From the
Trenches
BENTONVILLE
BATTLEFIELD
STATE
HISTORIC SITE
News from North Carolina’s Premier Civil War Battlefield Site and the Friends of Bentonville Battlefield.
Volume VI, Issue III
The three regiments of Bvt. Brig. Gen. George
P. Buell’s Union brigade seemed poised to break through
the unfortified lines on the right of the Army of Tennessee during the early afternoon of March 19, 1865. After
all, the small Confederate brigades in their front had
been forbidden to entrench, and thus threatened to give
way to Buell’s attack. But, as the Federals approached to
within fifty yards, a timely Confederate volley stopped
the advance of the 21st Michigan and 69th Ohio. Yet the
13th Michigan pushed on, continuing the advance another twenty-five yards, causing the anxious Arkansans in
Govan’s Brigade to flee. Just as the blue-coats were
about to exploit this gap in the Army of Tennessee’s
lines, a well-aimed shot struck the 13th Michigan’s com- Maj. Willard G. Eaton was killed at
mander, Major Willard Eaton. Watching their beloved
Bentonville on March 19, 1865.
commander fall sent the 13th Michigan reeling back
across the Cole Plantation with the remainder of Buell’s brigade in tow. Their fighting
spirit had little time to recover when just two hours later the once stalwart 13th ran
again to escape the “last grand charge of the Army of Tennessee.”
It is no wonder that Eaton’s death affected his men so greatly, as he had been
with them since the regiment’s organization at Kalamazoo in January 1862. Already forty,
then Lieutenant Eaton left his two daughters in the care of their stepmother, his third
wife Betty. Eaton was born near Rochester, New York in 1821, and had migrated to
Otsego, Michigan in 1843 with his first wife Vesta. After Vesta’s death, presumably due to
complications from the birth of their daughter Vesta Marie, Eaton married Ester Chichester. Ester too would pass in the next decade but Eaton did not have to look too far for a
new spouse, as he soon married Betty, Ester’s sister who was already living with the
Eatons.
The 900 strong 13th Michigan arrived in Tennessee just in time to participate in
the second day of the Battle of Shiloh in April 1862, the first of a long series of major battles in the Western Theater that the 13th Michigan experienced. Though active during
the Iuka, Corinth, and Perryville Campaigns, it was at the Battle of Stones River on the
last day of 1862 that the 13th Michigan received its true baptism by fire, losing nearly a
third of its strength as casualties. Worse still was Chickamauga in September of 1863,
where the 13th lost nearly half its number in the bloody fight near Lee and Gordon’s
Mills. (Continued on page 2)
Summer 2016
Amanda Brantley , Editor
Inside this
Issue
Manager’s Message
Page 3
Friends of
Bentonville
Pages 4 & 5
Meet the Interns
Pages 6 & 7
152nd Anniversary
Page 8
WILLARD EATON AND THE 13TH MICHIGAN
BY DERRICK BROWN, ASSISTANT MANAGER
Page 2
Volume VI, Issue III
EATON, CONT’D
It was at Chickamauga that newly promoted Major Eaton was forced into command of the 13th Michigan for the
first time when Colonel Joshua Culver was wounded on September 19 by a Confederate artillery shell. Though Culver
would recover in time to remain titular head of the unit, he would often be given brigade and garrison commands leaving
day-to-day command with Eaton. This arrangement continued for the 13th until the last few months of the war. Unfortunately, a promotion would not come with Eaton’s new responsibilities until it was too late.
Perhaps because of the regiment’s diminished size, the 13th was funneled into an engineer brigade after the battles
around Chattanooga in late 1863. Early the next year, Eaton and his men were sent back to Michigan where most of the
now veterans reenlisted. They were also reinforced by over 400 new recruits bringing the regiment back to a respectable
600 men when the 13th joined Major General William T. Sherman’s armies for their “March to the Sea” and the subsequent Carolinas Campaign.
Eaton himself was eligible for discharge in January 1865 but the Major was still commanding the 13th when they
arrived at Bentonville on March 19, 1865. As part of Buell’s XIV Corps brigade, the Michiganders were ordered across the
Willis Cole Plantation, shortly after noon, in a probing assault on what was supposed to be a small Confederate cavalry
force concealed in a line of trees. Unfortunately for Buell, and more so for his men, the section of woods they attacked
was actually manned by battle hardened veterans from the Army of Tennessee. Despite this, the 13th Michigan was able to
advance to within twenty-five yards of the Confederate lines, with Eaton leading from the front the entire way. As he was
encouraging his men to advance rounds from a Confederate volley struck Eaton and the regimental color bearer. Though
the color bearer was only wounded, Eaton was shot through the
forehead, dying instantly.
