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Ch. 673
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2000 LAWS OF MARYLAND
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the Catoctin Center for Regional Studies, has undertaken a thorough review of the
feasibility of establishing the first Civil War State Battlefield in Maryland; and
WHEREAS, The Civil War was one of the defining events in United States
history; and
WHEREAS, The Battle of South Mountain was the first battle of the Civil War
fought on Maryland soil; and
WHEREAS, The Union showing at South Mountain and two days later at
Antietam enabled President Lincoln to issue the preliminary Emancipation
Proclamation; and
WHEREAS, The Task Force discovered that the State of Maryland owns 2,600
acres of land on South Mountain where the Battle was fought and has purchased
conservation easements for an additional 1,400 acres of land relevant to the Battle of
South Mountain; and
WHEREAS, The Civil War Sites Advisory Commission has designated South
Mountain as a Priority I battlefield; and
WHEREAS, The Task Force report of January 19, 2000, strongly recommends
that a State Battlefield be created at South Mountain; now, therefore,
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
Article - Natural Resources
SUBTITLE 18. SOUTH MOUNTAIN BATTLEFIELD.
5-1801.
(A) THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FINDS THAT:
(1) ON SEPTEMBER 14, 1862, THE UNION AND CONFEDERATE ARMIES
FOUGHT A MAJOR BATTLE ALONG A SEVEN MILE STRETCH OF SOUTH MOUNTAIN,
WHICH WAS THE FIRST BATTLE OF THE CIVIL WAR FOUGHT ON MARYLAND SOIL.
(2) THE SOUTH MOUNTAIN BATTLEFIELD HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AS
ONE OF THE 11 MOST ENDANGERED HISTORIC PLACES IN AMERICA FOR 2000.
(3) IN ORDER TO PRESERVE THE LAND WHERE THE BATTLE WAS
FOUGHT AND TO PROVIDE THE PUBLIC WITH ACCESS TO APPRECIATE THE LAND
WHERE THE BATTLE WAS FOUGHT, IT IS DECLARED TO BE THE PUBLIC POLICY OF
THIS STATE TO ESTABLISH THE FIRST CIVIL WAR STATE BATTLEFIELD AT SOUTH
MOUNTAIN AND TO PROVIDE THE AUTHORITY AND RESOURCES TO DEVELOP AND
OPERATE THE BATTLEFIELD.
(B) (1) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL MANAGE THE DEVELOPMENT AND
OPERATION OF THE SOUTH MOUNTAIN BATTLEFIELD.
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- 3466 -
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