Preserving Brandy Station Battlefield

The Brandy Station Battlefield is among three local Civil War sites that will receive a portion of $5.2 million in state funding to preserve historic areas across Virginia.

The state Department of Historic Resources announced late last week the award of 21 matching grants to save more than 1,500 acres of land that are associated with 15 significant Civil War battles.

“Today’s announcement underscores the commonwealth’s commitment to protecting its unique Civil War heritage,” James Lighthizer, president of the Civil War Preservation Trust, said in a statement. “Without the visionary leadership of Gov. Timothy Kaine and state legislators, including Speaker Bill Howell and Sen. Edd Houck, who championed the program, as well as Kathleen Kilpatrick, director of the Department of Historic Resources, these grants simply would not have been possible,” Lighthizer said. Local officials also praised the achievement.

“I think it’s a very good investment by the state for future history as well as the economy for the state,” said Bob Luddy, president of the Brandy Station Foundation, a Culpeper-area based preservation group.

Luddy said it’s clear that tourism — including historic war sites — is an important economic engine for the state. At the same time, Luddy said a move to preserve historic lands is also a move to preserve history.

“The problem is although we live for a long time, we don’t live forever,” Luddy said. “It’s hard for us sometimes to appreciate what the value of an action can be because we are around for such a short time to see it.”

In order to receive the funding, each grant requires a two-to-one dollar match in private of federal funding. It was not clear Friday afternoon exactly how much money the Brandy Station area might receive.

Officials with the Washington, D.C.-based Civil War Preservation Trust were not available for comment. The Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Association, the Trevilian Station Battlefield Association and the Richmond Battlefield Association will also receive funds under the initiative.

Houck expressed satisfaction in making the funding a reality.

“During my 25 year career in the state Senate, I am proud to have worked with my colleagues in both houses and numerous conservation organizations towards the preservation of our historic lands,” Houck said. “I have long held that our Civil War battlefields are non-renewable assets, which protect open space, honor human valor and create wonderful tourist attractions. During the 2006 session, we were able to work jointly toward the creation of this fund. Clearly, our hard work has paid off.”

Fought on June 9, 1863, the Battle of Brandy Station was the largest battle of the Civil War that predominantly involved cavalries.

The area’s Civil War history also includes the Graffiti House, which was used by Union and Confederate troops as a hospital during the war. Historic writings by soldiers from both armies left on the building’s walls were discovered in the early 1990s.

Nate Delesline III can be reached at825-0771 ext. 110 or .

Virginia battlefields to get $5.2M
The Department of Historic Resources announced late last week that 15 battlefields in Virginia will receive $5.2 million to help preserve historic Civil War sites, including Brandy Station, in Culpeper County. The others are:

- Cross Keys and Port Republic Battlefields, Rockingham County
- Glendale, Malvern Hill, First Deep Bottom, and Second Deep Bottom—Fussell’s Mill Battlefields in Henrico County
- Chancellorsville Battlefield, Spotsylvania County
- Cold Harbor Battlefield, Hanover County
- Trevilian Station Battlefield, Louisa County
- Fishers Hill Battlefield, Shenandoah County
- Cedar Creek, Frederick County
- Sailor’s Creek, Amelia County
- Appomattox Station and Appomattox Courthouse Battlefield, Appomattox County