A free, family-friendly living-history event at Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site will bring the Civil War era to life.
On Saturday. June 7, Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site, a part of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, will host its “Heavy Thunder: Summer Artillery and Infantry” program. The event runs from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Food vendors will be on site.
Historic weapons demonstrations will occur at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. Costumed interpreters will perform infantry and artillery drills, while living-history displays offer a deeper understanding of 19th-century battlefield medicine and civilian life
The Harper House, which served as a Union field hospital during the battle, will be open for tours throughout the day. An interpretive talk at noon in the visitor center will provide additional historical context.
The Battle of Bentonville, fought March 19-21, 1865, was the largest battle fought in North Carolina and one of the last major battles in the Civil War. The sound of cannonfire during the battle, it was said, boomed with a distinct echo.
“The din of battle roared like one continuous peel of heavy thunder,” wrote one eyewitness to the 1865 battle of Bentonville.
About Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site
Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site interprets the battle and the Harper House, a farmhouse used as a field hospital where surgeons treated nearly 600 men wounded in the battle. The site is located at 5466 Harper House Rd., Four Oaks, NC 27524, 3 miles north of Newton Grove on S.R. 1008, about one hour from Raleigh and about 45 minutes from Fayetteville. For more information, visit https://historicsites.nc.gov/all-sites/bentonville-battlefield or call (910) 594-0789.
About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.