From the Trenches - NC Historic Sites

From the
Trenches
BENTONVILLE
BATTLEFIELD
STATE
HISTORIC SITE
News from North Carolina’s Premier Civil War Battlefield Site
Confederate Cemetery Dedicated
at Bentonville Battlefield
BY MEGAN MAXWELL
Volume I, Issue III
July 2011
Megan Maxwell, Editor
Inside this
Issue
146th
Anniversary
Event Recap
2
2nd
Saturdays
Schedule
Artifact
Spotlight:
CS Read
Artillery
Shell
Textile
Conservator
to Speak at
Bentonville
3
4
5
The picture on the left is from the 1895 Goldsboro Rifles monument dedication and reveals the
location of 20 individual graves, rather than a single mass grave. The picture on the right shows
the new headstones installed June 8, 2011.
On June 11, 2011 the Harper House/Bentonville Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy
and Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site hosted a dedication ceremony to honor and mark
the graves of twenty Confederate soldiers who died of wounds received during the Battle of Bentonville,
March 19-21, 1865. About 200 people gathered under the shade of the longleaf pines to witness
the ceremony which opened with re-enactors from the 18 th NC/9 th NJ and 1 st NC/11 th NC marching to
the cemetery at reverse arms in honor of the fallen. Mike Hill of the NC Archives and History Research
Branch shared the story of Confederate Lieutenant William Preston Mangum, and Bentonville’s
Assistant Site Manager Derrick Brown gave a brief overview of the cemetery project. The keynote
speech was given by Assistant State Archaeologist John Mintz detailing the ground penetrating radar
study and other archaeological methods used to verify the existence of the grave sites. The dedication
was delivered by Debra Westbrook and Emily Thornton of the Bentonville/Harper House UDC and
members placed a white carnation at each of the new headstones. The ceremony ended with a musket
and artillery salute followed by a playing of “Taps” by musician Andy Cole.
The Harper family cared for approximately 50 Confederate soldiers who were left behind by
Sherman’s army at their home, which served as a field hospital for Sherman’s XIV Corp. According to a
list John Harper prepared for the Goldsboro Rifles monument, 23 men died in the Harper’s care, 21 of
which were buried on the Harper farm. Twenty of those men were reinterred between the Goldsboro
Rifles monument and the Harper Family Cemetery when the monument was installed in 1895. Over
the years the original headstones, which were most likely made of wood, deteriorated or disappeared.
By the time the state acquired the property in 1957, there was no trace of the markers. The new headstones,
donated by the UDC, were placed on these unmarked graves.

Volume I, Issue III
Bentonville Kicks off Civil War Sesquicentennial
with 146th Anniversary Event
BY DERRICK BROWN
On Saturday and Sunday, March 19 and 20, 2011,
nearly 75 re-enactors from across the state participated
in Bentonville Battlefield’s 146 th Anniversary Program. In
observance of the ongoing Civil War sesquicentennial,
site staff decided to recreate a spring 1861 enlistment
of local citizens into Colonel Edward Snead’s Johnston
Volunteers. The theme of the program was “The Union
is Dissolved: Mustering Soldiers Off to War.”
Re-enactors and members of the public were welcomed
to the Harper House by site volunteer Charles
Ballard who portrayed John Harper. After Harper’s
rousing speech, re-enactors and spectators were encouraged
to get in line for medical checks by one of the
three surgeons to see how fit they were for combat.
Our visitors enjoyed listening to the surgeons ask such
questions as “have you ever had the fits,” or “have you
ever had the horrors?” Following the medical checks, re
-enactors and the spectators interested in volunteering
were enlisted. Civilian re-enactors mingled with the
crowd, and tried to persuade reluctant children and even adult spectators
to enlist. The enlistments and medical checks were done in “first person”
by the re-enactors, which made the scenarios even more enjoyable for the
public.
Following the enlistment portion of the program, the re-enactors and
spectators were marched to a camp of instruction. The re-enactors were
the first to drill. Portraying green recruits who did not know their left from
their right, they stumbled into each other much to the frustration of their
sergeant, but much to the joy of the public, who had huge laughs at the
spectacle. Soon, the public was told to imagine six months had passed, and
watched the re-enactors perform perfectly in drill, which was followed by a
musket demonstration. Finally, the members of the public who enlisted
were able to drill as well using toy muskets. It was amazing how well they
did considering it was mostly children, and it was their first time ever drilling.
Look for information on upcoming 150th events in each newsletter!
