Guess I repeated what had already been said. For some reason, I am unable to read any of the other messages listed below your post of 5/5/1 from the link in your message. I was able to find and read the Athens messages, and appreciate your suggestion to do so.

Regarding the 5/5/1 Post-Herald article re: efforts to preserve Civil War battlefield sites, Mark Driscoll, Director of Historical Sites at the Alabama Historical Commission wrote me that "AHC is currently working on master plans for our Pond Spring (Gen. Wheeler's home) and Fort Morgan sites and is planning on starting other master planning projects. We are actively working on plans for preserving Civil War sites around the state. We have discussed a Civil War sites state map and are considering establishing tourist trails which will include our sites and others". He also had written me earlier that there were no current plans to raise the USS Tecumseh. See:

http://www.preserveala.org/intro1.htm

http://www.azaleacity.com/fortmorgan/information.htm

http://www.wheelerplantation.org/

I assume local, grassroots organizations, such as the Friends of Ft. Morgan, do much of the work required in preserving a site. My guess is that these groups research the current status of the land, schedule events, raise preservation funds, &c. I'm not sure how the above groups were formed. It seems that a statewide organization might be useful in organizing, advising, and coordinating local organizations and assisting the AHC. At the very least, there is a need for an (accurate) list of all battlefields in Alabama, prioritized by significance and need for preservation. Also, a master plan for preservation and presentation (Civil War battlefield tourist trail) might be a goal.

I have no experience with an organization of this type. Can anyone add their suggestions? Tennessee has an organization that appears to function similarly, and might provide a good model for Alabama. See:

http://www.ehistory.com/uscw/communities/preservation/tcwpa/index.cfm