U.S. Department of the Interior 

National Park Service 

American Battlefield Protection Program 

Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission

Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields

State of West Virginia

Washington, DC

February 2010
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of West Virginia

Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission 

Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

State of West Virginia

U.S. Department of the Interior 

National Park Service 

American Battlefield Protection Program 

Washington, DC 

January 2010 

Authority 

The American Battlefield Protection Program Act of 1996, as amended by the Civil War 

Battlefield Preservation Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-359, 111 Stat. 3016, 17 December 

2002), directs the Secretary of the Interior to update the Civil War Sites Advisory 

Commission (CWSAC) Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields. 

Acknowledgments 

NPS Project Team Paul Hawke, Project Leader; Kathleen Madigan, Survey Coordinator; 

Tanya Gossett and January Ruck, Reporting; Matthew Borders, Historian; Kristie Kendall, 

Program Assistant. 

Battlefield Surveyor(s) Joseph E. Brent, Mudpuppy & Waterdog, Inc., and Lisa Rupple, 

American Battlefield Protection Program. 

Respondents John Calabrese, Monogahela National Forest; Sam Cawell, Carnifex Ferry 

Battlefield State Park; Michelle Depp, Rich Mountain Battlefield Foundation, Inc.; Edward 

Dunleavy, Shepherdstown Battlefield Preservation Foundation, Inc.; Dennis Frye, Harpers 

Ferry National Historical Park; John Howard, Antietam National Battlefield; Tom Ressler, 

Falling Waters Battlefield Foundation, Inc.; and Kathy Robertson, Civil War Preservation 

Trust. 

Cover: In the Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park, a cannon indicates the final Confederate line 

during the battle on November 6, 1863. After this battle, Confederate resistance in West Virginia 

collapsed. Photo by Joseph E. Brent, 2007.
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of West Virginia

Table of Contents 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ......................................................................................... 1

INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................... 3

SYNOPSIS ............................................................................................................ 5

METHOD STATEMENT ......................................................................................... 8

RESEARCH AND FIELD SURVEYS .......................................................................................... 8 

QUESTIONNAIRES........................................................................................................... 11 

SUMMARY OF CONDITIONS OF WEST VIRGINIA’S CIVIL WAR BATTLEFIELDS 13

QUANTIFIED LAND AREAS ............................................................................................... 13 

CONDITION ASSESSMENTS ............................................................................................... 14 

REGISTRATION............................................................................................................... 14 

STEWARDSHIP ............................................................................................................... 16 

PUBLIC ACCESS AND INTERPRETATION ............................................................................... 18 

LOCAL ADVOCACY ........................................................................................................ 18

INDIVIDUAL BATTLEFIELD PROFILES..........................................................21

APPENDICES ...................................................................................................... 66

APPENDIX A. CIVIL WAR BATTLEFIELD PRESERVATION ACT OF 2002 .................................... 66 

APPENDIX B. BATTLEFIELD QUESTIONNAIRE ...................................................................... 69 

APPENDIX C. CIVIL WAR BATTLEFIELD LAND ACQUISITION GRANTS...................................... 72 

APPENDIX D. AMERICAN BATTLEFIELD PROTECTION PROGRAM PLANNING GRANTS ................ 73 
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Final DRAFT – State of West Virginia 3 

Introduction 

The information in this report fulfills, in part, the purposes of the Civil War Battlefield 

Preservation Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-359, 111 Stat. 3016). Those purposes are: 

1) to act quickly and proactively to preserve and protect nationally significant 

Civil War battlefields through conservation easements and fee-simple 

purchases of those battlefields from willing sellers; and 

2) to create partnerships among state and local governments, regional 

entities, and the private sector to preserve, conserve, and enhance 

nationally significant Civil War battlefields. 

The Civil War Battlefield Preservation Act of 2002 directs the Secretary of the Interior, 

acting through the American Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP) of the National Park 

Service, to update the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission (CWSAC) Report on the Nation’s 

Civil War Battlefields. The CWSAC was established by Congress in 1991 and published its 

report in 1993. Congress provided funding for this update in FY 2005 and FY 2007. 

Congress asked that the updated report reflect the following: 

• Preservation activities carried out at the 384 battlefields identified by the 

CWSAC during the period between 1993 and the update; 

• Changes in the condition of the battlefields during that period; and 

• Any other relevant developments relating to the battlefields during that 

period. 

In accordance with the legislation, this report presents information about Civil War 

battlefields in West Virginia for use by Congress, federal, state, and local government 

agencies, landowners, and other interest groups. Other state reports will be issued as 

surveys and analyses are completed. 
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Final DRAFT – State of West Virginia 4 

Figure 1. CWSAC Battlefields in West Virginia. 
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Final DRAFT – State of West Virginia 5 

Synopsis

There are 15 CWSAC battlefields in the state of West Virginia. Historically, these 

battlefields encompassed about 101,800 acres.1

 Today, 49,000 acres, or about 48 percent, 

of these landscapes survive. These 49,000 acres have sufficient significance and retain 

enough integrity to make them worthy of preservation.2

 At present, about 14,400 acres, 

or 29 percent, are permanently protected by governments and private nonprofit 

organizations (see Table 8). The remaining 34,600 acres are at risk. 

Since 1993, land use changes at the battlefields in West Virginia have been steady, but not 

overwhelming. The ABPP found that most of the battlefields survive with many of their 

historic features and terrain intact. Opportunities to preserve these sites within the next 

decade are great. 

The CWSAC used a four-tiered system that combined historic significance, current 

condition, and level of threat to determine priorities for preservation among the 

battlefields. Nationwide, the CWSAC identified 50 top priority battlefields; two were in 

West Virginia. The CWSAC viewed these battlefields as the most historically significant of 

the war, the most endangered in 1993, and having a “critical need for action.” The 

CWSAC assigned three more West Virginia battlefields to the second highest priority, those 

considered “opportunities for comprehensive preservation.” These were battlefields “in 

relatively good condition, [and] face few threats, but are relatively unprotected....” The 

third priority included battlefields “that already have substantial historic land under 

protection and face limited threats,” but that needed “some additional land protection.” 

Seven were in West Virginia. 

The CWSAC’s fourth and lowest priority was for “fragmented” battlefields. The CWSAC 

explained, “While some lost battlefields are truly obliterated, important remnants of 

others still exist....” Although these sites “to varying degrees no longer convey an 

authentic sense of the sweep and setting of the battle, they often remain important areas 

suitable for interpretation, museums, and commemoration.”3

 In 1993, the CWSAC 

determined that three West Virginia battlefields had been substantially compromised by 

post-war development. 

Of West Virginia’s two first tier battlefields from 1993, only Rich Mountain battlefield 

remains an immediate preservation concern. Accelerating residential development along 

county roads and in adjacent valleys is eating away portions of the historic landscape. 

