Near Fredericksburg in Spotsylvania County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

The Slaughter Pen Farm

Where the Battle of Fredericksburg Was Decided

— Civil War Preservation Trust —

The Slaughter Pen Farm Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, July 25, 2009

1. The Slaughter Pen Farm Marker

Inscription.

The Slaughter Pen Farm. Where the Battle of Fredericksburg Was Decided. As hard as it is to believe, the beautiful and historic landscape you see before you was once on the verge of being bulldozed for an industrial park., It was here, on December 13, 1862, that Union forces nearly broke through Confederate lines and snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. More than 5,000 men in blue and gray fell as a result of the fighting on the Slaughter Pen Farm. Five Medals of Honor were awarded for valor on these fields., Despite its historic significance, in December 2005 this property was placed on the real estate market. Zoned for industrial development, it was advertised as "one of the best industrial sites in the Commonwealth of Virginia." With a $12 million price tag, its loss seemed a foregone conclusion., However thanks to the generosity of our 65,000 members, the Civil War Preservation Trust (CWPT) was able to step up and purchase this hallowed ground. At the time of the acquisition, it was the most expensive private-sector battlefield preservation effort in American history., Such an ambitious preservation effort wouldn't have been possible without help. To save this property, CWPT collaborated with the National Park Service, the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Central Virginia Battlefields Trust, Tricord, Inc. and SunTrust Banks, Inc. At a news conference on October 16, 2006, where he announced a $2 million federal grant for protection of the Slaughter Pen Farm, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne called CWPT's efforts here "a model for conservation partnerships throughout the nation.", Without dedicated individuals and organizations, the Slaughter Pen Farm would have been lost to development. CWPT is grateful to the following for their help:Central Virginia Battlefields Trust , Commonwealth of Virginia , McGuireWoods, LLP , National Park Service , SunTrust Banks, Inc. , Tricord, Inc.. Most of all, thank you to the thousands of individuals and organizations listed on the plaques before you who donated money to protect this historic battlefield.,

As hard as it is to believe, the beautiful and historic landscape you see before you was once on the verge of being bulldozed for an industrial park.

It was here, on December 13, 1862, that Union forces nearly broke through Confederate lines and snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. More than 5,000 men in blue and gray fell as a result of the fighting on the Slaughter Pen Farm. Five Medals of Honor were awarded for valor on these fields.

Despite its historic significance, in December 2005 this property was placed on the real estate market. Zoned for industrial development, it was advertised as "one of the best industrial sites in the Commonwealth of Virginia." With a $12 million price tag, its loss seemed a foregone conclusion.

However thanks to the generosity of our 65,000 members, the Civil War Preservation Trust (CWPT) was able to step up and purchase this hallowed ground. At the time of the acquisition, it was the most expensive private-sector battlefield preservation effort in American history.

Such an ambitious preservation effort wouldn't have been possible without help. To save this property, CWPT collaborated with the National Park Service, the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Central Virginia Battlefields Trust, Tricord, Inc. and SunTrust Banks, Inc. At a news conference on October 16, 2006, where

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he announced a $2 million federal grant for protection of the Slaughter Pen Farm, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne called CWPT's efforts here "a model for conservation partnerships throughout the nation."

Without dedicated individuals and organizations, the Slaughter Pen Farm would have been lost to development. CWPT is grateful to the following for their help:Central Virginia Battlefields Trust
Commonwealth of Virginia
McGuireWoods, LLP
National Park Service
SunTrust Banks, Inc.
Tricord, Inc.Most of all, thank you to the thousands of individuals and organizations listed on the plaques before you who donated money to protect this historic battlefield.

Erected 2009 by Civil War Preservation Trust.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is October 1781.

Location. 38° 15.86′ N, 77° 26.469′ W. Marker is near Fredericksburg, Virginia, in Spotsylvania County. Marker is on Tidewater Trail (U.S. 17), on the right when traveling south. Located on the Civil War Preservation Trust's Slaughter Pen Farm trail. Please obtain permission before entering the property. Call CWPT at (800) 298-7878. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Fredericksburg VA 22408, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers

Battle Map image. Click for more information.

Photographed By Craig Swain, July 25, 2009

2. Battle Map

The north seeking arrow points to the upper right corner of the map. See the link below for a better view of the map on the CWPT web site.
Click for more information.

are within walking distance of this marker. Battle of Fredericksburg (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Battle of Fredericksburg (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Slaughter Pen Farm (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Slaughter Pen Farm (approx. 0.2 miles away); Colonial Fort (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Slaughter Pen Farm (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Slaughter Pen Farm (approx. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named Slaughter Pen Farm (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fredericksburg.

More about this marker. In the center of the marker is a map of the Fredericksburg Battlefield depicting tactical maneuvers in this sector of the field. In the lower right is a photo of Secretary of the Interior Kempthorne and CWPT President Jim Lighthizer at the press conference.

Also see . . . Slaughter Pen Farm. Civil War Preservation Trust - Horror and Heroism at the Slaughter Pen Farm. (Submitted on July 26, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

Civil War Preservation Trust image. Click for more information.

3. Civil War Preservation Trust

Help preservation like the Slaughter Pen Farm.
Click for more information.

The Slaughter Pen Farm Marker and List of Donors image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, July 25, 2009

4. The Slaughter Pen Farm Marker and List of Donors

Donor List - Roll Call of Honor image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, July 25, 2009

5. Donor List - Roll Call of Honor

Two kiosk style markers with three panels each list the donors to the project.

Entrance to the Slaughter Pen Farm image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, July 25, 2009

6. Entrance to the Slaughter Pen Farm

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 26, 2009. This page has been viewed 2,138 times since then and 47 times this year. Last updated on August 12, 2022. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on July 26, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.