From: stevom: [log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask]
Date: Wed, 01 Mar 2000 19:35:26 -0600
Subject: [REV-HESSIANS] Ohio Civil War Battlefield in Danger


This message deals with a different time but I feel is important
enough to pass on to you all. Steve

Ohio's only Civil War battlefield (and only one of three on Northern
soil) is about to be destroyed at the hands of a sand and gravel
company. Buffington Island Battlefield is largely owned by the
Shelley Materials of Thornville, Ohio, and company has filed and
received permits to operate a gravel pit on the battlefield because
Ohio has no historic preservation laws. The battle saved the North
from further invasions when 8000 Union soldiers stopped 2200
Confederate raiders after doing huge damage across Ohio.  It is
the only battlefield where two future presidents - Hayes & McKinley --
participated.

Between 54 and 105 US soldiers are buried in an unmarked,
unlocated grave on the battlefield. Despite the fact that technology
exists to locate these veterans, neither the gravel company nor the
state of Ohio will do so. Currently, Ohio law does not recognize
human remains after 125 years of burial, so these soliders do not
count in the eyes of the state.

If more info is needed contact John Rawdon, 3471 Ellen Drive,
Akron, Ohio or Margaret Parker, president, Meigs County Pioneer &
Historical Society, PO Box 145, Pomeroy, Ohio 45769.

Email addresses:
[log in to unmask]
[log in to unmask] (Keith Ashley)

Please visit the petition to save the battlefield at
http://www.petitiononline.com/Buff/petition.html.

Also visit the Saving Buffington island Web Site at
http://www.geocities.com/buffington_isle/.

Thanks!