Witnessing Eaton’s death
immediately halted the 13th’s advance, instead sending them into a
precipitous retreat that was quickly
followed by the 21st Michigan and
69th Ohio. The brigade was able to
take temporary cover in a small
ravine before again being sent fleeing from the Army of Tennessee. In
the action on March 19, the 13th
Michigan alone took over 100 casualties, nearly twenty percent of its
effective strength. After reoccupying the areas abandoned in the
eventual Confederate retreat members of the regiment eventually
found the body of Eaton. He had
been stripped of his clothing down
Left: Eaton’s original battlefield grave marker. (Property of the 13th Michigan Memorial Association.)
to his underwear by Confederates
Right: Eaton’s grave in Ostego, Michigan. His headstone lists all the battles where he saw action.
and was buried in a shallow mass
grave with seven of his men. This
was the first of at least three resting places for the now Colonel Eaton’s remains, as sadly his promotion regimental Colonel arrived just shortly after his death.
Because of their affection for Eaton, his men took pains to mark his new grave with a box lid, carving his name,
and marking the spot. Remarkably, veterans from the 13th, now calling themselves “the Eaton Society,” traveled to Bentonville in 1866 and were able to reinter Eaton to Mountain Home Cemetery in his hometown of Otsego, Michigan.
The legacy of the Eaton society is now perpetuated by the 13th Michigan Memorial Association. Members of
which recently toured Bentonville Battlefield, venturing near the exact site of Eaton’s death. A huge thank you is owed to
the Society for sharing their collections with Bentonville Battlefield, such as diaries and photos. Amongst their extensive
collections is amazingly the original box lid which was used as Eaton’s original grave marker on the battlefield.
From the Trenches
Page 3
Manager’s Message
BY DONNY TAYLOR, SITE MANAGER
This summer, the staff and volunteers have worked to provide quality services to our visitors in all
kinds of weather conditions. We have worked through a very warm and dry time early in the summer followed
by many days of extremely wet weather, which soon changed to the oppressive heat of late July. All this was
accomplished with their normal attention to detail, historical interpretation, and flexibility to tell the story of
Bentonville Battlefield.
We are still working to get our walking trail open to the public. All the interpretive panels, brigade
markers, directional signage, and material for bridges are on site. The directional signage and five benches on
the Bentonville Battlefield History Trail adjacent to the Visitor Center should be installed by the end of August
by Kenden Godwin, to obtain his Eagle Scout rank. Shortly thereafter, Austin Larner will install five more
benches on the Cole Plantation Loop. The Craft Services section of Historic Sites will construct two bridges,
one over a low wet area, and one over the Army of Tennessee trenches along the trail. Steps leading from the
Cole Plantation parking area down to the trail will also be added. The final phase will include removing any
roots and trip hazards from the trail prior to the public opening. This has been a long project but the end is
now in site, giving us a true outdoor classroom for the public. A huge thank you goes to the Friends of Bentonville Battlefield and the Johnston County Convention and Visitors Bureau for funding a matching grant to make
these walking trails possible.
June 11, 2016 was the first
of our annual Summer Living History programs. We had three of
our regular living history organizations participating, the 1st/11th
North Carolina Troops portraying
the Confederates and the 18th
North Carolina Troops/9th New
Jersey as the Federal component
for the infantry demonstrations.
As usual, the artillery gets everyone’s attention due all the noise.
The expert crew of Andrews Battery manned the cannon for the
program. Thanks to all the volunteers from these units and the
FoBB that helped make this program both possible and successful.
Infantry demonstration from the June 11, “Day in the Life of a Civil War Soldier” Program. This was the last program before
the end of our fiscal year and was
a boost to the visitation to exceed our goal of 43,000. We ended the fiscal year with 49,052 visitors, record
attendance for a year that did not include a battle reenactment.
Don’t forget to visit us at the three remaining living history programs in 2016 or any time during the
week, Tuesday – Saturday 9-5. Also consider becoming a volunteer at Bentonville Battlefield or a member of
the Friends of Bentonville Battlefield, Inc.
Volume VI, Issue III
Page 4
From the President
BY DEAN HARRY, PRESIDENT FOBB
When the Civil War ended in 1865, Southern soldiers returned to a region physically devastated by four
years of war. With a military age population numbering around 100,000 men, North Carolina alone lost around
35,000 soldiers killed fighting for the Confederacy and another 2,000 fighting for the Union. Tens of thousands
more suffered from debilitating wounds, amputations and what we now know as post-traumatic stress disorder.
Property was lost, wives were widowed, children were orphaned and southerners were faced with the reality
that for them, life would never be the same. For returning northern soldiers, life was little better. Expecting to
be hailed as conquering heroes by a grateful nation, Union soldiers quickly learned that northerners were anxious to forget the war and the men who fought it. After four years of war, Northern veterans had difficulty adjusting to civilian life and found employers reluctant to hire them. Suffering from the same physical and mental
health problems as their southern counterparts, many Northern veterans turned to alcohol or narcotics to deal
with the stress of a now unfamiliar civilian life. Pensions were meager and hard to come by, yet those who had
not fought the war grew to resent the veterans who received them. Battlefield preservation and interpretation
was, understandably, not a high priority for a nation struggling to redefine itself in the aftermath of total war. To
a large extent, the task of preserving the landscape of war would fall to future generations.
