Preserve 141 Acres at Shiloh, Bentonville and Wilson’s Creek

The Opportunity

A total of 141 hallowed acres from Wilson’s Creek, Shiloh, and Bentonville — spanning key turning points in three different Civil War years — are at risk today.

The total value of this land is over $3.2 million, but thanks to state and federal grants and other funding partners, only $170,500 remains to be raised. Every dollar given is matched $19-to-$1, turning a single gift into extraordinary preservation power.

This is a chance to ensure history is not lost to development, to protect the integrity of the battlefield, and to honor the legacy of those who gave their last full measure of devotion.

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The History

The 141 acres under threat today are not ordinary parcels—they are pieces of America’s story, shaped by chaos, courage, and change. Each site represents a pivotal moment in the Western Theater of the Civil War, where momentum shifted and lives were forever altered.

Wilson’s Creek, Missouri

Union General Nathaniel Lyon launched a surprise attack on a larger Confederate force in August 1861. He positioned his troops on what became known as Bloody Hill, a strong defensive site. After five brutal hours of combat, Lyon was killed — becoming the first Union general to die in battle. With their leader lost and ammunition depleted, Union forces were forced to withdraw.  

The five-acre tract available for preservation today is a rare opportunity to save land on Bloody Hill, located in one of Missouri’s fastest-growing counties.

Shiloh, Tennessee

In April 1862 Confederate troops surprised Union forces near Pittsburg Landing, pushing them back in a fierce opening assault. The tide seemed to favor the South — until the death of General Albert Sidney Johnston, mortally wounded while leading a charge. His fall at a critical moment led to confusion and collapse in Confederate ranks. The next day, reinforced Union troops under General Ulysses S. Grant retook the ground and turned the battle.  

The two-acre tract at Shiloh now at stake played a role in those early maneuvers and borders previously preserved ground, deepening the story told at the site. This tract is also located next to land previously preserved by the Trust and the Shiloh National Military Park.

Bentonville, North Carolina

In March 1865, the Confederacy launched one final effort to halt Union General William T. Sherman. A surprise attack put Union troops at risk, but over three days, the battle turned. Both sides suffered in a grinding contest of attack and counterattack, where gains were measured in yards and paid for in blood. Ultimately, Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston withdrew, and the last major battle in the Western Theater came to an end — just weeks before the war itself did.  

The American Battlefield Trust is working to preserve a critical part of this battlefield — a location known as the “Bull Pen.” The Bull Pen became a key logistical and maneuver space as Johnston attempted to break Sherman’s forces before they could consolidate.

The Trust has been working here nearly 10 times longer than the duration of the Civil War itself! These tracts will join 2,259 preserved acres and are central to the battle’s action. Securing this land will bring our vision of a contiguous and intact battlefield closer to completion. The owners have received several offers from developers to build subdivisions, and it’s been rumored that a possible dollar discount store is being proposed.

Stand with Us — ‘Til the Battle is Won!  

The battle today is not against armies, but against the developers who threaten to erase the stories held by these landscapes. Every acre saved is a stand against forgetting. Every dollar given is a refusal to let sacrifice be buried beneath pavement.

A gift made now not only preserves land — it amplifies legacy. With a $19-to-$1 match, each contribution becomes a powerful blow for remembrance, history, and education.  

The final $170,500 secures all 141 acres. Every foot of ground protected is one step closer to finishing the fight. Please give today. 

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