Delegate Bouchat Hosts Tour of Civil War Era Sites for State Officials

June 1 tour group assembled at the Shafer Farmhouse near Burkittsville

FREDERICK, Md. (PRWEB)
July 06, 2023

On June 1, 2023, Maryland Del. Christopher (Eric) Bouchat (District 5, Carroll and Frederick counties) hosted colleagues and other Maryland officials on a tour of Civil War era sites in the Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area. Guests included Del. William Valentine (District 2A, Washington and Frederick counties), Department of Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz and his Executive Assistant, Stephen A. McGee, Acting Superintendent/Director of the Maryland Park Service Angela Crenshaw, and Preservation Maryland CEO & President Nick Redding. The group was joined by Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area Executive Director Elizabeth Scott Shatto and Board members Gary Candelaria, Shuan Butcher, Dennis Frye, Kristen McMasters, Dan Spedden and Dave Ziedelis.

While touring sites at South Mountain, Del. Bouchat noted his intent to propose creation of a United States Colored Troops (USCT) Regiment Study Commission for Maryland, saying that four Maryland USCT soldiers earned the Medal of Honor, the highest military award. He expressed that “these men deserve to be recognized for their invaluable contribution, and that benefits from such a study could be far reaching in terms of both education and economic value related to heritage tourism.”

Paul Gilligan, President, and volunteers from the Burkittsville Preservation Association introduced the Shafer Farm Property and reviewed ongoing preservation efforts at this site, which served as headquarters for Union General William B. Franklin’s 6th Corps on the afternoon of September 14, 1862, during the Battle of Crampton’s Gap. While at the Farm, Preservation Maryland’s Nick Redding, spoke about his organization’s work dedicated to South Mountain Battlefield, including advocacy and support for stabilization efforts at the Shafer Farm. Battlefield land straddles Frederick and Washington counties.

The program continued near South Mountain House (formerly the Old South Mountain Inn) where State Park Rangers Jeremy Hulse and Steve Robertson shared the history of this site before, during and after the Battle of South Mountain, and spoke about the variety of heritage travelers – from Civil War enthusiasts, to Appalachian Trail hikers, to visitors experiencing the historic National Road byway – who traverse this location.

Finally, a tour of Dahlgren Chapel was given by Kirk Denton, President, Central Maryland Heritage League. The Central Maryland Heritage League includes this structure, built by Madeleine Dahlgren in 1881, among its assets. The tour included a brief history of the Chapel and a synopsis of the organization’s activities on behalf of conservation, interpretation, and stewardship of the resources contributing to the South Mountain State Battlefield and its surrounds.

Share article on social media or email: