American Battlefield Trust

Did you know that Union soldiers during the Civil War were terrorized by a Gray Ghost? The Gray Ghost was not an undead spirit, but a very much alive Confederate colonel named John Singleton Mosby. One of Mosby’s well-known exploits involved a nighttime surprise attack on a Union camp at Fleetwood Hill, Virginia. He destroyed their supplies and kidnapped many soldiers. Though he wasn’t a real ghost, Mosby, the “Gray Ghost,” continued to haunt Union troops for the rest of the war. battlefields.org/learn/artic…

Ghost stories and myths about the Civil War have been spread since the 19th century, but the reality of Civil War medicine was far more frightening! Soldiers became victims of a number of diseases like dysentery, mumps, and tuberculosis. Even scarier were the treatments: mercury, lead acetate, and turpentine could cause corrosion of facial tissue, organ failure, seizures, and vomiting. Learn more about the scary realities of Civil War medicine in the article below ⬇️ battlefields.org/learn/head-…

October is coming to a close, which means that Family History Month is ending as well. But you don't need to let your photo albums and genealogy research collect dust on the shelf! The Trust's resources for learning more about your ancestors are helpful every month of the year - explore things like military records and use our battle maps to figure out where family members fought, or maybe learn new stories from archived journals and records. Want to know more but don't know where to start? ⬇️ Click the link below to dive in! battlefields.org/making-the-…

President John Adams was born #OnThisDay October 30, 1735, in Braintree, Massachusetts. He rose to prominence as an attorney and eventually represented Massachusetts at the Continental Congress. He helped negotiate the Treaty of Paris and was elected the second president of the United States in 1796. battlefields.org/learn/biogr…

Help us save 326 acres of Revolutionary War battlefield land in Kentucky, New York, South Carolina, and North Carolina! From the western frontier to the Southern Campaign, these four battlefields tell remarkable chapters of America's fight for independence; click the link below to learn more about the land we can save at: 🔵 Logan's Fort, Kentucky — 63 Acres 🔴 Newtown, New York — 33 Acres 🔵 Camden, South Carolina — 228 Acres 🔴 Guilford Courthouse, North Carolina — 1 Acre battlefields.org/give/save-b…

The Battle of Wauhatchie concluded #OnThisDay October 29, 1863 and the Union victory allowed supply lines to open to the besieged troops in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Wauhatiche battlefield is located at the foot of Lookout Mountain in southeast Tennessee, and visitors can learn more about the battle at the nearby visitor center in Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, which commemorates the Battle of Chickamauga, fought September 18-20, 1863, and the siege of Chattanooga from September to November 1863. battlefields.org/visit/battl…

More than 400 people came out to dig into history at Logan’s Fort this past weekend! Visitors to the historic site in Stanford, Kentucky, got a firsthand look at archaeology in action, conducted by University of Kentucky students, with opportunities to participate in excavations, see ground-penetrating radar demonstrations, explore the reconstructed fort, and learn from historians and archaeologists. A huge thank you to our partners at the University of Kentucky and the Logan’s Fort Foundation, and to everyone who joined us for an exciting day of discovery! Read more about the event in The Interior Journal: bit.ly/4iv1Sy1

Before African Americans were admitted into the Union Army, Union Capt. James M. Williams recruited a regiment of escaped slaves to serve in the Kansas militia. #OnThisDay October 29, 1862, his regiment and other Kansas troops skirmished with Confederate guerrilla soldiers near the Osage River’s Hog Island. Despite being outnumbered, the Kansas troops hemmed in the Confederates by volleys and forced them to withdraw. Newspapers reported on the bravery of the African American troops, which increased popular support for their recruitment into the Union army. Learn more: bit.ly/4jJ9a3s

Revolutionary War Lt. Col. and statesman John Laurens was born #OnThisDay October 28, 1754. Laurens distinguished himself in battle at Germantown and Rhode Island, but is largely remembered for his efforts to create a battalion of formerly enslaved people in the Continental Army. He died at the Battle of Combahee River, one of the last battles of the American Revolution, and never got to see the new nation come to fruition. battlefields.org/learn/biogr…

