Senators look to triple size of historic battlefield

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, both Virginia Democrats, introduced legislation today that would more than triple the size of Petersburg National Battlefield as the state and nation marks the 150th anniversary of the battles fought in the Siege of Petersburg — which marked the beginning of the end of the Civil War.

Warner and Kaine’s legislation looks to protect some of the most endangered Civil War battlefields in the country by authorizing the National Park Service to acquire more than 7,000 acres to add to the battlefield, which currently protects more than 2,500 acres of battlefields and historic buildings that were involved in Gen. Ulysses S. Grant’s 10-month Siege of Petersburg from June 1864 to April 1865.

“The Petersburg National Battlefield bore witness to the longest sustained siege in our nation’s military history,” Sen. Warner said . “I am pleased to introduce this legislation with Sen. Kaine to expand and preserve this important piece of American history for future generations.”

The legislation, originally known as the "Petersburg National Battlefield Modification Act,” looks to give the Park Service the authority to go forward with its Final General Management Plan that was drawn up in 2005. According to a press release from Warner’s office, the land identified for inclusion was the site of 18 major battles during the Civil War and are currently in danger of being lost to development. These sites are not currently protected within the Petersburg National Battlefield and have been identified by the Civil War Trust as one of the most endangered group of historic battlefields in the country.

If passed, Petersburg National Battlefield would become the largest Civil War historic battlefield in the nation. The acquired parcels would be mostly less than 100 acres in size. Three are more than 1,000 acres each and include land near the Five Forks, Hatcher's Run and White Oak Road units.

The proposed legislation also does not spend any money, only authorizes the acquisition of land. It also authorizes one small land transfer between Fort Lee and the battlefield.

The effort to expand the battlefield as been a bipartisan endeavor among Virginia's congressional delegation. Lawmakers have introduced this bill a number of times during the last decade in both the House and Senate. U.S. Rep. Randy Forbes, R-4th; U.S. Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., and Warner have all introduced similar legislation in the last six years, however, it has never made it out of either governing body.

“I’m proud to reintroduce this bipartisan bill to authorize preservation of key sites from the Siege of Petersburg as part of Petersburg National Battlefield,” said Sen. Kaine, whose legislation to preserve historic battlefields was enacted last year. “This final year of the Civil War Sesquicentennial is the ideal time to preserve and commemorate these historic events, in particular the contributions of approximately 16,000 members of the U.S. Colored Troops. In addition to preserving an important part of history, battlefield protection supports historic tourism, which benefits local economies throughout Virginia.”

Lewis Rogers, superintendent of Petersburg National Battlefield, also said the legislation and expansion would greatly benefit the area.

“I think it’s great. A big part of our job at Petersburg National Battlefield is to preserve history. There’s a lot of history in Virginia and there’s a lot of history in this area. This piece of legislation is going to give us a chance to preserve it for future generations so that the public can see and learn from it,” he said. "It’s going to give people reasons to come to the area. I think people in this area and outside this area can’t get enough of the Civil War. We’re going to have new things to show them, new resources and new lands. I think it’s going to help quite a bit.”

Jim Campi, policy and communications director with the Civil War Trust, was also very supportive of the proposed legislation.

"The Civil War Trust has a long history of partnering with NPS and Congress to save battlefield land at Petersburg. We strongly support expansion of the battlefield park, and believe it will benefit the local community by drawing even more tourists to the Petersburg region," he said.

During the Civil War, Petersburg was an important supply post for Gen. Robert E. Lee’s army and the Confederate Capital of Richmond. Gen. Grant’s victory over Lee’s army at Petersburg in March 1865 led to Lee’s surrender at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865. This was the longest siege in American military history.

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