Able-bodied men ages 16-60 were required by North Carolina law to serve in the colony's militia in the 1750s. They gathered several times a year for military training and could be called away at any time, leaving homes and businesses to go the defend the colony. Fort Dobbs State Historic Site will feature living history interpreters recreating an 18th century militia muster July 23-24.
Military training was part of life for the citizen soldiers, and the muster re-enactment will portray residents of "Fourth Creek Settlement," as Statesville then was known. The presentation will feature musket firing demonstrations and demonstrations of cooking and military camp life. Period music will fill the air. Visitors will be invited to join the ranks and learn marching drill each day at 1:30 p.m.
The free program will run 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. For additional information, please call (704) 873-5882. Fort Dobbs is within the Division of State Historic Sites in the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
About Fort Dobbs
Fort Dobbs State Historic Site's mission is to preserve and interpret the history of Fort Dobbs and North Carolina's role in the French and Indian War. It is open Tuesday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Special events and living history weekends are offered throughout the year. It is part of the Division of N.C. State Historic Sites within the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.