Shepherdstown Public Library Director Hali Taylor and SBPA President Mike Nickerson stand with a battlefield map of the Battle of Shepherdstown. The map is part of a new Civil War history display in the library’s Local History Room. Courtesy photo

SHEPHERDSTOWN — Last Friday, the National Park Service announced that it would be awarding a $1.9 million American Battlefield Protection Program Battlefield Land Acquisition Grant to the Jefferson County Historic Landmarks Commission, so the organization could use it to preserve more than 200 acres of Civil War battlefield. That acreage will include one notable property from the Shepherdstown Battlefield, Far Away Farm.

According to Shepherdstown Battlefield Preservation Association President Michael Nickerson, the preservation of the 121-acre farm has been the recent focus of his organization’s Save the Battlefield campaign.

“A little over 160 years ago, on Sept. 19-20, 1862, Shepherdstown’s churches, businesses and homes were overwhelmed with wounded and dying Confederate Soldiers from the aftermath of the Battle of Antietam,” Nickerson said in an email. “As the town’s people frantically scurried to save lives, Union and Confederate forces entered a deadly clash just southeast of the town, near the Potomac River and the bluffs and fields along present-day River and Trough Roads. By the close of the battle, some 677 soldiers were killed or wounded, and Confederate General Robert E. Lee, now blocked from advancing his troops back into Maryland at Williamsport, called off his campaign, retreating deeper into northern Virginia.

“In 2004, another conflict ensued — the battle to preserve the Shepherdstown Battlefield,” Nickerson said, mentioning the newer battle was waged between land developers and local citizens. “Plans had begun to develop a large portion of the site, by building some 152 houses [on Shepherdstown Battlefield]. Residents and concerned citizens banded together to stop the effort and protect the historic integrity of the area.

“Since the Shepherdstown Battlefield Preservation Association’s establishment some 18 years ago, with our partners, we’ve raised more than $1.4 million and helped save 107 acres of the original battlefield. And soon will be added another 122 acres, with the purchase of Far Away Farm, where the core of the battle took place,” Nickerson said.

The Far Away Farm was part of the Battle of Shepherdstown on Sept. 19-20, 1862. Courtesy photo

According to Nickerson, while the grant money was awarded through the National Park Service, it will also inadvertently be returned in the form of the entire battlefield to the NPS, after all of the battlefield has been acquired. The NPS is fully in agreement with this decision, after completing a Special Resources Study in 2015, which recommended the Shepherdstown Battlefield, in particular, become a part of the NPS. Currently, the NPS is leaning toward incorporating the Shepherdstown Battlefield into the Antietam Battlefield, due to the two events being interconnected.

“Far Away Farm is likely one of the last parcels needed to achieve our ultimate goal of turning the battlefield properties over to the National Park Service for their management and protection,” Nickerson said.

The only thing holding back the complete battlefields acquisition, Nickerson said, was the need for around $50,000 in funds, which the SBPA is hoping the community will be willing to donate before this coming Wednesday.

“This local project has blossomed from a Jefferson County effort to a state and national effort! The West Virginia state government recently awarded the American Battlefield Trust a $300,000 Outdoor Heritage Grant for the Far Away Farm purchase. We’ve joined arms with Jefferson County Historic Landmarks Commission, Jefferson County Farmland Protection Board, Land Trust of the Eastern Panhandle, American Battlefield Trust, U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Park Service,” Nickerson said. “We’ve entered what we hope to be our final drive, to complete the purchase of the Far Away Farm by the American Battlefield Trust on Nov. 30, 2022. The purchase price is $2 million, so the SBPA is working tirelessly to raise $100,000 towards the effort.

“We are over halfway there and are urging all county and area citizens to help us accomplish this goal!” Nickerson said, mentioning the Antietam Battlefield Trust will offer a $8:$1 match for contributions before Wednesday. “The value added to our community with the addition of a national battlefield is priceless.”

To donate, visit https://shepherdstownbattlefield.org/donate/ or mail a check to the SBPA at P.O. Box 1695 Shepherdstown, WV 25443.

The Jefferson County Historic Landmarks Commission will receive $972,000 of the total National Park Service amount of $1.9 million for the Far Away Farm purchase. The remaining $1 million will be spent to help purchase two other properties. One of those will be added to Antietam Battlefield.