Page 2
Clockwise from top: 1) Visitors listen to a rousing
speech by Mr. Harper urging them to sign up. 2) A
young recruit ponders what he may be signing up for. 3)
New recruits learn the drill. 4) Volunteer Gary Riggs
gives medical clearance.

Page 3
From the Trenches
Celebrate 2nd Saturdays
at Bentonville this
Summer!
July 9, 2011 “Civilian Life During the Civil War”
“Carolina Citizens” 11:00 am and 2:00 pm Members of the civilian living history group, the Carolina Citizens, will present a discussion
on Civil War fashion. Learn about what the Harpers and other local families would have been wearing in 1865 and view reproduction
garments and accessories, as well as a few authentic pieces from the time period.
Author Deanna Klingel 10:00 am-2:00 pm Mrs. Klingel will be signing and promoting her newest book, Avery’s Battlefield.
This youth historical fiction book follows the story of a boy, a dog, and their search for peace during the Civil War. For more on Mrs.
Klingel visit her website www.booksbydeanna.com.
Author McKendree Long, III 10:00 am-2:00 pm Mr. Long will be signing and promoting his book No Good Like It Is, the fictional
account of two soldiers who fought with Terry’s Texas Rangers, a unit that fought at Bentonville. For more information visit Mr. Long’s
website www.mckendreelong.com.
Thompson Orchards 10:00 am– 4;00 pm Local growers Thompson Orchards will be set up in the Visitor Center parking area selling
all kinds of fresh fruits and veggies, including PEACHES!
August 13, 2011 “2nd Saturdays Forum”
“Quilts from the Early 1800s to the Civil War” 11:00 am Guest Speaker Lynn Lancaster Gorges of the Historic Textiles Studio in
New Bern, NC. Lynn has studied at the Smithsonian Institute, The Campbell Center of Preservation, Schoolhouse Studio of Lawrence,
KS, Cooperstown Textile School, NCSU College of Textiles, and Colonial Williamsburg. Her specialty is in the area of conservation of
military uniforms, flags, vintage clothing, and quilts. She is also trained in the area of quilt restoration.
“North Carolina’s Civil War Death Study” 1:00 pm Guest speaker Josh Howard, research historian with the Office of Archives
and History, will present his findings regarding NC’s Civil War dead. He is the co-editor of the North Carolina Civil War Atlas, a DCR
initiative of North Carolina’s Sesquicentennial commemoration of the war. His duties for the project currently include analyzing the
number of North Carolinians who served and died in the Civil War.
“The 58th NC Troops” 3:00 pm Civil War historian and author Michael C. Hardy will discuss his book The Fifty-Eighth North Carolina
Troops, Tar Heels in the Army of Tennessee. Mr. Hardy will be available to sign books throughout the program. For more about Mr.
Hardy visit his website www.michaelchardy.com.
MANAGER’S MESSAGE BY DONNY TAYLOR
Bentonville Battlefield has been a very
active site since our last newsletter. Much
has happened with the site, employees and
their families.
March 19 and 20, 2011 the site presented
a very successful kick off program
for our Sesquicentennial commemoration
of the Civil War. The program titled “The
Union is Dissolved: Mustering Soldiers of
to War” was very successful in interpreting
how companies were formed at the
beginning of the war. It was well attended
by the visiting public and re-enactors. Visitors
of all ages were allowed to enlist and
experience the transformation from civilian
to soldier.
Two members of the Bentonville staff
had new additions to their family over the
past months. Megan Maxwell, Program
Coordinator and her husband Douglas
have a new daughter, Catherine Grace
Maxwell born March 16, 2011. Also Assistant
Manager Derrick Brown and his wife
Erin have a new daughter Haleigh Camille
Brown born June 21, 2011. All girls, could
it be the water at Bentonville?
The summer staff has been increased
thanks to funding by the Bentonville Battlefield
Historical Association, Inc. The BBHA
voted to fund the Buck Dunn Memorial
Internship named for Mr. Buck Dunn, a
long time board member who actually
lived in the Harper House for a period of
time. Marshall Jones, a rising senior at East
Carolina University majoring in history
with a teaching degree, received the first
internship. Marshall is from Bentonville and
in the past was a part time employee at
the site. The BBHA also funded another
position for the summer to enable the site
to open on Sunday from June through
September. This position was filled by
Victoria “Vickie” Marcheski of Goldsboro
a senior at Mount Olive College and majoring
in history. Bentonville is very lucky
to have these two employees to share
their knowledge with visitors at the site.
