Reenactment to Support Fort Branch

Originally published January 2018 · p. 14

HAMILTON, N.C.—A recent Civil War News article reported on damage that Fort Branch, Hamilton, N.C., has suffered largely as a result of riverine erosion. Other causes have been human traffic on the earthworks and falling trees uprooting land face parapets. At the same time, the end of the 150th anniversary passing is seeing Civil War reenacting undergoing a major shift. Reenactors are moving toward more authentic reenacting experiences and are seeking new, authentic events. All is not lost, because 150th also spawned great interest from a younger generation who are now striving to participate in the most authentic events possible. At a time when strident groups and local governments are removing historical monuments and attempting to re-write history, privately owned sites such as Fort Branch are wonderful avenues to promote Civil War history allowing people to arrive at a better understanding of the struggles our ancestors faced to shape the America we know today. Having the opportunity to bring an event of this size to Hamilton, N.C., will most certainly put the site back into the Civil War spotlight from a spectator and living historian standpoint. Fort Branch is unique in that it still contains most of its original artillery and earthworks, calling up a compelling story of defending the upper Roanoke River against invasion. It has been the subject of several archaeological projects that provided details about the fort and its armament. The annual reenactment has generated public interest and support for years. More recently, Fort Branch has experienced a decline in visitor and reenactor attendance. Members of the long term host unit, 1st/11th N.C. Infantry, are aware of this problem and are working toward a solution that would promote the site and its history in conjunction with satisfying the desires of the next reenactor generation for more authenticity. Combining the two goals to support the fort site will help guarantee that Fort Branch will be available for future generations to enjoy and understand the importance of the local history. “To the Front: The Last Days of Carolina” is a proposal for an upgraded, large scale variation of the annual Fort Branch, reenactment. The long term hosts,

1st/11th N.C. Inf., plan to utilize several components to re-vamp the usual Fort Branch program in 2018. They plan to partner with another large scale reenacting unit and have them take over Federal leadership, giving the 1st/11th an opportunity to focus on Confederate command. This route will also help generate interest in the event from several different reenacting organizations, thus increasing participation. To draw even more reenactor attention, and also help preserve the site, host units will direct profits from reenactor registration will go directly toward joint historical preservation projects rather than units making money off the event. At present, planning is concentrating on re-creating the final days of the Civil War in North Carolina, centering on Sherman’s march into North Carolina and the battles around Bentonville. The layout of the fort and surrounding remoteness of the site make it a wonderful area to recreate a campaign that is very rarely done as a large scale reenactment, but does have a tremendous amount of interest in being accurately portrayed. So far, living historians in Florida, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Georgia, Ohio, South

Carolina, and Tennessee, have expressed great interest in taking part in this combined reenactment and preservation event. This interpretation will be supported through the use of authentic fighting distances, campaign camping (nothing modern at all), attention to authentic uniforms, scripted scenarios, and a series of spectator based and non-spectator based battle engagements throughout the weekend. Living historians will be given interpretive opportunities to be a part of the November event and interact with the public to increase spectator interest. The earthworks and their role in defending the Roanoke River Valley are obvious features for interpretive tours. Artillery interpreters will focus on the collection of rare gun tubes now housed in the visitor’s center. The 1st/11th North Carolina has successfully held many Fort Branch events with over 900 living historians, they are more than capable of managing the logistical concerns. The expanded reenactment will utilize lands adjacent to the Fort Branch site starting on the afternoon of Wed., Oct. 31, 2018, and ending mid-afternoon on Sun., Nov. 4, 2018. Directly addressing the fort preservation effort, three projects have been singled out as beneficiaries of the 2018 reenactment. They are repairing the pre-war farmer’s house, treating the cannon that underwent conservation in 1973 and 1978 are now showing signs of needing additional attention, and finally, reconstructing one of the gun emplacements. The last effort may well be coordinated as an authentic working weekend demonstrating how earthworks were built during the War. Through the hard work of past generations and historians, such as Mr. Henry Winslow, the guns were raised and put on display for the benefit and education of future generations. To quote a past generation: “We have raised the guns, now let us save the Fort.” For further information, contact Josh Stalls at 252-217-2610 or email [email protected]