For its advocacy in protecting and restoring historic Ellwood Manor, the Friends of Wilderness Battlefield, a civil war preservation, advocacy, and education non-profit received the Chairman’s Award for achievement in historic preservation by the Civil War Preservation Trust on Thursday March 4th, 2010. This marks the first time that this award, which is designated to recognize individuals and organizations that have had a tremendous impact on historic preservation, has been given.

Zann Nelson, president of the Friends of the Wilderness Battlefield, said that the organization is

extremely proud and awed that we are the first recipient of this award. The Civil War Preservation Trust board has set the standard, and in their estimation we’ve met that standard. It’s a very high honor. Friends of the Wilderness Battlefield is the most extraordinary all-volunteer organization I have ever had the opportunity to work alongside. The tireless efforts of the hundreds of volunteers, individually and collectively, have earned the organization this wonderful recognition.

Ellwood Manor. Photo by Friends of Wilderness Battlefield.

Ellwood Manor is a circa 1790s home built by William Jones that sits on the American Civil War Wilderness Battlefield site in Spotsylvania and Orange counties.  It was a Confederate recovery hospital in 1863 following the battle at Chancellorsville and later during 1864, the house’s parlor served as headquarters for Union General Gouverneur K. Warren.  Both General Robert E. Lee and General Ulysses S. Grant were at the house during this tumultuous period.  The Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park now owns Ellwood.