---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 423e"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "423e"
heading: "Ascertaining and marking lines of battle"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/423e"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — National Parks, Military Parks, Monuments, and Seashores"
  - "Subchapter LX — National Military Parks"
---

# §423e. Ascertaining and marking lines of battle


It shall be lawful for the authorities of any [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) having had troops engaged at Petersburg, to enter upon the lands and approaches of the Petersburg National Battlefield for the purpose of ascertaining and marking the lines of battle of troops engaged therein: Provided, That before any such lines are permanently designated, the position of the lines and the proposed methods of marking them by monuments, tablets, or otherwise, including the design and inscription for the same, shall be submitted to the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Interior and shall first receive written approval of the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1), which approval shall be based upon formal written reports to be made to him in each case by the commissioners of the battlefield: Provided, That no discrimination shall be made against any [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) as to the manner of designating lines, but any grant made to any [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Interior may be used by any other [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a).


## Source credit

(July 3, 1926, ch. 746, § 6, 44 Stat. 823; Ex. Ord. No. 6166, § 2, June 10, 1933; Ex. Ord. No. 6228, § 1, July 28, 1933; Pub. L. 87–603, § 1, Aug. 24, 1962, 76 Stat. 403.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Change of Name

“Petersburg National Battlefield” and “battlefield” substituted in text for “Petersburg National Military Park” and “park”, respectively, in view of redesignation of Petersburg National Military Park as Petersburg National Battlefield by Pub. L. 87–603. See section 423h–1 of this title.

### Executive Documents

### Transfer of Functions

Transfer of administrative functions of park, see note set out under section 423 of this title.