Finally on June 11, 2011 we had the
dedication of the twenty Confederate
tombstones marking the resting place of
soldiers that died in the Harper House
after the battle. Many thanks to the Bentonville/Harper
House Chapter of the
United Daughters of the Confederacy for
funding this worthy project.

Volume I, Issue III
Artifact Spotlight: Confederate Read Artillery Shell
BY DERRICK BROWN
Page 4
One of the more unusual items in Bentonville Battlefield’s
Visitor Center is a 3” Confederate Read artillery
shell lodged in the trunk of a tree. Although there was
not a tremendous amount of Confederate artillery at Bentonville,
their gunners did play a huge roll in the early
phases of the battle on March 19, 1865. While the most
This Confederate Read artillery shell lodged in
wood is on display in the exhibit area of the
Visitor Center.
prevalent Confederate field artillery piece at Bentonville and throughout
the entirety of the Civil War was the smoothbore 12 Lb Napoleon, the
discovery of this artillery round proved that the Confederates were
using rifles at Bentonville as well.
The Read was named after prewar ordnance officer Dr. John B.
Read, who was closely associated with Robert P. Parrott, inventor of
the Parrott Rifle. The Read shell was in many ways similar to the Federal
Parrott, but the iron was generally thinner than that of a Parrott
shell, and the Read better accepted substitute parts such as copper for
the normally brass sabot. The Read appeared in a variety of calibers,
but this particular Read was designed for a 3” rifle.
This shell was donated to the site by an employee of Johnston
County Schools in 2008. It lodged in a tree trunk during the battle, but
failed to explode. After being salvaged from the battlefield, the piece of
tree trunk and shell was on display in the old Selma High School for
many years. Luckily, someone thought to grab the shell just before the
first wrecking ball was set to hit the abandoned old school building. Site
Manager Donny Taylor discovered upon donation, that the shell which
sat in a school for over 50 years was still live! To make matters worse,
Donny had to pick cigarette butts out of the fuse. An explosive ordnance
disposal team from Camp Lejeune disarmed the shell, and it has
been on display at Bentonville since spring 2009.
UDC Collecting Donations for
the Cemetery Project
The Bentonville/Harper House Chapter of the United
Daughters of the Confederacy is still accepting donations
towards the cost of the twenty new headstones installed to
mark the graves of unknown Confederate soldiers who died
of wounds sustained during the Battle of Bentonville. The
previously unmarked cemetery is located between the Goldsboro
Rifles Monument and the Harper Family Cemetery.
Because the soldiers buried there are unknown, we were
unable to receive markers from the Federal government, but
the UDC graciously put forth the money to make this project
a reality. Donations may be sent to:
Bentonville/Harper House UDC Treasurer
Rhonda Langston
3590 Alex Benton Rd.
Newton Grove, NC 28366
Please make checks payable to the Bentonville/Harper House
UDC and note the donation is for the Confederate Cemetery
Project.
Twenty of these new tombstones were dedicated June 11, 2011

Page 5
Textile Conservator Lynn Gorges to Speak at Bentonville Aug 13
BY MEGAN MAXWELL
From the Trenches
As part of our 2nd Saturdays series,
Lynn Gorges of New Bern will be presenting
a talk on 19th century quilts.
Lynn is a textile conservator and restoration
specialist, and owner of the Historic
Textiles Studio in New Bern. She has
studied at the Smithsonian Institute, The
Campbell Center of Preservation,
Schoolhouse Studio of Lawrence, KS,
Cooperstown Textiles School, NC State
University’s College of Textiles, and
Colonial Williamsburg. Her conservation
specialty is the area of military uniforms,
flags, vintage clothing, and quilts.
She can also evaluate and appraise textiles
from the early 1800s to the present.
Her presentation will include the dis-
cussion of quilting patterns and fabrics
that were most prevalent in the US in
the mid-19th century. Mrs. Gorges will
also include details about the quilts that
we have on display in the Harper House
and Slave Quarters.
This is an excellent opportunity to
learn more about quilts that you may
have at home that have been passed
down through generations, or that you
may have collected. Mrs. Gorges will be
happy to evaluate historic quilts and textiles
that visitors bring in following her
presentation.
The presentation will be at 11:00 am
on August 13 in the Visitor Center.
Textile Conservator Lynn Gorges,
photo courtesy of
www.textilepreservation.com
Above Left: A detail of the monkey wrench pattern on a quilt in the slave quarters. Above right: This beautiful
quilt is in the front upstairs bedroom of the Harper House. We hope to find out more about it from Mrs. Gorges.
