American Battlefield Trust moves to preserve critical Civil War site in Petersburg

PETERSBURG, Va. (WRIC) -- A national campaign is underway to permanently protect one of the Civil War’s most pivotal battlefields — the site of the Union army’s final charge that helped end the war.

The American Battlefield Trust is in the process of purchasing 417 acres of land at Pamplin Historical Park in Petersburg, the site of the historic "Breakthrough at Petersburg."

The planned acquisition — one of the largest in the nonprofit’s history — comes with an $11 million price tag. The Trust aims to raise the final $660,000 in private donations by November to seal the deal.

“This is about the power of place,” said David Duncan, president of the American Battlefield Trust. “You can't have the same reaction standing in the parking lot of a data center or warehouse.”

The land, currently owned by Pamplin Historical Park and the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier, played a defining role in April 1865. It was here that Union forces broke through Confederate lines, ending the nine-month siege of Petersburg and setting the stage for the fall of Richmond and the Confederacy’s surrender at Appomattox just days later.

The Trust plans to expand public access to the site by adding walking trails, interpretive signs and educational programming, including digital content. Once finalized, the acquisition will form an 857-acre protected area — nearly doubling the size of the preserved battlefield land.

In addition to physical improvements, the sale will fund the creation of the Breakthrough Battlefield Foundation, a long-term investment that will maintain the grounds and support future educational initiatives.

“We ultimately want more people to appreciate America, our history and the sacrifices that were made by previous generations to give us the country we have today,” Duncan said. “That leads to a stronger republic.”

The Trust is urging supporters to contribute to its fundraising campaign to ensure the battlefield’s protection for generations to come.