Redoubled preservation efforts are needed to save the remaining, unprotected 1,400 acres 

of battlefield. 

At the Harpers Ferry battlefield, most of what survives is protected by the National Park 

Service. The remaining intact but unprotected portions of the battlefield, such as lands 

north of Maryland Heights, along Elk Run, and northeast of Millville, need to be the focus 

of ongoing preservation efforts. 

 

1

Using GIS, and accounting for overlapping areas, the ABPP calculated that the Study Areas for the 15 battlefields in West Virginia 

represent 101,792.23 acres. Study Areas for the battles of Harpers Ferry, Shepherdstown, and Summit Point include an additional 

9,080.80 acres of land and water in Maryland and Virginia. 

2

 Using GIS, and accounting for overlapping areas, the ABPP calculated that the Potential National Register Boundaries for the 15 

battlefields in West Virginia represent 49,084.14 acres. Potential National Register Boundaries for Harpers Ferry, Shepherdstown, 

and Summit Point include an additional 5,795.84 acres of land and water in Maryland and Virginia. 3

 Civil War Sites Advisory Commission, Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields, Washington, DC: National Park Service, U.S. 

Department of the Interior, 1993, 22- 23.
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Final DRAFT – State of West Virginia 6 

The CWSAC’s second tier battlefields in West Virginia have and continue to be affected by 

development pressures. Rapid development within the Hoke’s Run (also known as Falling 

Water) battlefield has fragmented the historic landscape significantly. Hoke’s Run no 

longer remains an opportunity for comprehensive landscape preservation. Smithfield 

Crossing and Summit Point survive in good condition, although Summit Point is 

seriously threatened by residential development pressure west of Charles Town. 

Immediate protection of those two battlefields should be the focus of Federal, state, and 

local efforts. 

The ABPP’s review of third tier battlefields in West Virginia found all seven battlefields in 

good or excellent states of integrity. With the exception of Shepherdstown, these 

battlefields are located in rural areas where development pressures are more subdued, but 

also more likely to occur randomly due to less restrictive local zoning. Cheat Mountain, 

Droop Mountain, Kessler’s Cross Lanes, and Shepherdstown have the largest 

percentages of Study Area land to land potentially eligible for listing in the National 

Register of Historic Places land (see Table 5). The ABPP believes that all of these 

battlefields should be viewed as higher priorities for preservation. That only 

Shepherdstown benefits from the dedicated work of a local friends group is of special 

concern. Local or regional battlefield nonprofits are needed to lead protection efforts at 

the other six battlefields in this category. 

Table 1. CWSAC Preservation Priorities from 1993 – First Tier

CWSAC Priority Battlefield County

I Critical Need 

 2 Battlefields

Harpers Ferry (WV010) Jefferson; Washington County, MD; 

Loudoun County, VA 

Rich Mountain (WV003) Randolph County 

Table 2. CWSAC Preservation Priorities from 1993 – Second Tier

CWSAC Priority Battlefield County 

II Comprehensive Hoke’s Run (WV002) Berkeley 

 Preservation Smithfield Crossing (WV015) Jefferson, Berkeley 

 Possible 

     3 Battlefields

Summit Point (WV014) Jefferson; Clarke and Frederick 

Counties, VA 
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Final DRAFT – State of West Virginia 7 

The ABPP’s research and recent assessments have also redefined many severely fragmented 

and “lost” battlefields in the fourth tier of CWSAC priorities. In West Virginia, the ABPP 

found that Moorefield retained enough historic terrain and features to be reconsidered 

for preservation. Protection efforts at Moorefield quickly need to target remaining 

historic parcels before the battlefield is lost to further development associated with the 

growth of the town and the new Corridor H highway. 

The ABPP determined that the battlefield landscape at Philippi, while fragmented, does 

still present limited preservation opportunities. At Princeton Courthouse, the ABPP 

confirmed that the battlefield has been destroyed by significant changes in land use since 

the time of the battle. Princeton Courthouse provides opportunities for 

commemoration, but few opportunities for cultural resource preservation. 

See the Individual Battlefield Profiles for detailed condition assessments and preservation 

recommendations. The National Park Service will issue updated priorities after all CWSAC 

battlefields nationwide have been surveyed and all state reports have been completed. 

Table 3. CWSAC Preservation Priorities from 1993 – Third Tier

CWSAC Priority Battlefield County 

III Additional Camp Allegheny (WV008) Pocahontas, Randolph 

 Protection Cheat Mountain (WV005) Randolph, Pocahontas 

 Needed Carnifex Ferry (WV006) Nicholas, Fayette 

 7 Battlefields Droop Mountain (WV012) Pocahontas, Greenbrier 

Kessler’s Cross Lanes (WV004) Nicholas, Fayette 

Shepherdstown (WV016) Jefferson; Washington County, MD 

Greenbrier River (WV007) Pocahontas, Randolph 

Table 4. CWSAC Preservation Priorities from 1993 – Fourth Tier

CWSAC Priority Battlefield County/City 

IV Fragmented/ Moorefield (WV013) Hardy, Hampshire, Mineral 

 Destroyed Philippi (WV0001) Barbour, Taylor 

 3 Battlefields Princeton Courthouse (WV009) Mercer 
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Final DRAFT – State of West Virginia 8 

Method Statement 

Congress instructed the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the American Battlefield 

Protection Program (ABPP), to report on changes in the condition of the battlefields since 

1993 and on “preservation activities” and “other relevant developments” carried out at 

each battlefield since 1993. To fulfill those assignments, the ABPP 1) conducted a site 

survey of each battlefield, and 2) prepared and sent out questionnaires to battlefield 

managers and advocacy organizations (see Appendix B). 

The 1993 significance rankings for each battlefield stand. Significance was assigned by the 

Civil War Sites Advisory Commission and the ABPP sustains the CWSAC’s opinions as to the 

relevant importance of each battle within the larger context of the war. 

Research and Field Surveys 

The ABPP conducted the field assessments of West Virginia battlefields from November 

2005 through March 2006. The surveys entailed additional historical research, on-theground documentation and assessment of site conditions, identification of impending 

threats to each site, and site mapping. Surveyors used a Global Positioning System (GPS) 

receiver to map historic features of each battlefield and used a Geographic Information 

System (GIS) program to draw site boundaries. The ABPP retains all final survey materials. 

Each battlefield survey file includes a survey form (field notes, list of defining features, list 

of documentary sources, and a photo log), photographs, spatial coordinates of significant 

features, and boundaries described on USGS topographic maps. The surveys did not 

include archeological investigations for reasons of time and expense. 

