Shared by Chris Calkins, Park Manager, Sailor's Creek Battlefield, as Guest Blogger.

Virginia Department of Historic Resources presented a grant to the Civil War Trust for preservation of 130 acres of battlefield land at Sailor’s Creek Battlefield Historical State Park.

On Thursday, August 15, 2013, Governor Bob McDonnell, announced that a grant from the Virginia Department of Historic Resources was presented to the Civil War Trust for preservation of 130 acres of battlefield land at Sailor’s Creek Battlefield Historical State Park.  This includes 12 acres acquired in fee simple and 118 acres preserved with a Conservation Easement.  This was also done in conjunction with a Federal grant from the American Battlefield Protection Program.

The grant award protects 1,265 acres of Virginia’s battlefields as determined by the Department of Historic Resources and originated from the Civil War Site Preservation Fund.

The governor was quoted as saying “Through concerted efforts to conserve battlefields this administration and our partners are leaving to present and future Virginians a lasting legacy.”  “It is fitting that coinciding with the 150^th anniversary of the Civil War we have conserved through public-private partnerships land that witnessed such immense sacrifice.  In doing so, we save hallowed ground and honor the Commonwealth’s past while we simultaneously make an investment in its future through heritage tourism.”

With these additional 12 acres, the story of the fighting at Sailor’s Creek can now be better told and understood with the addition of this “hallowed ground.”

The monies provided for this venture were part of a $2.2 million grant award that will protect 1,265 acres of Virginia’s battlefields as determined by the Department of Historic Resources and originated from the governor’s Civil War Site Preservation Fund.

The Overton-Hillsman Farm House was a Union field hospital during the
Battles of Sailor's Creek in 1865.

The Battles of Sailor’s Creek were actually three separate engagements fought at Hillsman’s Farm, Lockett’s Farm and Marshall’s Crossroads on April 6, 1865, along Robert E. Lee’s retreat that ended at Appomattox Court House, 72 hours later.  These battles would cost Lee almost a quarter of his Army of Northern Virginia with 7,700 men taken prisoner, along with eight generals surrendering.  The state park has the majority of its battlefield land around the Hillman farm and a large Conservation Easement protects that at the Lockett farm.  Unfortunately, the park currently has only a small parcel at the Marshall’s Crossroads intersection of this battlefield, which has the infrastructure of a “Lee’s Retreat” driving tour interpretive radio station and a paved parking lot large enough for two busses.  Directly adjacent from this is the location of the newly acquired 12 acres and the 118 acres under conservation easement.  The twelve acres encompasses the Confederate position held by General George E. Pickett’s Division during the fighting at the crossroads.

At the park's Visitor Center, visitors will learn about Lee's Retreat from Petersburg and his march to Farmville after the Battles of Sailor's Creek.

With the park’s addition of these 12 acres, it will be able to interpret the fighting at this point, and easily make it accessible to visitors with a walking trail and wayside exhibits.  The story of the fighting at Sailor’s Creek can now be better told and understood with the addition of this “hallowed ground.”

The park is at 6541 Saylers Creek Road, Rice, Va. From U.S. 460, take Route 617 (Saylers Creek Rd.) to Sailor’s Creek Battlefield State Park. From U.S. 360, take State Route 307 (connecting highway between U.S. 360 and U.S. 460) to Route 617 North (Saylers Creek Rd.).

Drive Time: Northern Virginia, three to three and a half hours; Richmond, one to one and a half hours; Tidewater/Norfolk/Virginia Beach, two and a half to three hours; Roanoke, two hours.