Bentonville’s Free ‘Heavy Thunder’ Event To Feature Cannon And Musket Demonstrations

FOUR OAKS, N.C. – “The din of battle roared like one continuous peel of heavy thunder,” wrote one eyewitness to the 1865 battle of Bentonville. On Saturday, June 13, Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site will recreate a small percentage of that noise during its “Heavy Thunder: Summer Artillery and Infantry Program.” The free program runs from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Costumed interpreters will demonstrate how artillery and infantry units functioned during battles like Bentonville, along with medical and civilian demonstrations and displays showing the response to such bloodshed and terrible noises. Weapons demonstrations will take place at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m.

A new component, “Micro Battlefield Tours,” will depart from the visitor center every hour. These 30-minute guided tours are a great way to experience Bentonville and learn more about the battle. The Harper House, which served as a field hospital for the XIV Corps of the U.S. Army, will be open for self-guided tours.

About the Bentonville Battlefield
The Battle of Bentonville, fought March 19-21, 1865, is the largest battle ever fought in North Carolina and one of the last major battles in the Civil War. Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site interprets the battle and the Harper House, a farmhouse used as a field hospital where surgeons treated nearly 600 men wounded in the battle. The site is located at 5466 Harper House Rd., Four Oaks, NC 27524, three miles north of Newton Grove on S.R. 1008, about one hour from Raleigh and about 45 minutes from Fayetteville. For more information, visit https://historicsites.nc.gov/all-sites/bentonville-battlefield or call 910-594-0789.

Bentonville Battlefield is administered by the Division of State Historic Sites within the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.