In 1998, researchers for the Georgia Civil War Commission compiled a database of almost 400 Civil War sites in the state. Some were the scene of major battles. Others were where a few dozen men camped for a few weeks. While most people are aware Georgia played a significant role in the Civil War, the 1998 survey provided a way to quantify the physical legacy.
Despite this abundance of sites, Georgia has only four Civil War-related national parks: Chickamauga, Kennesaw Mountain, Andersonville and Fort Pulaski. State government protects about a dozen sites, including Pickett’s Mill, Griswoldville and Fort McAllister. City and county governments protect another dozen or so, such as the River Line, Fort Walker and Nash Farm. A few sites are protected by non-governmental organizations, such as the Atlanta History Center’s ownership of the Gilgal Church battlefield land and the Georgia Battlefields Association’s preservation of a parcel near New Hope Church.
This leaves more than 350 sites in private hands. During the housing boom, earthworks and original terrain at many sites were damaged or destroyed. This was especially true in the northwest Georgia corridor, where three significant campaigns occurred. The significance of a site is no guarantee of its preservation. The 1993 National Civil War Sites Advisory Commission report characterized only two battles in Georgia as decisive: Chickamauga is protected as a National Military Park, but Jonesboro has no protection and no semblance of its battlefield remains.
Governments never have enough money to create parks at all sites that should be preserved. Private preservation groups try to compensate. Several sites have support groups (Kennesaw Mountain Historical Association, for example). At the state level, the Georgia Battlefields Association tries to influence rezoning hearings, communicates with legislators, educates the public through presentations and tours, sponsors historical markers, owns small parcels of battlefield land and raises money to purchase sites.
Why do we need to save these Civil War sites?
First, we honor the sacrifice of people on both sides if we preserve the places where they camped, fought and died. In some cases, they are our direct ancestors; in all cases, they helped shape the nation in which we live, even if you’re a first-generation American.
Second, the jobs that historic sites create don’t get exported. The park ranger and the maintenance crew normally live nearby. People who come to visit these sites tend to stay longer and spend more than the average tourist.
Third, we understand better what happened at a place if we can see why a certain hill was important or why a steep-banked creek was an obstacle. If we understand better, we’re less susceptible to inaccurate characterizations of what happened.
Finally, these sites help make a better citizenry. If these sites — these learning tools — help us understand the greatest crisis in our nation’s history, we’ll be better prepared to help the country cope with the lesser challenges that always arise.
Charlie Crawford is president of the Georgia Battlefields Association.
