It’s May 1861, crowds gather around John Harper’s home to hear about the imminent Secession of North Carolina, they soon find out that the ordnance has passed, and the army in North Carolina is being called up!
Bentonville Battlefield will host “To Arms! To Arms! North Carolina’s 156th Secession” this Saturday, May 20th from 10:00am until 4:00pm. Members of the 1st/11th NC, 18th NC, and 27th NC Co D will be on hand to recreate the excitement of enlistment. Medical examiners will complete physicals as men eagerly join the ranks in front of the Harper House before being sent to camp of instruction to train for battle.
The program will include enlistment scenarios and infantry demonstrations. Visitors will get a chance to “enlist” and join the ranks along with other recruits at 10:00 and 1:00. Infantry demonstrations will occur at 11:00 and 2:00, visitors will get a chance to learn drill at 12:00 and 3:00.
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 State Historic Site interprets the battle and the hospital, where many Confederates were left in the aftermath.
The site is located at 5466 Harper House Road, Four Oaks, NC 27524, 3 miles north of Newton Grove on S.R. 1008, about one hour from Raleigh and about 45 minutes from Fayetteville.
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.