Study Areas and Core Areas 

The CWSAC identified a Study Area and a Core Area for each principal battlefield in West 

Virginia (see Figure 2 for definitions). The CWSAC boundaries have proven invaluable as 

guides to local land and resource preservation efforts at Civil War battlefields. However, 

since 1993, the National Park Service has refined its battlefield survey methodology, which 

include research, working with site stewards, identifying and documenting lines of 

approach and withdrawal used by opposing forces, and applying the concepts of military 

terrain analysis to all battlefield landscapes. The ABPP’s Battlefield Survey Manual explains 

the field methods employed during this study.4

 The surveys also incorporate the concepts 

recommended in the National Register of Historic Places’ Guidelines for Identifying, 

Evaluating, and Registering America’s Historic Battlefields, which was published in 1992 

after the CWSAC had completed its original assessments of the battlefields. 

Using its refined methodology, the ABPP was able to validate or adjust the CWSAC’s Study 

Area and Core Area boundaries to reflect more accurately the full nature and original 

resources of the battlefields (see Table 5). In West Virginia, the refined methodology 

resulted in significant increases in the size of Study Areas, Core Areas, or both. However, it 

is important to note that the Study Area and Core Area boundaries are simply historical 

boundaries that describe where the battle took place; neither indicates the current 

integrity of the battlefield landscape, so neither can be used on its own to identify 

surviving portions of battlefield land that may merit protection and preservation. 

 

4

 American Battlefield Protection Program, “Battlefield Survey Manual,” (Washington, DC: National Park Service, revised 2007) 
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of West Virginia 9 

Figure 2: Boundary Definitions 

The Study Area represents the historic extent 

of the battle as it unfolded across the 

landscape. The Study Area contains resources 

known to relate to or contribute to the battle 

event: where troops maneuvered and 

deployed, immediately before, during, and 

after combat, and where they fought during 

combat. Historic accounts, terrain analysis, 

and feature identification inform the 

delineation of the Study Area boundary. The 

Study Area indicates the extent to which 

historic and archeological resources associated 

with the battle (areas of combat, command, 

communications, logistics, medical services, 

etc.) may be found. Surveyors delineated 

Study Area boundaries for every battle site 

that was positively identified through 

research and field survey, regardless of its 

present integrity. 

The Core Area represents the areas of 

fighting on the battlefield. Positions that 

delivered or received fire, and the intervening 

space and terrain between them, fall within 

the Core Area. Frequently described as 

“hallowed ground,” land within the Core 

Area is often the first to be targeted for 

protection. There may be more than one 

Core Area on a battlefield, but all lie within 

the Study Area. 

Unlike the Study and Core Areas, which are 

based only upon the interpretation of historic 

events, the Potential National Register 

(PotNR) boundary represents ABPP’s 

assessment of a Study Area’s current integrity 

(the surviving landscape and features that 

convey the site’s historic sense of place). The 

PotNR boundary may include all or some of 

the Study Area, and all or some of the Core 

Area. Lands within PotNR boundaries should 

be considered worthy of further attention, 

although future evaluations may reveal more 

or less integrity than indicated by the ABPP 

surveys. 

Potential National Register Boundaries

To address the question of what part of 

the battlefield remains reasonably intact 

and warrants preservation, this study 

introduced a third boundary line that was 

not attempted by the CWSAC: the 

Potential National Register boundary (see 

Figure 2). 

Looking at each Study Area, the surveyors 

assigned PotNR boundaries where they 

judged that enough battlefield land 

remained to convey the significance of the 

engagement. In a few cases, the PotNR 

boundary encompasses the entire Study 

Area. In most cases, however, the PotNR 

boundary includes less land than identified 

in the full Study Area. 

In assigning PotNR boundaries, the ABPP 

followed National Register of Historic 

Places (NRHP) guidelines when identifying 

and mapping areas that retain integrity 

and cohesion within the Study Areas.5

 

However, because the ABPP focuses only 

on areas of battle, the ABPP did not 

evaluate lands adjacent to the Study Area 

that may contribute to a broader historical 

and chronological definition of “cultural 

landscape.” Lands outside of the Study 

Area associated with other historic events 

and cultural practices may need to be 

evaluated in preparation for a formal 

nomination of the cultural landscape. 

Most importantly, the PotNR boundary 

does not constitute a formal 

determination of eligibility by the 

Keeper of the National Register of 

Historic Places.

6

 The PotNR boundary is 

designed to be used as a planning tool for 

government agencies and the public. Like 

the Study and Core Area boundaries, the 

PotNR boundary places no restriction on 

private property use. 

 

5

 For general guidance about integrity issues and National Register properties, see National Park Service, How to Apply the National 

Register Criteria for Evaluation (Washington, DC: U.S. Department of the Interior, revised 1997). The survey evaluations described 

above do not meet the more stringent integrity standards for National Historic Landmark designation. See National Park Service, 

How to Prepare National Historic Landmark Nominations (Washington, DC: U.S. Department of the Interior, 1999), 36- 37. 6

 See 36 CFR 60.1- 14 for regulations about nominating a property to the National Register and 36 CFR 63 for regulations concerning 

Determinations of Eligibility for inclusion in the National Register. 
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Final DRAFT – State of West Virginia 10 

The term integrity, as defined by the National Register of Historic Places, is “the ability of a 

property to convey its significance.”7

 While assessments of integrity are subjective, 

battlefields can have integrity only if they can be positively located through research and 

“ground-truthing,” and only if significant portions of the landscape’s historic terrain have 

not been substantially disturbed. Other conditions contribute to the degree of integrity a 

battlefield retains: 

• the quantity and quality of surviving battle-period resources (e.g., buildings, 

roads, fence lines, military structures, and archeological features); 

• the quantity and quality of the spatial relationships between and among 

those resources and the intervening terrain that connects them; 

• the extent to which current battlefield land use is similar to battle-period land 

use; and 

• the extent to which a battlefield’s physical features and overall character 

visually communicate an authentic sense of the sweep and setting of the 

battle. 

Natural changes in vegetation—woods growing out of historic farm fields, for example—

do not necessarily diminish the landscape’s integrity. Significant changes in land use since 

the Civil War do affect integrity; the degree to which post-war development has altered 

and fragmented the historic landscape and destroyed historic features is critical when 

assessing integrity. Still, some post-battle development is expected; slight or moderate 

change within the battlefield may not substantially diminish a battlefield’s integrity. 

Often these post-battle “non-contributing” elements are included in the PotNR boundary 

in accordance with NRHP guidelines. 

The Potential National Register boundaries therefore indicate which battlefields are likely

eligible for future listing in the NRHP and likely deserving of future preservation efforts. If 

a surveyor determined that a battlefield was entirely compromised by land use 

incompatible with the preservation of historic features (i.e., it has little or no integrity), it 

did not receive a PotNR boundary. 

