American Battlefield Trust

Our next stop on brings us to the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. Despite the museum's size and location - it serves as somewhat of a hidden gem and stores some incredible artifacts from America's founding years. Kris White and Dan Davis are joined by Kevin Altman; watch the video on our YouTube channel ⬇️

Tour the National Constitution Center | America 250 Our next stop on America 250 brings us to the National Constitution...

The Bennett Place State Historic Site in Durham, North Carolina, is the site of the largest surrender of Confederate soldiers in the Civil War. Over several days in April 1865, Gen. William T. Sherman and Gen. Joseph E. Johnston debated the terms of the Confederate capitulation, and, by April 26, 89,270 Confederate soldiers stationed in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina had laid down their arms.
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Three more primary surrenders followed in Citronelle, Alabama, with the surrender of Lt. Gen. Richard Taylor's army on May 4, 1865, in New Orleans, Louisiana, on May 26, 1865, with the surrender of Gen. Kirby Smith's Army of the Trans Mississippi, and in Doaksville, Oklahoma, with the surrender of Native American forces under the command of Brig. Gen. Stand Watie June 23, 1865.

Bennett Place State Historic Site Durham, North Carolina | Once the home of James and Nancy Bennitt (or Bennett), this 189 acre Piedmont North Carolina farm became the location of the...

After a brutal winter at Morristown, New Jersey, in 1780, the British heard reports that Washington’s army was falling apart. Believing both that New Jersey and the army were vulnerable, Lt. Gen. Wilhelm von Knyphausen landed troops at Elizabethtown Point in the eastern part of the state with the hopes of capturing Elizabethtown and Springfield before moving towards Washington’s encampment.

With the British near at hand, in early June 1780, Patriot Brig. Gen. William Maxwell raised militia forces from the countryside and pulled his men back from Elizabethtown to Connecticut Farms. In response, the British pushed the Americans out of Connecticut Farms towards Springfield. However, after encountering fierce Continental resistance, Knyphausen pulled his forces back to Elizabethtown Point.

June 23, 1780, Sir Henry Clinton and Knyphausen decided to make another attempt toward Washington’s encampment, where they encountered the forces of Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene. After hours of fighting, Knyphausen was unable to make headway and withdrew his troops to Staten Island.

The Battles of Connecticut Farms and Springfield showed the strength of the New Jersey militia, the Continental Army, and their ability to work well together. During the fighting, Greene also showed extensive battlefield knowledge, which would come into play when he took over Continental forces in the South later in the war.

Connecticut Farms and Springfield The American Battlefield Trust's Battle of Connecticut Farms and Springfield page includes history articles, battle maps and helpful links related to this...

The British initiated many infantry operations along the Atlantic Coast to draw American troops away from the Canadian border during the War of 1812. Raids around the Chesapeake Bay had proved its defenses to be weak, but one obstacle standing in the way was Craney Island, whose defensive fortifications blocked the mouth of the Elizabeth River. British Admiral Sir George Cockburn conducted a reconnaissance of the island’s defenses to plan his attack. But Cockburn was demoted and prevented from leading the operation, leaving the responsibility to Brig. Gen. Sir Thomas Sidney Beckwith and Capt. Samuel John B. Pechall. June 22, 1813, Beckwith attacked. However, this attack was foiled by high tides that made passage of the thoroughfare between the mainland and the island impossible. In addition, heavy American artillery fire resulted in numerous British casualties, and the chaos of the attack caused insubordination and desertion. While the battle ended in an American victory, this victory was overshadowed by the British capture of the nearby town of Hampton three days later.

The Decision at Craney Island This American triumph, engineered by the OTHER Armistead brother, was easily overshadowed by disasters elsewhere in the summer of 1813. But it almost didn't...

On the evening of June 18-19, 1864, Confederate Gen. Joseph E. Johnston moved into a defensive position on Kennesaw Mountain in Cobb County, Georgia. Union Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman encountered some of Johnston’s Confederate troops there, stretching southward. Sherman decided to extend his right to envelop their flank with Maj. Gen. John Schofield’s Army of the Ohio. Johnston responded by moving Confederate Lt. Gen. John B. Hood’s corps from his right flank to his left to confront Schofield June 22, 1864. As Hood’s troops attacked, they moved down Powder Springs-Marietta Road toward the farm of Peter Kolb. Schofield’s troops, along with the XX Corps of Maj. Gen. Joseph Ho**er, held firm. Hood’s attack ultimately failed because of the swampy terrain and Union artillery. He withdrew with 1,500 casualties. The Battle of Kolb’s Farm resulted in a Union victory, but Sherman failed at his goal of enveloping Johnston’s troops on Kennesaw Mountain.

Kennesaw Mountain | Kolb's Farm | June 22, 1864 The American Battlefield Trust’s Map of the June 22, 1864 battle of Kolb's Farm at Kennesaw Mountain, one of the key battles of the 1864 Atlanta Campaign in Virginia.

June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution of the United States, making it the official government framework of the United States. A year before, after Shays’ Rebellion exposed the failure of the Articles of Confederation, delegates from 12 of the 13 states – Rhode Island abstained – gathered to amend the Articles. However, they concluded that amendments would not fix underlying issues with the Articles. Instead, they decided a new governing document was needed. The delegates debated fiercely about the structure of the legislative branch, the power of large and small states, and slavery. After months of compromising, 39 of 55 delegates signed the final draft of the Constitution in September of 1787. In order for the Constitution to take effect, nine of the 13 states had to ratify it.

Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution, shortly followed by Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Massachusetts was hesitant to ratify because there was no Bill of Rights, but the Federalists convinced them to vote in favor by promising amendments after the Constitution was ratified. New Hampshire became the crucial ninth state to ratify the new Constitution, ensuring that it would take effect. Federalists still sought to convince the power of important states like Virginia and New York to ratify, even after they had secured the necessary votes. The promise of a Bill of Rights ultimately convinced them, along with North Carolina and Rhode Island, to make ratification unanimous.

Ratifying the Constitution The challenge to ratify the Constitution took time and debate and ultimately included the addition of the Bill of Rights.

June 21, 1863, Union cavalry made another attempt to pierce Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart’s screen of Gen. Robert E. Lee’s invading army as it moved north. Confederate Brig. Gens. Wade Hampton and Beverly Robertson’s brigades fought back against Brig. Gen. David McMurtrie Gregg’s division near a stone bridge four miles east of Upperville, Virginia. After Gregg’s reinforcements arrived, they pushed the Confederates back and captured one of their artillery pieces.

When Union Brig. Gen. John Buford’s troops went to attack the Confederate left flank north of Upperville, they encountered Confederate Brig. Gens. William E. Jones and John R Chambliss’ cavalry brigades. After much mounted fighting, Stuart withdrew to take a defensive position on Vineyard Hill. At the same time, Lee’s infantry crossed the Potomac River into Maryland. As the fighting around Upperville wound down, Stuart secured Lee’s permission to make a circuit of the Union army as it followed the Confederates toward Gettysburg.

Upperville Summary and Description of the Battle of Upperville, Gettysburg Campaign, Virginia

Happy Father’s Day from all of us at the American Battlefield Trust! For many, it was their father figure who instilled in them a deep appreciation for our nation’s rich history. Whether it was walking a battlefield, exploring a museum, or simply sharing a story at the dinner table, they fostered our curiosity and interest in American history and beyond. For their love and guidance, we cannot thank them enough!