STAFFORD CIVIL WAR PARK UPDATE (January 19, 2012)

The FSCWS is poised to complete the final elements of our Civil War Park necessary to turn it over to Stafford County for opening to the public. The approval process for Virginia Army National Guard 2012 Phase II construction assistance has completed review by the environmental, property, and legal offices months ahead of last year. When Phase II is completed, the total value of the Guard’s effort will exceed $800,000. Better yet, our project has provided Virginia soldiers incredibly valuable training that in the end will preserve multiple historic sites and educate the public on the 1863 Stafford winter encampments – largest of the war.

This July, the Virginia ARNG will take our park roads to final grade; haul, emplace and impact the road aggregate; and remove remaining debris.  Other major contributors without whom we could not have proceeded include Stafford County (land, engineering, permitting and inspections), the City of Fredericksburg (land), Vulcan Materials (5,000 tons of stone products), Americast of Hanover (extensive reinforced concrete pipe), and Sona Homes (access easements).  These contributions were enhanced by the donations of many FSCWS members and citizens who supported this effort with cash contributions and/or dues. Please see the fall photo shots of the park under the “Photos” link above.  It’s hard to believe how much has been accomplished, with all roads now cleared and visible, grass growing on the slopes, and a beautiful park emerging from the woods. We’re now focused on raising the final moneys needed. If oil costs stay constant, we estimate we’ll need $111,000 more to complete our efforts -- the majority for asphalt and paving. In 22 months, the FSCWS garnered nearly 1.2 million dollars of support for this park. Additionally, Stafford County committed a critical $57,000 in tourism funds to support final engineering.  The Civil War Trust was a key enabler of the Phase I construction through its grant of $150,000 to Stafford County for the creation of an historic easement which Stafford partially utilized to help with the park’s erosion and sediment controls.  

All the above are great successes, but the final push will not be easy.  To date only $11,000 of the $111,000 needed has been raised. Between the economy and a mistaken belief by many that “based on our past success another $111,000 should be easy,” raising the final money is proving very difficult.   Still, we have more than 40 requests out for assistance and recently received a very generous grant of $5,000 from the Stafford County Historical Society – oneof the largest grants it has ever given.  Now we hope that you will help, too.

Please, take a look at our Website; think about the unique little-known history we are preserving; and, if you can, help us bring this project full circle. The Army of the Potomac was transformed in the Stafford encampments to include major changes to its intelligence, artillery, and logistics structures, yet in 150 years not one of its winter camps has been preserved in a public park.  When that Army left Stafford in mid-June of 1863 to rendezvous with Robert E. Lee at Gettysburg, it had recovered from major setbacks including the Battle of Fredericksburg, the Mud March, and Chancellorsville.  It also left behind in Stafford the graves of nearly 3,500 Union soldiers, more than were killed in action at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville combined.  They died of disease, exposure, food poisoning, and other mostly non-combat causes, but our organization believes they, too, hallowed Stafford’s ground and should finally be recognized.  Please join us, contribute, set up a group tour or just pass on the word to others to help bring this park to fruition. 

Thank you.