In cases where a battlefield is already listed in the NRHP, surveyors reassessed the existing 

documentation based on current scholarship and resource integrity, and, when 

appropriate, provided new information and proposed new boundaries as part of the 

surveys. As a result, some PotNR boundaries will contain or share a boundary with lands 

already listed in the NRHP. In other cases, PotNR boundaries will exclude listed lands that 

have lost integrity. (See Table 5 boundary comparisons.)8

The data from which all three boundaries are drawn do not necessarily reflect the full 

research needed for a formal NRHP nomination. Potential National Register boundaries 

are based on an assessment of aboveground historic features associated with the cultural 

 

7

 National Park Service, Guidelines for Identifying, Evaluating, and Registering America’s Historic Battlefields, 1992 ; Revised 1999 

(Washington, DC: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Interagency Resources Division). Archeological integrity 

was not examined during this study, but should be considered in future battlefield studies and formal nominations to the National 

Register.

8

 The ABPP’s surveys and PotNR assessments do not constitute formal action on behalf of the office of the National Register of 

Historic Places (NRHP). PotNR assessments are intended for planning purposes only; they do not carry the authority to add, 

change, or remove an official listing. 
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of West Virginia 11 

and natural landscape. The surveys did not include a professional archeological inventory 

or assessment of subsurface features or indications. In some cases, future archeological 

testing will help determine whether subsurface features remain, whether subsurface battle 

features convey important information about a battle or historic property, and whether 

that information may help to confirm, refine, or refute the boundaries previously 

determined by historic studies and terrain analysis. 

The ABPP survey information should be reassessed during future compliance processes 

such as the Section 106 process required by the National Historic Preservation Act9

 and 

Environmental Impact Statements/Environmental Assessments required by the National 

Environmental Policy Act.10 Likewise, more detailed research and assessments should take 

place when any battlefield is formally nominated to the National Register of Historic Places 

or proposed for designation as a National Historic Landmark. New research and intensivelevel surveys of these sites will enlighten future preservation and compliance work. 

Agencies should continue to consult local and state experts for up-to-date information 

about these battlefields. 

Seven West Virginia battlefields are already listed in the NRHP or are designated National 

Historic Landmarks (see Table 7). At each of these battlefields, the ABPP recommends a 

PotNR boundary of equal or greater size than the existing NRHP boundary (although the 

PotNR may not trace the existing boundary exactly if previously registered land has lost 

integrity). 

Questionnaires

While the ABPP maintains data about its own program activities at Civil War battlefields, 

most preservation work occurs at the local level. Therefore, to answer Congress's directive 

for information about battlefield preservation activities, the ABPP sought input from local 

battlefield managers and advocacy organizations. The ABPP distributed questionnaires 

designed to gather information about the types of preservation activities that have taken 

place at the battlefields since 1993. The Questionnaire is reproduced in Appendix B. 

In West Virginia, representatives of eight organizations responded to the questionnaires. 

Their responses, combined with the survey findings, allowed the ABPP to create a profile 

of conditions and activities at West Virginia’s Civil War battlefields. 

 

9

 16 USC 470f. 

10 42 USC 4331- 4332. 
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Final DRAFT – State of West Virginia 12 

Figure 3: An unprotected portion of the Carnifex Ferry battlefield. Residential develop has 

begun on adjacent parcels. Photo by Joseph E. Brent, 2007.
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Final DRAFT – State of West Virginia 13 

Summary of Conditions of West Virginia’s Civil War Battlefields 

Quantified Land Areas 

Using a Geographic Information Systems program, the ABPP calculated the amount of land 

historically associated with the battle (Study Area), the amount of land where forces were 

engaged (Core Area), and the amount of land that may retain enough integrity to be 

eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (Potential National Register 

boundary). 

As noted above, Study Areas and Core Areas have been revised in many cases. In 

particular, the original CWSAC surveys did not consistently include routes of approach and 

withdrawal or secondary actions that influenced the course or outcome of the battle. The 

revised boundaries take these movements and actions into account. In some instances, 

new or additional research has sharpened historical understanding of battle events. 

Therefore, the ABPP determined that additional lands belong appropriately in the Study 

and Core Areas because they lend additional understanding to the battle story. The 

individual battlefield profiles at the end of this report provide additional information 

about the extent of and reasons for any revisions to the CWSAC Study Area and Core Area 

boundaries. 

Table 5 lists the size of the three boundaries, as determined by the ABPP, for each 

battlefield. Because Civil War armies waged numerous battles in West Virginia over the 

same ground—especially in Jefferson and Pocahontas counties—the total number of Civil 

War battlefield acres in West Virginia is lower than a simple summation of the Table 5 

data would indicate. Calculating for the overlapping areas of the battlefields, there are 

101,792.25 total Study Area acres, 21,733.34 total Core Area acres, and 49,084.14 total 

acres likely eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places in West Virginia.11 

 

11 The Study Areas for the battles of Harpers Ferry, Shepherdstown, and Summit Point include an additional 9,080.80 acres of land 

and water in Maryland and Virginia. The ABPP calculates that 5,795.84 acres in these other states are potentially eligible for listing in 

the National Register. 

Table 5. Battlefield Area Statistics

Battlefield Study Area Core Area PotNR Boundary

Camp Allegheny (WV008) 5,029.80 1,320.60 2,946.10

Carnifex Ferry (WV006) 5,309.70 1,576.05 1,985.60

Cheat Mountain (WV005) 11,271.23 3,076.90 9,164.24

Droop Mountain (WV012) 8,128.50 2,952.27 5,967.69

Greenbrier River (WV007) 2,321.47 734.84 700.00

Harpers Ferry (WV010) 6,667.69 (WV) 3,477.66 (WV) 4,562.31 (WV) 

 3,515.65 (MD) 1,489.94 (MD) 2,476.54 (MD)

 825.41 (VA) 0.00 (VA) 154.14 (VA)

Hoke's Run (WV002) 5,325.39 525.80 953.45

Kessler's Cross Lanes (WV004) 2,103.45 995.25 2,103.45

Moorefield (WV013) 14,266.22 1,902.81 1,824.36

Philippi (WV001) 11,879.07 403.03 4,546.67

Princeton Courthouse (WV009) 10,703.45 1,661.40 0.00

Rich Mountain (WV003) 4,203.80 140.58 1,872.31

Shepherdstown (WV016) 2,792.60 (WV) 1,034.64 (WV) 2,502.71 (WV)

 1,756.61 (MD) 499.76 (MD) 1,756.61 (MD)

Smithfield Crossing (WV015) 6,456.72 1,599.96 3,647.69

Summit Point (WV014) 11,112.24 (WV) 1,434.12 (WV) 6,966.62 (WV) 

 2,980.24 (VA) 335.26 (VA) 1,705.01 (VA)
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Final DRAFT – State of West Virginia 14 

Condition Assessments 

Using field survey data, the ABPP assessed the overall condition of each battlefield’s Study 

Area. While no battlefield remains completely unaltered since the Civil War, 12 of West 

Virginia’s 15 battlefields have experienced relatively little or only moderate change to 

their terrain and aboveground battle features in nearly 150 years.12

Registration 

The nation’s official method for recognizing historic properties worthy of preservation is 

listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). As of 2009, 7 of West Virginia’s 

15 battlefields have been listed in the NRHP. However, these listings do not include all of 

the land considered significant and eligible by the ABPP. The ABPP evaluated the integrity 

of the greater battlefield landscape. Isolated but significant fragments or features of 

battlefields may be eligible for listing in the NRHP, but only as remnants, not as cohesive 

landscapes. 

