From the Trenches - NC Historic Sites

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.