Morris Island, South Carolina, April 12, 1861: Virginian Edmund Ruffin fires one of the first shots on Fort Sumter to open the American Civil War.

Morris Island, July 18, 1863: The Battle of Fort Wagner, immortalized for millions of people around the world by the film “Glory,” depicts the doomed charge of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry, a regiment of all black soldiers.

Today, after literally years of work and behind-the-scenes negotiations, you can now help the Civil War Preservation Trust save the most important remaining 117 historic acres of Morris Island, as a memorial
to all who fought there!

Dear Fellow Member,

30 to 1.

I ask you to keep those numbers in mind as you examine the enclosed CWPT Map of the Battle of Fort Wagner, and as I quickly brief you on the situation that has recently come up regarding this extraordinary piece of hallowed ground.

As I mentioned above, after many years of hard work, sensitive negotiations, back-channel conferences, thousands of phone calls, e-mails and meetings, the preservation of 117 acres of historic land on Morris Island, at the mouth of Charleston Harbor in South Carolina, is about to become a reality.

The ground that shook with some of the first shots of the war, and saw later bombardments unlike any other battlefield…

The land that was soaked by the blood of American soldiers, black and white…

And the sandy soil in which Americans of uncommon valor almost certainly still lay at rest today is about to be protected forever.

Let me anticipate your question: “Why – aside from the amazing history – is this particular opportunity so remarkable?”

Remember 30 to 1? That is the amount of leverage that this deal carries for every dollar you contribute to help save Morris Island today!

The other partners in this historic effort (the state of South Carolina, the City of Charleston and the Trust for Public Land) are counting on CWPT to be the “final dollars in” ($100,000) for this amazing pact.

That’s right…those other entities have already either raised or pledged $2.9 million of the total $3 million purchase price!

They pay 96.7 percent of the purchase price, the CWPT pays 3.3 percent, and together, we save some of the most important hallowed ground anywhere in the history of the Civil War! (In my book, that’s called a bargain, and a pretty good one, to boot!)

For $100,000, you and I will ensure that the inspiring story of the 54th Massachusetts Regiment’s assault on Fort Wagner will be remembered forever.

You and I will ensure that future visitors to Ft. Sumter will not have to endure a Morris Island blighted by gargantuan luxury residences or other inappropriate development.

And you and I will ensure that this crucial story of Charleston and the Civil War – stretching from before 1861 to after 1865 – will not be destroyed by development, as so much of our history has already been lost.

I do, however, need to raise $100,000 immediately to cover our portion of the deal. But remember, our $100,000 will be matched by $2.9 MILLION!

This $30-to-$1 is the largest multiplier that CWPT has been able to secure in several years. You and I have taken part in many $1-to-$1, $2-to-$1 or even $4-to-$1 matching grants before. You know that CWPT always actively seeks out these ways to leverage your generous support, multiplying the power of every dollar you commit to battlefield preservation.

Especially now, with the economy so tight for a lot of people, I see it as my duty to put together these types of transactions, to maximize every dollar which you entrust to CWPT.

I cannot recall any preservation group, however, being able to take $1 given by a member like you and – overnight – turn it into $30.

Especially when the land to be saved is as important to our nation as Morris Island.

The history of this place is absolutely deserving of our best efforts to save it.

Discover the historical significance and how to help save history:   Read More >