The ABPP found that 14 battlefield landscapes may retain enough integrity to be eligible 

for listing. That so many of the state’s Civil War battlefields survive appears to be due to 

their rural locations and the slower pace of development in those areas. Among the most 

intact battlefields are Cheat Mountain, Droop Mountain, Kessler’s Cross Lanes, and 

Shepherdstown. 

Registered battlefields meet national standards for documentation, physical integrity, and 

demonstrable significance to the history of the nation. Federal, state, and local agencies 

use information from the NRHP as a planning tool to identify and make decisions about 

cultural resources. Federal and state laws, most notably Section 106 of the National 

Historic Preservation Act of 1966, require agencies to account for the effects their projects 

(roads, wetland permits, quarrying, cell towers, etc.) may have on listed and eligible 

historic properties, such as battlefields. Listing allows project designers to quickly identify 

the battlefield and avoid or minimize impacts to the landscape. 

 

12 The condition of archeological resources within the battlefields was not assessed. Future studies are needed to determine the

degree of archeological integrity associated with subsurface battle deposits. 

Table 6: Battlefield Condition Summary 

Condition Battlefield 

Land use is little changed (3) Camp Allegheny, Cheat Mountain, Rich 

Mountain 

Portions of landscape have been 

altered, but most essential features 

remain (9) 

Carnifex Ferry, Droop Mountain, 

Greenbrier River, Harpers Ferry, Kessler’s 

Cross Lanes, Moorefield, Shepherdstown, 

Smithfield Crossing, Summit Point 

Much of the landscape has been 

altered and fragmented, leaving 

some essential features (2)

Hoke’s Run, Philippi

Landscape and terrain have been 

altered beyond recognition (1) 

Princeton Courthouse
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Final DRAFT – State of West Virginia 15 

Properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places are also eligible for numerous 

federal and state historic preservation grant programs. Recognition as a registered 

battlefield may also advance public understanding of and appreciation for the battlefield, 

and may encourage advocacy for its preservation.13

West Virginia’s seven registered battlefields were listed prior to the Civil War Sites 

Advisory Commission’s study in the early 1990s. Only the Camp Bartow Historic District, a 

portion of the Greenbrier River battlefield, was listed after the CWSAC issued its 1993 

report. The seven West Virginia battlefields already listed embrace more than 3,300 

acres.14 The ABPP’s assessments, however, indicate that another 45,700 acres may be 

eligible for listing on top of the existing NRHP boundary. Of the eight West Virginia 

battlefields not currently listed in the NRHP, the ABPP believes seven are likely eligible for 

listing. 

Table 7 compares the number of acres already designated or listed with the number of 

acres that are likely to meet the same criteria, but are not currently part of the existing 

NRHP, NHL, or NPS boundary. As noted earlier, several West Virginia battlefields overlap 

in land area. Therefore, the total amount of intact land potentially eligible for listing is 

lower than a simple summation of the Table 7 data.15

 

13 There are three levels of federal recognition for historic properties. Congressional designations, such as national park (NPS) units, 

National Historic Landmarks (NHL), and listings in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Congress creates national 

park units. The Secretary of the Interior designates National Historic Landmarks – nationally significant historic sites – for their 

exceptional value or quality in illustrating or interpreting the heritage of the United States. The National Register of Historic Places 

is the nation’s official list of cultural sites significant at the national, state, or local level and worthy of preservation. NPS units and 

NHLs are also treated as listed in the National Register. 

14 National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service, Washington, DC. The precise sum of listed lands is 3,365.40 

acres. Note that some National Register lands may have lost integrity since they were listed. 15 Using GIS, and accounting for overlapping areas, the ABPP calculated that the Potential National Register Boundaries for the 15 

battlefields in West Virginia represent 49,084.14 acres. Another 5,795.84 acres of potentially eligible battlefield lands lie in Maryland 

and Virginia. 

Table 7: Acres Registered Compared with Acres 

Potentially Eligible to be Registered

Battlefield Designation 

Potentially 

Eligible (PotNR) 

Acres 

Registered 

Acres 

Unlisted 

Acres 

Camp Allegheny (WV008) NRHP 2,946.10 105.00 2,841.10 

Carnifex Ferry (WV006) NRHP 1,985.60 156.40 1,829.20 

Cheat Mountain (WV005) NRHP 9,164.24 34.00 9,130.24 

Droop Mountain (WV012) NRHP 5,967.69 288.00 5,679.69 

Greenbrier River (WV007) NRHP 700.00 182.00 518.00 

Harpers Ferry (WV010) NRHP 4,562.31 2,385.00 2,177.31 

Hoke's Run (WV002) 953.45 0.00 953.45 

Kessler's Cross Lanes (WV004) 2,103.45 0.00 2,103.45 

Moorefield (WV013) 1,824.36 0.00 1,824.36 

Philippi (WV001) 4,546.67 0.00 4,546.67 

Princeton Courthouse (WV009) 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Rich Mountain (WV003) NRHP 1,872.31 215.00 1,657.31 

Shepherdstown (WV016) 2,502.71 0.00 2,502.71 

Smithfield Crossing (WV015) 3,647.69 0.00 3,647.69 

Summit Point (WV014) 6,966.62 0.00 6,966.62 

*Acreage figures reflect only those areas in West Virginia. See the Individual Battlefield Profiles for information about 

the size of these battlefields as they extend into other states.
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of West Virginia 16 

Stewardship 

Battlefield stewardship in West Virginia has come in fits and starts. The State made the 

earliest efforts to preserve its historic battlegrounds, setting aside battlefield land at 

Droop Mountain and Carnifex Ferry. In 1928, the State dedicated the Droop Mountain 

Battlefield State Park (318 acres), and seven years later, the Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State 

Park (280 acres). 

