
State Grants (e.g. Virginia Civil War Historic Site Preservation Fund, NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund)
Other Non-Profit Organization Grants
Landowner Donations
CWPT Member Contributions

Contact Us
For more information on possible Civil War battlefield land preservation please contact our Real Estate Department:


Tom Gilmore
Kathy Robertson
Project Manager
krobertson@civilwar.org
202.367.1861  ext. 7209



Washington, D.C.CWPT Corporate Office

1156 15th Street NW, Suite 900
Washington, D.C. 20005
(P) 202.367.1861
(F) 202.367.1865
Fee Simple Transactions Explained
There are several types of transactions that transfer ownership of a property which are described in greater detail below:
1. Sale or Donation of Land

CWPT generally pays fair market value for land, but landowners can sell for less and receive tax benefits.

2. Bargain Sales

Landowner sells land to land trust for less than fair market value which creates a charitable income tax deduction based on the difference between the land's fair market value and its sale price.

3. Sale Subject to Life Estate

Landowner sells or donates a remainder interest to land trust, but retains right to live and use property; land trust gains control upon death of landowner.

4. Sale/Leaseback Option

Landowner sells land to land trust, and then leases property back.

5. Sale to Conservation Buyer

Landowner sells land to conservation buyer at fair market value, and then the conservation buyer preserves the land and benefits from tax incentives. 

Once CWPT determines the best preservation strategy, the Trust must determine how to pay for the transaction. Funding for CWPT preservation projects generally comes from the following sources:

Federal Grants (Civil War Battlefield Preservation Program, Transportation Enhancement Program, Farm & Ranchland Protection Program)
State Grants (e.g. Virginia Civil War Historic Site Preservation Fund, NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund)
Other Non-Profit Organization Grants
Landowner Donations
CWPT Member Contributions

Contact Us
For more information on possible Civil War battlefield land preservation please contact our Real Estate Department:



Tom Gilmore

Director of Real Estate
tgilmore@civilwar.org
202.367.1861  ext. 7227




Kathy Robertson
Project Manager
krobertson@civilwar.org
202.367.1861  ext. 7209
Washington, D.C.CWPT Corporate Office

1156 15th Street NW, Suite 900
Washington, D.C. 20005
(P) 202.367.1861
(F) 202.367.1865
Membership Headquarters

11 Public Square, Suite 200
Hagerstown, MD 21740
(P) 301.665.1400
(F) 301.665.1416

Sons of Confederate Veterans / credit SCV Camp Buffalo Guards

Sons of Unions Veterans Civil War / credit - SUVCW

Director of Real Estate
tgilmore@civilwar.org
202.367.1861  ext. 7227

Pamplin Historical Park & The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier, Petersburg, Virginia

Pamplin Civil War Park / credit-ref www.pamp;in.org
Interested in Volunteering? Pamplin Historical Park, Petersburg Va. will host a Volunteer Open House on Saturday, January 22 at 2p.m.! The Open House will be located in our Main Museum!

With the 150thj annversity of the American Civil War, what better place to be than in the heart of the eastern theater of the war. That being the Richmond/Petersburg area. And what better place to relieve that time than, PAMPLIN!!!


http://www.civilwaradventurecamp.org/
Travel back in time to the 1860s and enter the world of a Civil War soldier. As a newly enlisted private, you will don your uniform, shoulder your musket, and march off to a new adventure!

Your Civil War Adventure Camp experience offers an authentic and unique hands-on adventure for groups, families, and individuals alike! Supported by a variety of programming venues, Camps are customized based on the skills and knowledge levels of each group.
http://www.pamplinpark.org/
Your visit to Pamplin Historical Park begins at the entrance to The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier. Along the entrance ellipse, stones list the number of soldiers who served in the Civil War from each state and the approximate number who died.

Inside the museum, your first stop may be at the museum's award-winning gallery "Duty Called Me Here." Before entering, you choose a "Soldier Comrade" from a group of thirteen real Civil War soldiers. You are fitted with a personal MP3 player and through its audio technology you hear the words of your comrade as he describes his experiences as a soldier. By the end of your tour, you learn the wartime fate of your comrade.

From the museum you may continue along the pathway to Tudor Hall Plantation. The 1812 house has been restored to its wartime appearance and is furnished with period antiques.

Nearby is The Field Quarter, a venue where exhibits, a film and reconstructed buildings interpret the life of field slaves. Cabins, a chicken coop, corn crib and garden give evidence of the spartan existence of the slaves. Inside a white painted cabin you can view the exhibit "Slavery in America" and watch the thought-provoking video, "Viewpoints of the 1850s."

The Field Fortifications Exhibit provides an accurate, full-scale model of the fortifications that ringed Petersburg in 1864-65. Visitors may explore the firing step and peer over the parapet of this dramatic example of earthwork construction during the Civil War. During the summer, costumed interpreters conduct live artillery firing demonstrations at the exhibit.

The adjacent Military Encampment depicts the lives of Civil War soldiers in camp.
The Battlefield Center is a multi-faceted museum focused on the April 2, 1865 attack that ended the Petersburg Campaign and resulted in the evacuation of Richmond. The Center features an exhibit entitled "Breaking the Backbone of the Rebellion," a surround-sound theater presentation, a fiber-optics battle map, and interactive computer programs, including a Civil War quiz.

The doors of the Battlefield Center lead to The Breakthrough Trail, which winds through the historic Breakthrough Battlefield. The trail is laid out in loops that range in walks of 15 to 45 minutes. Original Confederate earthworks, rifle pits, and military dams are preserved along the trail. Interpretive waysides tell of the fighting here and introduce you to some of the participants.

Nature and history surround you on this 1.2 mile self-guided hiking trail. A peaceful journey, The Headwaters Trail affords hikers a unique opportunity to see native flora and fauna and learn a bit about Confederate fortifications. Wooden posts mark ten trail stops and indicate the route.

You may also visit The Banks House, a short drive from the Park's main entrance, and headquarters of Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant on April 2-3, 1865. The exterior of the house and adjacent slave quarter is open throughout the day.

The Civil War Store is one of America's best museum stores, featuring an outstanding selection of books, clothing, art, jewelry, collectibles, music, videos ,and a children's section.
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/The-Official-Page-of-Pamplin-Historical-Park/64695582004

This author has had the oppretunity  and honor to be a part of and to work for this fine institutional and learning center. Hours due vary depending on the season