Antietam

In partnership with the State of Maryland and the Save Historic Antietam Foundation, the Fund helped protect part of the historic Grove Farm where President Lincoln met with U.S. generals after the battle of Antietam.

Also in Antietam, the partnership of The Fund, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (Program Open Space), the National Park Service's American Battlefield Protection Program, and the Civil War Preservation Trust protected the 200-acre Roulette/Callas farm, just outside the National Battlefield, with an easement held by the Maryland Environmental Trust. The farm was the site of the Confederate advance on the morning of the battle and the Confederate line at the end of the day-long battle.

We assisted the Richard King Mellon Foundation in a number of conservation gifts at Antietam. The Cornfield, where the Federals were hit by Confederate artillery fire, was donated to the Antietam National Battlefield. The West Woods, where U.S. forces suffered more than 2,200 casualties in 20 minutes, were also donated to the Antietam National Battlefield. An additional 12 acres, in the field of fire where J.E.B. Stuart's artillery slowed the attacking U.S. troops, were donated to the Antietam National Battlefield on the 135th anniversary of the battle. More than 10,000 U.S. troops attacked across the 179-acre Roulette Farm toward a country lane in such intense fighting that it became known as Bloody Lane. The farm was donated to the Antietam National Battlefield on the 136th anniversary of the battle.

Harpers Ferry

The Spur Battery, on a descending “spur” in the Maryland area of the park, overlooks the Potomac River and the town of Harpers Ferry. The heavy artillery battery located within these 23 acres was an important defense for Harpers Ferry. Overlooking the Federal Armory and Arsenal, this battery commanded all of the northwest approaches to the town.

Thanks to a nationwide partnership that included The Gilder Foundation, Meryl and Andrew Steigman, Norcross Wildlife Foundation, Mr. and Mrs. John L. Nau, III and The Civil War Preservation Trust, these 23 acres, which include the Spur Battery, were donated to the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. Download the PDF >>

Monocacy National Battlefield

The 1864 battle of Monocacy helped save the nation’s capital from Confederate invasion. After the battle, the Union Army used the Thomas farm—part of the Monocacy National Battlefield site—to rest and reorganize.

The Fund, in partnership with the National Park Service and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, completed protection of the battlefield by purchasing a conservation easement on the farm. The Maryland Environmental Trust will manage the easement.

South Mountain

Working in partnership with the state of Maryland in 2001, the Fund negotiated the purchase of conservation easements over four parcels, a total of 53 acres, on the battlefield where, on September 14, 1862, the Confederates’ effective defense on the mountain – in essentially three separate battles – kept open their line of retreat until they were protected by darkness. The armies then moved toward Antietam.

The funding was provided by The Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Transportation (TEA-21 funds). The easements are held by the Maryland Environmental Trust.

In 2004, in partnership with the state of Maryland and The Civil War Preservation Trust, the Fund protected an additional 26 acres on the battlefield, the site of McClellan's headquarters and 10 acres which include a historic house used as a field hospital.