We have had a BUSY few months at Bentonville Battlefield! We appreciate every one who has come out to visit the site or volunteer to help make it all happen. Read along here for some updates of what we’ve been up to, what’s new at the site, and what to look forward to coming up!
Introduction from the Editor
We have had a LOT of irons in the fire since last I wrote an update way back in June of this year. It has seemed like a full year with the flurry of activities between planning and coordinating programs, making preparations for the upcoming 160th anniversary reenactment event, doing professional development, hiring and orienting new temporary staff and new volunteers, and just day-to-day operating a busy historic site! I am coming up on my fifth anniversary of employment here at the battlefield and it is remarkable to look back on how much has changed since 2019 – new trails, new tour stops, new events, and so much more!
Fall Festival
Just last week we hosted our Annual Fall Festival – one of my personal favorite programs and one that has grown dramatically in recent years. We had ELEVEN different historical demonstrations, TWELVE community groups/exhibitors, a food truck, wagon rides, and the Harper House open to explore throughout the day. Despite more summer-like weather, the visitors I talked to had a wonderful time and enjoyed the Fall vibes and the opportunity to learn about more than just the battle that happened here, but what life was like for the people who lived in North Carolina in the 19th century.
If you came out to the program, as a volunteer or a visitor – THANK YOU! We cannot do programs without people like you who make our events the successful, fun, educational days that they are. If you weren’t able to make it out or didn’t hear about it – subscribe or follow us on social media to stay updated and come see us soon! Either way, you can relive the program through these incredible photographs that were taken by a visitor and shared here with her permission, courtesy of Glenda Waters:
Also, at the beginning of summer on June 22nd, we hosted our Heavy Thunder: Summer Artillery and Infantry Program. One of our more popular programs because of the artillery and infantry weapons demonstrations, we had a great turnout despite the NC summer heat already in effect.
In addition to special events, our summer programming has included the brand new “Bites of Bentonville” Van tours. These FREE tours will continue on Fridays and Saturdays at 11:00AM and 1:00PM (as staffing allows). Explore the battlefield with a guide and experience one piece of the Bentonville story in an engaging 30-minute ‘bite-size’ tour. Some of the tours we’ve rolled out include tracking field hospitals elsewhere on the battlefield, individual regiments, companies, and soldiers’ experiences in the battle, logistics of the armies, civilian life and community history, visitor’s choice, and much more! Stay tuned as we roll out more of these exciting new experiences.
Staff Updates
We’re very lucky at Bentonville to have an incredible staff of full-time, part-time temporary, and volunteers who make this site run every day. The price of part-time temporary staff is that many of them leave us for new and different opportunities, meaning we get the opportunity to bring more on board! This fall we have brought on two new part-time interpreters I am excited to introduce:
Noah Trogdon is from Blounts Creek of Beaufort County and went to college in the state of Virginia at the University of Bluefield where he obtained a degree in History. Noah says, “I have always wanted to work in a museum and when I heard that there was one near my grandmother I jumped at the opportunity. In my spare time I like to watch football, play games, watch movies, and learn more about history.” Noah has been volunteering with us for some time on Saturdays and we’re excited to bring him in to this new role!
Jessica Hoover graduated from Belmont Abbey College in 2015 with a B.A. in History. Jessica says “I’ve been a Civil War reenactor for over fifteen years, and I have had a love of Civil War history since I was a kid. When I’m not reading about the Civil War or visiting Civil War battlefields, I enjoy visiting coffee shops and spending time with my family!”
Trail Updates
We constantly strive to keep our extensive trail system up to date and as informative and safe as possible. Staff continue to add more and more directional signage as quickly as possible. In addition, we have a very exciting NEW trail in a completely new location that is not connected to any of our current system. Even more reason to stay tuned as we will be announcing more on that trail soon!
Other Recent Happenings:
Our great friends and trusted partners, the American Battlefield Trust have also been quite busy! We were thrilled to be able to host Garry Adelman and Chris Mackowski in September for a special tour of the battlefield! Even more exciting, though, the Trust recently debuted an INCREDIBLE Animated Battle Map detailing North Carolina in the Revolutionary War and Civil War – a must watch for anyone interested in NC history. Definitely check it out here:
Also in September, I was honored to be asked to represent Bentonville during the filming of the national PBS show Travels with Darley. I had a wonderful time showing the show’s host and Emmy Award-nominee Darley Newman around the site and through the Harper House while the small crew filmed us. We are excited and honored to be a part of her episode touring through North Carolina and will be sure to update everyone as soon as we know when it will debut! Bentonville has made it to the small screen!
Visitors continue to arrive and we are on track to break more visitation records this year! As I am looking through our Visitor Log that sits at the front door, it is incredible to see visitors from so far away and from so close! Just a few highlights that stuck out were visitors from: Sault Ste Marie, Ontario; Fort Liberty, NC; Hampton and Northfield, MN; Forest Grove, OR; Smithfield, NC; New Zealand; Four Oaks, NC; Lake Minchumina, AK; England; Kentucky; Utah; South Dakota; Los Angeles, CA; Staunton, VA; and so many other incredible and unique places!
Site staff have also been hitting the road to spread the word about Bentonville! Derrick Brown has recently spoken with the Lee Society in Sanford, the Sampson County Historical Society, and the Duplin County Historical Society. Derrick and co-author Colby Lipscomb also have held book signings at the site and at the Johnston County Museum in Smithfield. Colby Lipscomb has also set up informational tables at the Country Doctor Museum in Bailey, NC and at Horne Creek Farm State Historic Site in Pinnacle, NC. Site staff have also been happy to help with other programs at the CSS Neuse Civil War Interpretive Center in Kinston and at Bennett Place State Historic Site in Durham.
Finally, it has been a long journey but we have begun to see the light at the end of the long tunnel that has been the exterior restoration of the Harper House. Taking care of a 170-year-old structure takes time and we are so excited that she is finally starting to look like herself again! We are still working on the finishing touches of the doors and final shutters on the back of the house, but it is so close to done I have to include a during and after picture:
Upcoming Events:
‘In Heavenly Peace:’ Christmas Open House
You are invited to come enjoy beauty of a candlelit Christmas at Bentonville. Don’t miss this RARE opportunity to experience the Harper House as a family residence, not as a Civil War field hospital. Walk through the home of John and Amy Harper as it may have looked during a Civil War Christmas, walk through Civil War soldiers’ camp, listen to period music in the historic kitchen, and take a ride on the Christmas wagon! Also enjoy refreshments, activities, and festive music by a warm campfire. Tickets are only $5 and free for kids 8 and under. Do not miss your chance to experience Christmas by candlelight on December 7th between 5:00 and 8:30PM.
Let us know you’re coming by RSVPing here: https://www.facebook.com/share/usAEMBEfJNuCZrzi/
160th Anniversary Reenactment
Save the date now! March 15-16, 2025 we’re commemorating the 160th anniversary of the battle of Bentonville with a massive weekend event including two battle reenactment scenarios – Saturday March 15 at 3:00 and Sunday March 16 at 1:30. In addition to the ticketed battle scenarios, enjoy tons of FREE activities including medical displays and the Harper House, civilian and soldiers’ camp displays, live music, historic trades demonstrations, sutlers, the Bentonville visitor center, trails, and driving tour, and more!
Find more information and get your tickets today at www.bentonvillereenactment.com!
Thanks for reading – come by and see us soon!
Article written by Programs Coordinator/Blog Editor Colby Lipscomb
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