140th Bentonville
March 18-20, 2005

Overview

The Battle of Bentonville was the last full-scale action of the Civil War in which a Confederate army was able to mount a tactical offensive.  This major battle, the largest ever fought in North Carolina, was the only significant attempt to defeat the large Union army of Gen. William T. Sherman during its march through the Carolinas in the spring of 1865.  The reenactment  will be held on portions of the original battlefield – specifically, in and around the Reddick Morris farm and the Willis Cole Plantation.

Bentonville, North Carolina.  Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site is located approximately 45 minutes southeast of Raleigh, North Carolina

Camps will open for military and civilian participants at 12:00 noon on Thursday, March 17, 2005.  All military campsites are in heavily wooded areas; we encourage you to plan your tentage accordingly.

Portraying:  Late war volunteer infantry during the Carolinas Campaign of 1865

Uniform:  Fatigue Uniform  Sack coat, light blue trousers, and kepi

Equipment:  Heavy marching order

Quartering:  Bivouac or Campaign Style

Ammunition:  Tactical and Two Battles – 80 blank rounds w/ caps

Food:  Individual Messes

Registration is by unit: Send checks to Sykes’ Regular POC -

    Mike Cribbs

    6370 Ethridge Lane

    Manassas, VA 20112

Registration fees:  Advanced registration is $10 by Feb 28,

   Mail registration to POC no later than 19 February 2005

   Make checks payable to Sykes’ Regulars

   Walk-on registration is $15

Event Sponsors:  Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site and the Bentonville Battleground Historical Association, Inc. (BBHA) are co-sponsors for this event. All proceeds from this event go directly to the BBHA to support its continuing efforts to preserve and interpret Bentonville Battlefield. The Bentonville Volunteer Fire Department has been granted sole food concession for the event. All proceeds from concessions will benefit the BVFD and the Bentonville community

Event Web page:  Bentonville

Directions:  (see event website above)

The following military engagements are scheduled:
- Tactical - Saturday, March 19: a non-scripted, non-spectator engagement tentatively is scheduled for mid-morning or early afternoon. This action will be the opening phase of the Battle of Bentonville, where Confederate cavalry under the command of Col. George Dibrell, lured Union forces under General William Carlin north of the Old Goldsboro Road to the Willis Cole Plantation. Hidden from the view of Carlin’s division, the Confederate batteries under Earle, Halsey, Atkins, and Dickson launched an artillery barrage during the early hours of the battle and provided artillery support to the Army of Tennessee when they started their last grand charge. The tactical will be held on the original ground and deployment as it was in 1865 near the Willis Cole Plantation.
- "Last Grand Charge of the Army of Tennessee & Morgan’s Stand" – Saturday, March 19: A massive Confederate offensive (the last grand charge of the Army of Tennessee) at 2:45 p.m. on March 19, 1865 routed the First Division, XIV Corps (Carlin) and isolated the Second Division, XIV Corps (Morgan) south of the Old Goldsboro Road. The swampy, dense briar infested area or otherwise known, as the "Bull Pen" did not allow either side to bring in artillery support, thus hand-to-hand combat ensued. Despite being assailed repeatedly from three sides by elements of Hoke, Hill division and for the duration of the afternoon, Morgan’s division held its position in what has been described as some of the most desperate fighting witnessed in the Civil War. This event is tentatively scheduled for 3:00 p.m. and 140 years to the date of the actual fighting south of the Old Goldsboro Road.
- "The Fight at Morris Farm" – Sunday, March 20: With Carlin’s division routed and Morgan’s division isolated below the Old Goldsboro Road, Maj. Gen. Henry Slocum concentrated arriving units of the XX Corps on the Reddick Morris farm. Late in the afternoon, Confederate Lt. Gen. William J. Hardee launched a series of assaults on the Morris Farm position against twenty-one pieces of Union field artillery and against several Union brigades in a desperate attempt to break the thin Federal line. This scenario is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.

Home : About : Gallery : Events : Recruiting : Equipment : Instruction : Resources : Forum