The rustle of leaves and the crackle of the open hearth will greet visitors to Bentonville Battlefield for the historic site’s civilian living history program and fall festival on Saturday, Oct. 17. The program will include demonstrations by costumed interpreters and a festival atmosphere that will offer wagon rides provided by End of the Drive Mule Farm, period carnival games, corn shucking contest, town ball (a form of 19th century baseball) and more!
Historic interpreters will demonstrate the daily life of women and children left home when their husbands, brothers and fathers went off to war. Get a glimpse of their life as interpreters perform some of the daily tasks necessary for survival in the Civil War South. Demonstrations may include open hearth cooking, sewing, knitting, and period children’s games.
Though most activities are free, wagon rides will cost $3 each (children 5 & under, free). Local support organizations will be selling baked goods. Everyone is invited to join in a game of town ball, a form of baseball that was played during 19th century community gatherings. The program is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Activities are subject to change without notice. For more information about the contest and activities, contact Amanda at 910-594-0789.
The Battle of Bentonville, fought March 19-21, 1865, involved 80,000 troops and was the last Confederate offensive against Union Gen. William T. Sherman. Bentonville Battlefield is located at 5466 Harper House Road, Four Oaks, NC 27524, three miles north of Newton Grove on S.R. 1008. For more information, visit www.nchistoricsites.org/bentonvi/bentonvi.htm or call (910) 594-0789.
Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site is part of the Division of State Historic Sites in the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
