National Park Service Awards Grants To Preserve Land at Richmond and Petersburg-Area Battlefields

(Richmond, Va.) - The National Park Service has awarded Battlefield Land Acquisition Grants totaling more than $340,000 to the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation to preserve more than 150 acres at two 1864 Civil War battlefields in Virginia. 

The park service, through its American Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP), awarded a Battlefield Land Acquisition Grant of $132,077 to preserve 11.72 acres of the Boydton Plank Road Battlefield southwest of Petersburg in Dinwiddie County. This American Battlefield Trust effort also received support from the Virginia Land Conservation Fund. The preservation of the 11.72-acre parcel along Boydton Plank Road represents the Trust’s first preservation activity at that site. Union and Confederate forces clashed here on October 27-28, 1864, during ongoing efforts by the Union Army to cut off the South Side Railroad during the Siege of Petersburg.  

The ABPP also granted $209,153 to complete the preservation of 138.83 acres of the Deep Bottom I and II battlefields southeast of Richmond in Henrico County, near the James River. The project is facilitated by the Capital Region Land Conservancy. The First Battle of Deep Bottom was fought on July 27-29, 1864, as Union forces launched an unsuccessful offensive along New Market Road in an area named Deep Bottom. A second engagement, also known as the Battle of Fussell’s Mill, was fought in the same vicinity on August 13-20, 1864. Both resulted in stalemates. Although not involved in this transaction, the Trust has previously accomplished nine preservation campaigns at Deep Bottom since 2006, resulting in more than 475 acres protected. 

“I’m glad federal funding from the American Battlefield Protection Program is headed to Dinwiddie and Henrico counties to preserve Civil War battlefields,” said Senator Tim Kaine. “Preserving these historic sites will help ensure future generations can visit and learn about this consequential chapter in American history.” 

Senator Mark Warner noted, “The Commonwealth of Virginia is home to some of America’s most historic landmarks. I’m glad to see this continued effort to help protect these hallowed grounds as we continue to tell the full story of our rich history.” 

“The preservation and interpretation of Civil War battlefields helps all Americans learn and heal from one of the most pivotal moments in American history,” said Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan. “I am pleased that with these grants, future generations can learn from visiting two hallowed battlefields of the Petersburg-Richmond campaign — the beginning of the end of the war.” 

The ABPP’s Battlefield Land Acquisition Grants Program promotes preservation of America’s most historically significant Civil War, War of 1812 and Revolutionary War battlegrounds, an activity that will create a lasting and meaningful legacy of the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026. The Trust is the program’s most active partner. 

From a grassroots organization started by historians 30 years ago, the American Battlefield Trust has grown into one of the most successful private heritage land preservation organizations in the nation. The Trust is dedicated to preserving America’s hallowed battlegrounds and educating the public about what happened there and why it matters today. The nonprofit, nonpartisan organization has protected nearly 60,000 acres associated with the Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and Civil War, representing more than 160 sites in 25 states. Its 350,000 members and supporters believe in the power of place and the continued relevance of history as a means to fully understand our rights and responsibilities as Americans.  Learn more at www.battlefields.org. 

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