Local Marshall Jones Awarded Buck Dunn Internship
BY MARSHALL JONES
I was honored to be named the inaugural
recipient of the Buck Dunn Memorial Internship
here at Bentonville. First, allow me to introduce
myself. My name is Marshall Jones and I
was raised in the Bentonville community. I am
a rising senior and North Carolina Teaching
Fellow at East Carolina University majoring in
Secondary History Education. In high school, I
worked as a part-time tour guide at the battlefield.
As a child I have always been fascinated
with history and, more specifically, the Civil
War. How amazing that literally just ‘down the
road’ the largest battle that was ever fought in
North Carolina occurred in my neighborhood?
As an intern this summer, I am fulfilling my
regular duties as a tour guide, assisting in site
interpretation, serving the visiting public, and
completing a project for the site. Currently, I
am scanning hundreds of pictures, articles, and
other clippings that date from the 1850s
through the present day. I am privileged to
examine these photos and I am pleased to preserve
them digitally so that they might be used
for research and by the curious future generations
to come. I really enjoy working at the site
because I care so much about its place in our
state and nation’s history and because of its
close proximity to my home. I am proud to
serve as an intern in honor of Mr. Buck, because
he was so passionate about Bentonville Battlefield
and I could not imagine a more fitting way
to remember him.

Scene of the last major Confederate offensive of the Civil War
BENTONVILLE
BATTLEFIELD
STATE HISTORIC
SITE
5466 Harper House Rd
Four Oaks, NC 27524
Phone: 910-594-0789
Fax: 910-594-0070
The Battle of Bentonville, fought March 19-21, 1865, was the last full-scale action of
the Civil War in which a Confederate army was able to mount a tactical offensive. This
major battle, the largest ever fought in North Carolina, was the only significant attempt
to defeat the large Union army of Gen. William T. Sherman during its march through
the Carolinas in the spring of 1865.
Today, visitors can take a self-guided driving tour of the preserved battlefield and
view four wayside exhibit areas, follow a short walking trail to view original trenches
from the battle, and visit the Harper family cemetery and monument area. The Visitor
Center contains exhibits and a brief orientation film. Guided tours of the c. 1855
Harper House, a Union field hospital, are available on the hour beginning at 10:00 a.m.
with the last tour at 4:00 p.m.
Special Events 2011
E-mail:
Bentonville@ncdcr.gov
Site Hours
April-September
Mon-Sat 9 am-5 pm
Sunday 1 pm-5 pm
October– March
Tues-Sat 9 am–5 pm
Closed Sundays and
Mondays
Call for Holiday
Schedule
Admission is FREE
Site Staff
Donny Taylor, Site Manager
Derrick Brown, Assistant Site
Manager
Megan Maxwell, Programs
Coordinator
Jeff Fritzinger, Interpreter
Johnny Carter, Maintenance
Mechanic
Website
www.nchistoricsites
.org/bentonville
2nd Saturday July 9, 2011
“Civil War Fashion”
with the Carolina Citizens
11:00 am and 2:00 pm
Book Signings by Deanna Klingel and
McKendree Long 10:00-2:00
2nd Saturday August 13, 2011
“2nd Saturdays Forum” with guest
speakers Lynn Gorges (11:00 am) ,
Josh Howard (1:00 pm), and
Michael C. Hardy (3:00 pm)
Music by the
Waterbound Dulcimers
August 27, 2011
“A Day in the Life of a Civil War
Soldier” The sounds of artillery
and musket fire will once again ring
out at Bentonville Battlefield during
our second Summer Seasonal Living
History Event. Re-enactors
from the 27th NC will be on hand
to discuss the typical soldier’s life.
Artillery and musket demonstra-
tions will also be held. 10:00-
4:00
October 1, 2011
“Johnny has Gone for a Soldier:
The Southern Home-front During
the First Years of the Civil War”
Annual Fall Civilian Living History
Program. Southern women
and children demonstrate 19th
century farm life and how their
daily lives changed when all the
men went off to war. Costumed
civilian re-enactors will also discuss
shortages and substitutions
for everyday items. 10:00-4:00
December 3, 2011
“A Civil War Christmas” Annual
holiday open house event.
Costumed interpreters decorate
the kitchen in festive themes using
natural greens, berries, and
fruits. Visitors can enjoy cookies
and cider while listening to period
music. 10:00-4:00
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