Walmart Near Civil War Battlefield

Walmart Civil War Officials OK plans to build a Walmart Supercenter near historic site where Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee first met in battle.

by Associated Press

Published: Tue, August 25, 2009 - 5:40 am CST Last Updated: Tue, August 25, 2009 - 6:26 am CST

ORANGE, Va. (AP) - Officials in central Virginia have approved plans for a Walmart Supercenter near one of the nation's most important Civil War battlefields.

The proposal has historians and preservationists up in arms.

The Orange County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to grant the special permit to the world's biggest retailer. A majority of more than 100 speakers told the board they favor bringing the Walmart to Locust Grove, within a cannonball's shot from the Wilderness Battlefield.

The Wilderness is where generals Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee first met in battle 145 years ago and where 145,000 Union and Confederate soldiers fought and more than 29,000 were killed or injured.

Historians and Civil War buffs are fearful the Walmart store will draw traffic and more commerce to an area within the battlefield's historic boundaries. But they couldn't sway supervisors, who said they didn't see the threat.

Walmart says construction could begin in a year.

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SouthernMama82 Says:

Tue, Aug 25, 2009 at 4:09 pm

My father inlaw says wal-mart is the biggest even in America. & he is so right. it annoys me when you go threw little hick town & people tell you this was where some significant part of history happened until they torn it down to build something that we already have to many of. How come other countries can about their history and we don’t?? it’s all about $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.

Surf Says:

Tue, Aug 25, 2009 at 3:01 pm

It’s alllllll about the $$$$$$. It’s always ALL about the money. People in this country could care less about history. They only care about buying cheap Chinese junk. Most Americans don’t remember any history from school anyway.

sheltiedad Says:

Tue, Aug 25, 2009 at 12:13 pm

Great! another ugly big box store full of cheap Chinese made junk next to a historic battlefield where Grant and Lee first fought and 29,000 soldiers died. Is the greed in this country running out of control, or do we really need a place to buy pink stretch pants and Chinese seafood while comtemplating a place of important history.