The first major battle of the American Civil War happened in Manassas, Virginia Joe Benning/Alamy
The rural landscape of northern Virginia is hallowed ground for American Civil War enthusiasts. Across its open farmlands criss-crossed with split-rail fences, many of the most important Civil War battles took place, such as the first major clash of armies at the Battle of First Manassas. Today, there are spent ammunitions, memorabilia and even lost graves still to be uncovered. The most popular battlefields attract more than half a million tourists annually.
However, a new conflict is now playing out at these sites, between preservationists…
