The largest battle of the Civil War in North Carolina took place near Four Oaks in the last days of March 1865. Recently, I was one of some 50,000 people who traveled to Johnston County to watch a reenactment that marked the 145th anniversary of the Battle of Bentonville.
When I arrived on a Sunday morning at Bentonville Battlefield I came upon row after row of tidy canvas tents, with wood smoke rising from carefully tended campfires. Strolling along a lane of sutlers – merchants – gave me a better understanding of what people of the era needed – fancy and plain dresses and bonnets, high button shoes, and plenty of riding saddles and harnesses. Reenactors – nearly 2000 dressed in gray and 800 dressed in blue – tended to their breakfasts, drilled, and prepared their weapons and themselves, for the “battle” ahead.
History helps us understand people and society, and prepares us for the future by deriving lessons from the past. And, as the broad fields that stretch out from the visitor center at Bentonville remind us, history comes alive in the places where it happened.
The battle reenactment was exciting. To be on the same land and hear cannon fire and the sounds of horses neighing and shouted commands was quite an experience! And yet, the crowd was quiet, watching the dramatic scene unfold. State Historic Sites Director Keith Hardison, Bentonville Site Manager Donny Taylor, and Historic Sites staff and volunteers did a great job helping a lot of people get their hands on history.
The 37 state Historic Sites and history museums are a boon to the local economy in both urban and rural areas. For instance, reenactors came from as far north as Vermont and Canada, and as far south as Tampa. Families are looking for value, time together, and learning opportunities – that’s what Cultural Resources helps provide every day.
As the spring continues there will be other commemorations of the 145th anniversary of the end of the Civil War, including a reenactment of the largest surrender of troops of the War, at Bennett Place State Historic Site in Durham on April 17-18. Union and Confederate military encampments, merchants, artisans, and musicians will be part of this special commemorative event.
Cultural Resources is hard at work getting ready to begin the commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, which will take place from 2011 through 2015. For more information, you can go to www.nccivilwar150.com.