250 years ago today, #OnThisDay October 28, 1776, British forces under Gen. William Howe attacked the Continental Army at White Plains, New York. Early that morning, American skirmishers exchanged fire with the approaching British. Eventually, the skirmishers fell back into the American lines, but the British outflanked them and dislodged the Patriot militia, allowing Howe’s men to break through. The defeat forced Washington to retreat to New Jersey. While this loss was a devastating blow to American morale, the Continental Army remained intact and lived to fight another day. #America250 battlefields.org/learn/revol…

Late at night #OnThisDay October 28, 1863, Confederate forces launched a surprise attack on the Union troops stationed near Wauhatchie Station, a stop on the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad, largely in retaliation for the Union capture of Brown’s Ferry the day before. Union troops held off Confederate attacks until reinforcements arrived from the rear, and, after hours of fighting, the Union emerged victorious. The victory let Union forces keep supply lines open into Chattanooga, Tennessee. battlefields.org/learn/civil…

For the first time in his life, Garry Adelman goes UNDERNEATH the Burnside Bridge. How is the battlefield different from this perspective? Join Dennis Frye and Garry Adelman as they explore the Antietam Battlefield from this unique perspective.

We just transferred two tracts, totaling more than 131 acres, to Culpeper Battlefields State Park, continuing a commitment made two years ago at the creation of Virginia’s 43rd state park! Following the transfers, the state park now boasts more than 570 acres of historic battlefield land. Both properties transferred to the park faced development pressures before the Trust pursued their acquisition in the early 2020s, including potential residential construction and utility-scale solar development. Earlier this year, the Trust completed historic restoration work to remove non-historic structures on the land. “These transfers reflect what strong preservation partnerships can accomplish," said Nikki Rovner, director of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (@@VirginiaDCR). "We are thrilled to work with the American Battlefield Trust to protect this land, which will connect visitors to the rich history of Culpeper Battlefields State Park for generations to come.” battlefields.org/news/culpep…

Our Chief Historian Garry Adelman is with Wayne E. Motts, the CEO of The National Civil War Museum (@@NCWM), at Antietam's legendary Sunken Road, also known as Bloody Lane! Click the link below to visit the museum’s YouTube channel and watch their special 30-minute episode of Touring Tuesdays: Civil War Adventures. youtu.be/StaKtq16w_Q?si=RmGC…

Beginning #OnThisDay October 27, 1864, Union forces attacked the Confederates at the Boydton and Petersburg Plank Road to cut off Virginia’s South Side Railroad. While Confederate forces held their position on Boydton Plank Road, the Union won a tactical victory before both armies settled into winter quarters. battlefields.org/learn/maps/…

To break the Confederate siege of Chattanooga and desperate to reopen supply lines, the Army of the Cumberland needed to get bold. #OnThisDay October 27, 1863, they sailed down the Tennessee River under Confederate guns and landed on the opposite bank. A Confederate attack on the landing parties failed, allowing the Union to reopen supply lines into the city. battlefields.org/learn/maps/…

The Union attack on Burnside Bridge during the Battle of Antietam has gained a reputation for being a massive failure, but it actually worked (and pretty easily at that). Join Dennis Frye and Garry Adelman as they explore the Antietam Battlefield from this unique perspective.

Union Maj. Robert Anderson died #OnThisDay October 26, 1871. Anderson is best remembered for his defense of Ft. Sumter in the first battle of the Civil War. He rescued the 33-star flag from the captured fort and went on to tour with it across the nation, where he recruited soldiers and raised funds for the Union cause. battlefields.org/learn/biogr…

After blockading the Mexican east coast in the Mexican-American War, the U.S. Navy determined to capture the city of Tabasco. Mexican Lt. Col. Juan B. Traconis’ men refused to surrender after initially leaving the city. Comm. Matthew C. Perry decided to abandon his attempt on Tabasco, but as his ships retreated #OnThisDay October 26, 1846, Traconis shot at him and the two sides exchanged fire until Perry was out of range. Perry returned to successfully take Tabasco in 1847. battlefields.org/learn/artic…

Can you believe it's been 10 years?! Join Garry Adelman at Lee’s Headquarters in Gettysburg as he reminisces about this preservation victory.