The Federal government was also active in the early-20th century, setting aside large land 

areas in eastern West Virginia as part of the Monongahela National Forest. The national 

forest includes a combined 7,000 acres of Civil War battlefield land at Camp Allegheny, 

Cheat Mountain, Droop Mountain, and Greenbrier River. Although the primary 

mission of the national forest is not historic preservation, federal ownership and 

management of these sites shields them from inappropriate use and development. 

In 1944, President Franklin Roosevelt created the Harpers Ferry National Monument (which 

became Harpers Ferry National Historical Park in 1966). Proponents of the national park 

continued to identify and preserve more land at Harpers Ferry throughout the 20th

century, and this work continues today (about 3,300 acres of the 3,645-acre park are 

battlefield lands). 

The latter half of the 20th century saw a lull in efforts to set aside historic battlefield land 

for permanent protection and public enjoyment in West Virginia. Then, in 1991, the Rich 

Mountain Battlefield Foundation, Inc. (RMBF), a private nonprofit organization, began its 

campaign to preserve Rich Mountain. For 18 years, the RMBF has worked with 

landowners, local officials, the Civil War Preservation Trust, and the American Battlefield 

Protection Program to protect more than 400 acres. Its success has made the RMBF a 

statewide model for battlefield stewardship. 

Today, battlefield stewardship efforts in West Virginia are on the rise. Since 2000, local 

organizations and the Civil War Preservation Trust have negotiated conservation 

easements at Harpers Ferry, Rich Mountain, Shepherdstown, and Summit Point. 

Used in conjunction with or instead of traditional fee simple purchase, conservation 

easements are becoming increasingly popular land protection tools. Private property 

owners keep their land and receive tax benefits for donating an easement, but future 

development of the land is prohibited. 

Table 8: Battlefield Stewardship 

Steward

Battlefield at Which Land or 

Development Rights are Owned 

Total Acres 

Protected 

Federal Government Camp Allegheny, Carnifex Ferry, Cheat Mountain, 

Greenbrier River, Harpers Ferry, Kessler’s Cross 

Lanes, Philippi

12,499.33 

State Government Carnifex Ferry, Cheat Mountain, Droop Mountain, 

Kessler’s Cross Lanes, Princeton Courthouse 

1,064.45 

Local Governments None 0.00 

Nonprofit Organizations Rich Mountain, Shepherdstown, Summit Point 881.01 

Statewide Total 14, 444.79
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of West Virginia 17 

Through the development of collaborative partnerships among federal, state, and local 

governments, civic organizations, nonprofit groups, and private individuals, significant 

protective measures have been and can continue to be effective in West Virginia. 

Opportunities for concerted action on the part of private landowners and land 

conservation groups are especially ripe at the eight battlefields where nearly all surviving 

lands are privately owned and unprotected. For each battlefield, Table 9 compares the 

amount of land permanently protected from development with the total amount of land 

that remains intact but is not protected.16 This information may serve planners as a tool 

for prioritizing future preservation initiatives. 

 

16 The ABPP culled information about permanently protected lands from questionnaire respondents and numerous partner 

organizations. The data is not necessarily complete but provides an approximate idea of the amount of land protected at each 

battlefield as of 2009. Boundary figures reflect only those areas in West Virginia. See the Individual Battlefield Profiles for 

information about the size of these battlefields as they extend into Maryland and Virginia. 

Table 9: Protective Stewardship of Battlefield Land 

 

Battlefield 

Permanently

Protected Acres

*ABPP PotNR 

Acres

Unprotected Acres 

Remaining 

Camp Allegheny (WV008) 1,578.10 2,946.10 1,368.00

Carnifex Ferry (WV006) 1,786.09 1,985.60 199.51 

Cheat Mountain (WV005) 5,156.27 9,164.24 4,007.97 

Droop Mountain (WV012) 318.00 5,967.69 5,649.69 

Greenbrier River (WV007) 583.56 700.00 116.44 

Harpers Ferry (WV010) 3,381.85 4,562.31 1,180.46 

Hoke's Run (WV002) 0.00 953.45 953.45 

Kessler's Cross Lanes (WV004) 353.86 2,103.45 1,749.89 

Moorefield (WV013) 0.00 1,824.36 1,824.36 

Philippi (WV001) 278.44 4,546.67 4,268.23 

Princeton Courthouse (WV009) 127.61 0.00 0.00 

Rich Mountain (WV003) 425.60 1,872.31 1,446.71 

Shepherdstown (WV016) 265.80 2,502.71 2,236.91 

Smithfield Crossing (WV015) 0.00 3,647.69 3,647.69 

Summit Point (WV014) 189.61 6,966.62 6,777.01 

* Not all protected lands are included in the PotNR boundaries. The ABPP did not assign a PotNR boundary if 

substantial portions of the landscape do not survive, such as at Princeton Courthouse 
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of West Virginia 18 

Public Access and Interpretation 

In its questionnaire (see Appendix B), the ABPP asked battlefield stewards about the types 

of public access and interpretation available at the battlefields. The ABPP did not collect 

information about the purpose or intent of the interpretation and access, such as whether 

development of wayside exhibit was for purely educational reasons, to promote heritage 

tourism, or to boost local economic development. 

The ABPP asked respondents to indicate the type of interpretation available at or about 

the battlefield. The categories included brochures, driving tours, living history 

demonstrations, maintained historic features or areas, walking tours and trails, wayside 

exhibits, websites, and other specialized programs. The results, summarized in Table 10, 

indicate that 10 of West Virginia’s 15 Civil War battlefields currently provide some degree 

of public interpretation and educational opportunities. 

Table 10: Types of Interpretation at West Virginia Battlefields

 

On-site Interpretation* Battlefield

Battlefields with public 

interpretation, including visitors 

center (4) 

Carnifex Ferry, Droop Mountain, Harpers Ferry, Rich 

Mountain 

Battlefields with public 

interpretation, but no visitors 

center (6) 

Camp Allegheny, Cheat Mountain, Greenbrier River, 

Hoke’s Run, Philippi, Shepherdstown 

Battlefields with no public 

interpretation (5) 

Kessler's Cross Lanes, Moorefield, Princeton 

Courthouse, Smithfield Crossing, Summit Point

*For details, see each site's Individual Battlefield Profile.

Local Advocacy 

Nonprofit organizations play important roles in protecting historic battlefields. They step 

in to preserve historic sites when public funding and management for historic preservation 

are absent. When public funding is available, nonprofits serve as vital partners in publicprivate preservation efforts, acting as conduits for public funds, raising critical private 

matching funds, keeping history and preservation in the public eye, and working with 

landowners to find ways to protect battlefield parcels. 

