Mansfield Battlefield Endangered

CIVIL WAR PRESERVATION TRUST ^ | April 10, 2004 | tattuyou

[TATTUYOU]

Mansfield Threatened by Mining Company

[TATTUYOU]

(April 10, 2004) The Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) isn't getting the message. In February, Mansfield Battlefield was identified as one of the most endangered battlefields in America because of SWEPCO's mining operation.

In response, SWEPCO officials shrugged and kept on digging. Large parts of the battlefield have already been destroyed, and Dolet Hills is seeking a permit to mine on 58 additional acres.

Today, only 12 percent of Mansfield is protected from development. Of the 177 acres preserved and maintained by the state of Louisiana, 134 acres were acquired through a grant from CWPT.

Louisianans and other concerned citizens need to let SWEPCO know that its mining operation is destroying hallowed ground.

Take Action: The Friends of Mansfield have been created to help create awareness against SWEPCO's operations. Please help the Friends of Mansfield by writing to Louisiana Lt. Governor Blanco today. Please note: your letter will be most effective if you personalize the sample attached below.

Sample Letter Preview:

Saturday, July 16, 2005

Recipent's Name Recipent's Address City, State Zip

Decision-Maker

I urge you to take immediate steps to protect America's Civil War heritage at Mansfield Battlefield by denying the Dolet Hills Mining Company their permit application to destroy an additional 58 acres of this important landscape.

Large parts of this Civil War battlefield have already been forever destroyed by the lignite mining operation already underway by Dolet Hills (owned by the utility giant AEP-SWEPCO). This inappropriate use of America's historical landscape continues to be the most serious threat to the battlefield. To allow Dolet Hills to dig into an additional 58 acres of our American heritage is unthinkable and their permit must be denied.

Mansfield Battlefield is important to Louisiana, and to all Americans, and should be protected for present and future generations. Events highly significant to the shaping of our nation happened there, and risk being forgotten forever if the mining operation is expanded.

In March 1864, Union General Nathaniel Banks - intent on wresting control of Louisiana and Texas from the Confederacy - began a protracted, two-month campaign up the Red River Valley. Unfortunately for the inept Banks, his opponent was Confederate General Richard Taylor. On April 8, at Mansfield, Taylor struck elements of the Union army at Sabine Crossroads, forcing the startled Federals to quickly fall back. The Union Army was routed from the field. Taylor’s victory at Mansfield marked the end of Banks’ invasion and Federal dreams of taking Louisiana out of the war. One out of five men who fought at Mansfield became casualties.

This short summary alone demonstrates the need to protect what we still can. Underscoring the importance of this site, Mansfield Battlefield has been ranked as a Priority II, Class A battlefield by Civil War Studies Advisory Council.

Sadly, today, only 12 percent of the battlefield is protected.

Of the 177 acres preserved and maintained by the state of Louisiana, 134 acres were acquired through a grant from the Civil War Preservation Trust, an organization I strongly support.

We cannot afford to allow another 58 acres to be taken away. This is hallowed ground where men fought and died, and should be given due respect.

Please deny the Dolet Hills Mining Company's permit application. Thank you for listening to my views. I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Your Name Your Address City, State Zip

[PAR35]

While I favor preserving historic battlefields, I also believe in private property rights. If you don't want the land developed (or in this case mined) you need to pony up the money to buy it - or convince the taxpayers to do it for you.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Coal ?

[snuffy smiff]

Dunno. I do seem to recall something about a huge salt mine located somewhere in La.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

The salt mines are very deep structures. If it was coal, the Department of the Interior's Office of Surface Mining would not issue a permit to mine because of historical significance.

[SteamShovel]

If you don't want the land developed (or in this case mined) you need to pony up the money to buy it - or convince the taxpayers to do it for you.

That was until the KELO decision. Now, you can't even buy it and be sure it is yours to protect. After all, a golf course provides better tax revenue than an unused pasture does.....

[FireTrack]

Coal?

Yep, surface mining and a very poor grade of coal at that. They move it with miles and miles of conveyor belts to the power plant.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Must be lignite. I am very surprised that OSM hasn't stopped this.

[FireTrack]

Yes, I believe it is lignite. Here is a satelite image of the mine;

http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=31.188394,-92.912868&spn=0.010332,0.014098&t=k&hl=en

[FireTrack]

Opps! Try this link instead.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=mansfield,+la&ll=31.997509,-93.592186&spn=0.129321,0.162100&t=k&hl=en

[PAR35]

Good point.

[Bogey78O]

My favorite Louisiana mining story.

http://members.tripod.com/~earthdude1/texaco/texaco.html

Lake Peigneur Disaster- An drilling mishap drains an entire lake into a salt mine.