‘Site’ Seeing at Sugar Loaf

One of the best ways to understand a Civil War battle is to study the context and campaign in which it sits. This past week, the Bentonville site staff as well as some volunteers had the opportunity to gain some context surrounding Bentonville and the Carolinas Campaign by touring the Sugar Loaf trenches in Wilmington,Continue reading “‘Site’ Seeing at Sugar Loaf”

“She’s a Real Veteran:” Lucy Nichols and the 23rd Indiana

Posted on February 16, 2023 December 1898, over 30 years after the end of the Civil War, the Owensboro Messenger Inquirer printed an article titled “She’s a Real Veteran.” “By a special act of Congress,” the article explains, “Aunt Lucy Nichols of this city will receive a pension of $12 a month.” Written so casually, it’s not immediatelyContinue reading ““She’s a Real Veteran:” Lucy Nichols and the 23rd Indiana”

Battlefield Receives Gift of Vintage Newspapers

Posted on February 1, 2023by fobbnc Article by: Fred Claridge Recently, Bentonville Battlefield received a fascinating artifact donation – two original newspapers from 1865 which reported on the battle here. The gift was received from Mr. Chris Lillie of Carrboro. Battlefield staff had met Chris at a conference on Civil War medicine held in Frederick, Maryland lastContinue reading “Battlefield Receives Gift of Vintage Newspapers”

Christmas at Bentonville 2022

Posted on December 9, 2022by fobbnc This Christmas, for the first time ever, visitors experienced the Harper House not as a field hospital, but as a home. During the day and lamplit at night, seeing the house set up as a home brought a totally new and different perspective to the iconic house than has not beenContinue reading “Christmas at Bentonville 2022”

Bentonville at the Civil War Medicine Conference

Posted on October 7, 2022by fobbnc by: Colby Lipscomb, Chad Jefferds, Fred Claridge Over the weekend of September 30th-October 2nd, 2022, Bentonville staff members Colby Lipscomb and Chad Jefferds and volunteer Fred Claridge participated in the National Museum of Civil War Medicine’s 28th annual conference. The conference took place across three days and featured several tours ofContinue reading “Bentonville at the Civil War Medicine Conference”

James E. Hanger and the Development of Civil War Prosthetics

Posted on September 28, 2022by fobbnc by: Fred Claridge Editor’s Note: Fred has been an incredible volunteer throughout this year and an active member of our support group, the Friends of Bentonville Battlefield. This is the first of (hopefully) many blog posts Fred will contribute. Read along for a fascinating story of medical history and some insightContinue reading “James E. Hanger and the Development of Civil War Prosthetics”

Mystery Sword Comes Back to Bentonville

Posted on August 9, 2022by fobbnc Editor’s Note: This article first appeared in the September 2018 edition of ‘From the Trenches’ newsletter and was co-authored by former site manager, Donny Taylor who passed away June 23rd, 2022. Model 1850 Staff and Field Officer’s Sword owned by US Lt. Col Samuel Tolles of the 15th Connecticut Infantry nowContinue reading “Mystery Sword Comes Back to Bentonville”

Heavy Thunder 2022 Recap

Posted on August 27, 2022by fobbnc On August 20th, cannons roared and muskets rattled as we hosted our annual summer living history program, “Heavy Thunder.” While the event has evolved over the last few years to include separate artillery and infantry events, this iteration was a bit of a throwback as both infantry and artillery demonstrations wereContinue reading “Heavy Thunder 2022 Recap”