While organizations with general historical interests may play important roles in 

battlefield preservation, the nonprofit friends groups identified in Table 11 are dedicated 

solely to the preservation, interpretation, and promotion of a specific battlefield or 

battlefields. Of the four organizations listed Table 11, three formed or incorporated 

during or after the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission’s study in the early 1990s. This 

information indicates that the CWSAC’s efforts did help focus attention on the 

vulnerability of West Virginia’s battlefields, and did inspire action. Today, well-organized 

local groups can be found at Harpers Ferry, Hoke’s Run, Rich Mountain, and 

Shepherdstown, but others are needed to lead protection efforts at 11 other battlefields. 

There remains a tremendous opportunity for grassroots activism on behalf of these 

“unclaimed” battlefields. 
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of West Virginia 19 

Table 11: Active Battlefield Friends Groups 

 

Battlefield Friends Group(s) Year 

Founded 

Camp Allegheny (WV008) None 

Carnifex Ferry (WV006) None 

Cheat Mountain (WV005) None 

Droop Mountain (WV012) None 

Greenbrier River (WV007) None 

Harpers Ferry (WV010) Friends of Harpers Ferry Park 1987 

Hoke's Run (WV002) Falling Waters Battlefield Association 2004 

Kessler's Cross Lanes (WV004) None 

Moorefield (WV013) None 

Philippi (WV001) None 

Princeton Courthouse (WV009) None 

Rich Mountain (WV003) Rich Mountain Battlefield Foundation 1991 

Shepherdstown (WV016) Shepherdstown Battlefield Preservation 

Association 

2004

Smithfield Crossing (WV015) None 

Summit Point (WV014) None
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of West Virginia 20 

Figure 5: Although residential and commercial development is occurring around the town of 

Moorefield, the northern portion of the Moorefield battlefield remains in agricultural use. Photo 

by Joseph E. Brent, 2007.
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of West Virginia 66 

Appendices 

Appendix A. Civil War Battlefield Preservation Act of 2002 

Public Law 107-359, 111 Stat. 3016, 17 December 2002 

Amends the American Battlefield Protection Program Act of 1996 (16 U.S.C. 469k) 

An Act 

 

To amend the American Battlefield Protection Act of 1996 to authorize the Secretary of the Interior 

to establish a battlefield acquisition grant program. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in 

Congress assembled, 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ``Civil War Battlefield Preservation Act of 2002''. 

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES. 

 (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following 

 (1) Civil War battlefields provide a means for the people of 

 the United States to understand a tragic period in the history 

 of the United States. 

 (2) According to the Report on the Nation's Civil War 

 Battlefields, prepared by the Civil War Sites Advisory 

 Commission, and dated July 1993, of the 384 principal Civil War 

 battlefields-- 

 (A) almost 20 percent are lost or fragmented; 

 (B) 17 percent are in poor condition; and 

 (C) 60 percent have been lost or are in imminent 

 danger of being fragmented by development and lost as 

 coherent historic sites. 

 (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are-- 

 (1) to act quickly and proactively to preserve and protect 

 nationally significant Civil War battlefields through 

 conservation easements and fee-simple purchases of those 

 battlefields from willing sellers; and 

 (2) to create partnerships among State and local 

 governments, regional entities, and the private sector to 

 preserve, conserve, and enhance nationally significant Civil War 

 battlefields. 

SEC. 3. BATTLEFIELD ACQUISITION GRANT PROGRAM. 

The American Battlefield Protection Act of 1996 (16 U.S.C. 469k) is amended-- 

 (1) by redesignating subsection (d) as paragraph (3) of 

 subsection (c), and indenting appropriately; 

 (2) in paragraph (3) of subsection (c) (as redesignated by 

 paragraph (1))-- 

 (A) by striking ``Appropriations'' and inserting 
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of West Virginia 67 

 ``appropriations''; and 

 (B) by striking ``section'' and inserting 

 ``subsection''; 

 (3) by inserting after subsection (c) the following 

 ``(d) Battlefield Acquisition Grant Program.-- 

 ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection 

 ``(A) Battlefield report.--The term `Battlefield 

 Report' means the document entitled `Report on the 

 Nation's Civil War Battlefields', prepared by the Civil 

 War Sites Advisory Commission, and dated July 1993. 

 ``(B) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' 

 means a State or local government. 

 ``(C) Eligible site.--The term `eligible site' means 

 a site-- 

 ``(i) that is not within the exterior 

 boundaries of a unit of the National Park System; 

 and 

 ``(ii) that is identified in the Battlefield 

 Report. 

 ``(D) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the 

 Secretary of the Interior, acting through the American 

 Battlefield Protection Program. 

 ``(2) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a 

 battlefield acquisition grant program under which the Secretary 

 may provide grants to eligible entities to pay the Federal share 

 of the cost of acquiring interests in eligible sites for the 

 preservation and protection of those eligible sites. 

 ``(3) Nonprofit partners.--An eligible entity may acquire an 

 interest in an eligible site using a grant under this subsection 

 in partnership with a nonprofit organization. 

 ``(4) Non-federal share.--The non-Federal share of the total 

 cost of acquiring an interest in an eligible site under this 

 subsection shall be not less than 50 percent. 

 ``(5) Limitation on land use.--An interest in an eligible 

 site acquired under this subsection shall be subject to section 

 6(f)(3) of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (16 

 U.S.C. 460l-8(f)(3)). 

 ``(6) Reports.-- 

 ``(A) In general.--Not later than 5 years after the 

 date of the enactment of this subparagraph, the 

 Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the 

 activities carried out under this subsection. 

 ``(B) Update of battlefield report.--Not later than 

 2 years after the date of the enactment of this 

 subsection, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a 

 report that updates the Battlefield Report to reflect-- 

 ``(i) preservation activities carried out at 

 the 384 battlefields during the period between 

 publication of the Battlefield Report and the 

 update; 

 ``(ii) changes in the condition of the 

 battlefields during that period; and 

 ``(iii) any other relevant developments 

 relating to the battlefields during that period. 

 ``(7) Authorization of appropriations.-- 
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of West Virginia 68 

 ``(A) In general.--There are authorized to be 

 appropriated to the Secretary from the Land and Water 

 Conservation Fund to provide grants under this 

 subsection $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 

 through 2008. 

 ``(B) Update of battlefield report.--There are 

 authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry 

 out paragraph (6)(B), $500,000.''; and 

 (4) in subsection (e)-- 

 (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``as of'' and all 

 that follows through the period and inserting ``on 

 September 30, 2008.''; and 

 (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``and provide 

 battlefield acquisition grants'' after ``studies''. 

-end- 
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of West Virginia 69 

Appendix B. Battlefield Questionnaire 

State 

Battlefield 

Person Completing Form 

Date of completion 

I. Protected Lands of the Battlefield (“Protected lands” are these “owned” for historic 

preservation or conservation purposes. Please provide information on land protected since 1993.) 

