The sounds of one of the final Civil War battles will echo again on the anniversary of the clash that occurred in North Carolina.
Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site will recreate the noise eyewitnesses described as “one continuous peel of heavy thunder,” with cannon and rifle fire demonstrations Saturday, Aug. 19 with the program “Heavy Thunder."
Costumed interpreters will show how artillery and infantry units functioned during battles like the one that occurred at Bentonville. Demonstrations will take place at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m.
Additional activities will occur throughout the day, including interpretive talks that will explain the role of artillery and infantry in the battle of Bentonville and the Civil War. The Harper House, which served as a field hospital for the XIV Corps of the U.S. Army, also will be open for tours.
This annual program will commemorate the Battle of Bentonville which was fought March 19-21, 1865, and was the largest Civil War battle fought in North Carolina. The event runs from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and is free to attend.
Food vendors will be on site.
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 Road, Four Oaks, NC 27524, three miles north of Newton Grove on S.R. 1008, about one hour from Raleigh and about 45 minutes from Fayetteville.
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.
The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the North Carolina Symphony, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.ncdcr.gov.