Preserving the Legacy of U.S. Colored Troops
Eastern Henrico is dotted with Civil War sites, but historians rank New Market Heights as one of the rarest. While U.S. Colored Troops fought across a number of Civil War battlefields, few have received the same level of care and preservation compared to other U.S. battlefields. New Market Heights is special because out of the 14 medals of honor which were awarded to African American troops during the civil war, 11 of them were awarded to U.S. Colored Troops that battled Confederate soldiers at New Market Heights.
This 49-acre tract is the second property protected by CRLC in the core of the New Market Heights Battlefield. A nearly 800-foot segment of original earthen fortifications known as the New Market Line, a military defensive that was constructed between Fort Harrison and New Market Heights, has been protected. Capital Region Land Conservancy (“CRLC”) has closed on the purchase of more than 49 acres containing this excellent stretch of Civil War earthworks that was captured by Union soldiers on September 29, 1864 during the Battle of New Market Heights.
CRLC, Henrico County, and American Battlefield Trust now own more than 300 acres of the approximately 2,000 acres of core battlefield. The National Park Service has had plans for a New Market Heights unit of the Richmond National Battlefield Park since 1995, but has yet secured land to provide meaningful public access and interpretation of the site of the U.S.C.T.’s greatest victory of the Civil War.
Support New Market Heights Battlefield
We are seeking financial contributions from the public in order to support further protection of New market Heights Battlefield. Your contribution to the purchase of land at New Market Heights Battlefield will be restricted solely for acquisition costs with 100% of the donation going toward the project. Please donate to help make this important acquisition possible.
