Young Civil War re-actors from across the country soon will travel to Alamance Battleground in Burlington. They will recreate the experience of the North Carolina Junior Reserves during the Civil War April 2-3. The free living history program, "Grinding the Seed Corn of the Nation: NC Junior Reserves Civil War Encampment" will examine teenage soldiers in the Confederate military in the war's final campaign and recreate their camp at the old battleground in 1865.
North Carolina formed the Junior Reserve in the final year of the Civil War to meet the shortage of soldiers facing the Confederate Army. The controversial move was seen by one politician as equal to "grinding the seed corn of the nation."
Junior Reserve regiments fought near Wilmington at Fort Fisher, and at Bentonville Battlefield near Four Oaks. Teenage re-enactors from as far away as New York and Missouri will take part in the program. Re-enactor Jack Sorenson, from New York, hopes the program will help educate the public about the devastating effect of the war on families.
"The Junior Reserves show the true cost of the Civil War, and all war for that matter, in how it affects the youth of that country or region," Sorenson says. "War doesn't only affect the average soldier, but every single member of society in direct ways."
Alamance Battleground State Historic Site usually deals with colonial history, but the program will shed light on the site's Civil War history as well.
"In April 1865, an officer with the Junior Reserves actually noted camping on this battleground," says Jeremiah Degennaro, Alamance Battleground site manager. "They were aware of the battleground's significance in 1865, and we hope to remind people of its significance today."
Alamance Battleground is the site of the 1771 battle between rebelling farmers who called themselves Regulators, and a colonial militia led by Gov. William Tryon. It was a precursor of the Revolutionary War.
"Grinding the Seed Corn" will feature talks about the history of the Junior Reserves, drill and weapons demonstrations and re-enactors showing life on the homefront during the Civil War. Civil War artifacts found during a recent archaeological survey at the site will be on display.
"Grinding the Seed Corn of the Nation: N.C. Junior Reserve Civil War Encampment" will be April 2-3, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. For more information, please visit online www.alamancebattleground.org, the Alamance Battleground Facebook Page, email alamance@ncdcr.gov or call (336) 227-4785. This is a free program.
Alamance Battleground is within the Division of State Historic Sites within the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.