1) Identify protected lands by parcel since 1993. Then answer these questions about each parcel, 

following example in the chart below. What is the acreage of each parcel? Is parcel owned fee 

simple, by whom? Is there is an easement, if so name easement holder? Was the land purchased or 

the easement conveyed after 1993? What was cost of purchase or easement? What was source of 

funding and the amount that source contributed? Choose from these possible sources: Coin money, 

LWCF, Farm Bill, State Government, Local Government, Private Owner, Private Non-Profit (provide 

name), or Other (describe). 

Parcel Acres Owner Easement Year Cost Source 

Joe Smith Farm 194 Private SHPO 1995 $500,000 LWCF/$250,000 

 Private/$250,000 

Sue Jones Tract 16 Battlefield Friends, Inc. No 2002 $41,000 State/$20,000 

 BFI/$21,000 

2) Other public or non-profit lands within the battlefield? (Y/N) 

• If yes, describe 

• Name of public or non-profit owner or easement holder 

• Number of Acres owned/held 

3) Is the information in a GIS? (Y/N) 

 If yes, may NPS obtain a copy of the data? (Y/N) 
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Final DRAFT – State of West Virginia 70 

II. Preservation Groups

1) Is there a formal interested entity (friends group, etc) associated with the battlefield? (Y/N)

If yes 

 Name 

 Address 

 Phone 

 Fax 

 E-mail 

 Web site? (Y/N) 

• If yes, what is the URL? 

• Does the web site have a preservation message? (Y/N) 

• What year did the group form? 

III. Public Access and Interpretation

1) Does the site have designated Public Access? (Y/N) (Count public roads if there are designated 

interpretive signs or pull-offs) 

If yes, what entity provides the public access (Access may occur on lands owned in fee or under 

 easement to the above entities) 

F Federal government 

F State government 

F Local government 

F Private Nonprofit organization 

F Private owner 

F Other 

Name of entity (if applicable) 

Number of Acres Accessible to the Public (size of the area in which the public may physically visit 

without trespassing. Do not include viewsheds.) 

2) Does the site have interpretation? (Y/N) 

If yes, what type of interpretation is available? 

F Visitor Center 

F Brochure(s) 

F Wayside exhibits 

F Driving Tour 

F Walking Tour 

F Audio tour tapes 

F Maintained historic features/areas 

F Living History 

F Website 

F Other 

IV. Registration 

Applies only to the battlefield landscape, not to individual contributing features of a battlefield 

(i.e., the individually listed Dunker Church property of .2 acres does not represent the Antietam 

battlefield for the purposes of this exercise) 

1) Is the site a designated National Historic Landmark? (Y/N) 

 If yes, NHL and ID Number 

2) Is the site listed in the National Register? (Y/N)

 If yes, NRHP Name and ID Number 

3) Is the site listed in the State Register? (Y/N) 

 If yes, State Register Name and ID Number 
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of West Virginia 71

4) Is the site in the State Inventory? (Y/N) 

 If yes, State Inventory Name and ID Number 

5) Is the site designated as a local landmark or historic site? (Y/N) 

 Type of Designation/Listing 

V. Program Activities

What types of preservation program activities have occurred at the battlefield? Provide 

final product name and date if applicable (e.g., Phase I Archeological Survey Report on the 

Piper Farm, 1994 and Antietam Preservation Plan, 2001, etc.) 

1) Research and Documentation 

2) Cultural Resource surveys and inventories (building/structure and landscape inventories, 

archeological surveys, landscape surveys, etc.) 

 

3) Planning Projects (preservation plans, site management plans, cultural landscape reports, 

etc.) 

 

4) Interpretation Projects (also includes education) 

5) Advocacy (any project meant to engage the public in a way that would benefit the 

preservation of the site, e.g. PR, lobbying, public outreach, petitioning for action, etc.) 

6) Legislation (any local, state, or federal legislation designed to encourage preservation of 

the battlefield individually or together with other similar sites) 

7) Fundraising 

a. To support program activities? 

b. To support land acquisition/easements? 

8) Other
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Final DRAFT – State of West Virginia 72

Appendix C. Civil War Battlefield Land Acquisition Grants 

The Civil War Battlefield Preservation Act of 2002 (PL 107-359) amended the American 

Battlefield Protection Act of 1996 (16 USC 469k) to authorize a matching grant program to 

assist States and local communities in acquiring significant Civil War battlefield lands for 

permanent protection. Most recently, Congress showed its continued support for these 

grants through its reauthorization of this program within the Omnibus Public Land 

Management Act of 2009 (PL 111-11). 

Eligible battlefields are those listed in the 1993 Report on the Nation’s Civil War 

Battlefields prepared by the Congressionally-chartered Civil War Sites Advisory Commission 

(CWSAC). Eligible acquisition projects may be for fee interest in land or for a protective 

interest such as a perpetual easement. 

Since 1998, Congress has appropriated a total of $38.9 million for this Civil War Battlefield 

Land Acquisition Grants (CWBLAG) Program. These grants have assisted in the permanent 

protection of more than 15,742 acres at 61 Civil War battlefields in 14 states. To date, two 

West Virginia battlefields have received funding through this program, but all 15 of the 

state’s battlefields are eligible for future CWBLAG funding. 

 Battlefield 

CWSAC 

Priority 

Total

Acres

Acquired

Total 

CWBLAG

Funds

Total 

Non-Federal 

Leveraged 

Funds 

Total 

Acquisition

Costs

 Harpers Ferry I 231.78 $ 539,770.00 $ 986,217.00 $ 1,525,987.00

 Shepherdstown III 424.00 $ 1,040,000.00 $ 1,040,000.00 $ 2,080,000.00

 

 Total $ 1,579,770.00 $ 2,026,217.00 $ 3,605,987.00
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of West Virginia 73

Appendix D. American Battlefield Protection Program Planning Grants 

Since 1992, ABPP has offered annual planning grants to nonprofit organizations, academic 

institutions, and local, regional, state, and tribal governments to help protect battlefields 

located on American soil. Applicants are encouraged to work with partner organizations 

and federal, state, and local government agencies as early as possible to integrate their 

efforts into a larger protection strategy. ABPP has awarded $103,320 in West Virginia. 

Grantee Year Project Title Award

Rich Mountain Battlefield 

Foundation 2008 Camp Elkwater Documentation and 

Interpretation $23,020.00 

1994 Rich Mountain Battlefield Education for 

Preservation Project $39,800.00 

1994 Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike Civil War 

Corridor Coalition, Preservation, and 

Interpretation Project 

$40,500.00 

Total ABPP Planning Grants as of FY2009 $103,320.00