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State Delegate Dick Black (R-32) announced today that he will introduce a budget amendment in the upcoming legislative session of the Virginia General Assembly that could bring $400,000 in state funds to Leesburg to help preserve Balls Bluff Civil War site.
"The Balls Bluff Battlefield is a piece of our history," said Black. "These funds would ensure its preservation in the midst of all the growth that surrounds it."
Delegate Black was approached by the Town of Leesburg for assistance in the project. The historic 141 - acre battlefield is the site of the second smallest veterans' cemetary in the nation. Balls Bluff Battlefield is the site where Oliver Wendell Holmes was wounded, as well as Abraham Lincoln's close friend, Senator Baker, who subsequently died from his wounds.
54 soldiers are buried at Balls Bluff. Currently, a buffer zone around the battlefield is preserved. The $400,000 amendment to the general fund would help purchase an additional 50 acres of the battlefield. The present owner of those 50 acres is considering the sale of the land for residential development.
Additional funds for the project are expected to be provided through the Federal Transportation Enhancement Act.
"The time is right to offer this amendment to help preserve Loudoun County's historic heritage," Black said. "Anytime the state can help preserve the history and scenic beauty of our land, it benefits us all." |