We in North Carolina are blessed with numerous Civil War sites. Some are interpreted by little more
than a roadside marker, others carefully preserved and extensively interpreted. Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site is the scene of the largest land battle of the Civil War fought in North Carolina. Today the landscape
remains much the same as it was when the soldiers and civilians who experienced the battle saw it. For the past
five years, the goal of the Friends of Bentonville Battlefield has been to assist the current stewards of the battlefield, the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, which carries the responsibility of restoring, rehabilitating, interpreting, and maintaining the landscape. Together we bear the responsibility of helping
others understand the importance of what happened here in 1865 and what it means to us today.
Since the Friends first meeting in December of 2011, our members have given of
their time, talents, and money to help insure that
our generation, and those to come, will be able
to visit Bentonville, to see it as the soldiers saw
it and to understand how the 1865 battle helped
to hasten the end of the bloodiest period of
American history. Working closely with the Site
staff members, we have hosted a symposium on
the Civil War in North Carolina, hospital and
civilian experience programs, the sesquicentennial re-enactment, numerous workdays, and most
recently a member appreciation luncheon featuring noted Civil War authors Mark Bradley and
Wade Sokolosky. For the past five years the
Friends have provided Battlefield Guides for both
military staff rides and civilian tours as well as
providing in depth leadership programs developed for military and business groups. We have
funded summer interns, provided needed
Dr. Mark Bradley speaks during Member Appreciation Day.
operational money and purchased fence rails,
Page 5
From the Trenches
From the President, Cont’d
brigade and interpretive markers for the site.
While we have accomplished much in the five short years since that first meeting, we are just getting
started. Our future plans include hosting a symposium in 2018 and, before we know it, it will be time to begin
work on the 155th Anniversary Re-enactment. All this has been made possible through the efforts of our dedicated members, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them, the staff of Bentonville Battlefield State
Historic Site and the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources for their dedication and
support. Please join with us and help preserve the history that was made here in North Carolina. Become a
member today.
Win a Henry Rifle
Tickets only $10.00!
Valued at over $2,000.
Collectors edition Henry Rifle
Manufactured by A. Uberti.
engraved and sold by America Remembers.
N0. 270 of 300 produced.
Drawing to take Place March 19, 2017 during Bentonville’s 152nd
Anniversary Commemoration.
You do not have to be present to win.
All proceeds Benefit the Friends of Bentonville Battlefield, Inc.
Become a member of the Friends of
Bentonville Battlefield, Inc.
The FOBB is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. Friends members
receive the quarterly newsletter, membership lapel pin, gift shop
discount, and invitation to member-only events and activities.
Memberships start at only $15.00 per year. For more information or to join, visit www.fobb.net/membership
Page 6
Volume VI, Issue III
Meet the Interns
Nicholas Teder
YAIO Intern
Greetings! My name is Nicholas
Teder, and I am an intern at Bentonville
Battlefield for the summer of 2016. I hail
from Cary, North Carolina, and am a rising junior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I am double majoring in
History and Peace, War, and Defense with
a minor in Dramatic Art. I am hoping to
enroll in the Masters in Arts of Teaching
Program to receive my Master’s Degree in
the School of Education in one year, as
well as receiving my licensure to teach
Nick is a rising Junior at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Secondary Social Studies in the state of
North Carolina. I received an internship
through the Youth Advocacy and Involvement Office (YAIO) of North Carolina which placed me at
Bentonville Battlefield. The YAIO internships are competitive with about ninety students selected
out of the 476 applicants, so I am very grateful to have this opportunity.
During my time at Bentonville, I had wonderful experiences with the staff, who helped me
understand and learn about the battle, and the public, who allowed me to teach them some more
history. Half of my time was spent on visitor services, which included answering questions or giving
guided tours of the Harper House. Leading guided tours granted me a great opportunity to help decide how to disseminate information to different groups, a skill which I hope to master as a teacher.
The other half of my time here at Bentonville was spent working on two different projects. The first
project I began working on was creating baskets filled with “touch” items that school groups, can feel
and/or smell during the guided tours. We are currently still coordinating and seeking different items
for these baskets. My second task was to create a Teacher Institute for educators to come to Bentonville to receive continuing education credit. We have created a brochure, a flyer, and a PowerPoint for the program itself and are now coordinating with several county school boards in the area
to spread the word about this tremendous program we have to offer. I am very grateful for these
great lessons Bentonville Battlefield has taught me and will truly miss giving tours and the staff, but
am hopeful the lessons I learned here will continue into in my career.
Page 7
From the Trenches
Meet the Interns
Kenly Stewart
Buck Dunn Intern
Howdy folks my name is Kenly Stewart and
it has been my privilege to be the Buck Dunn Intern
for the summer of 2016. I was born and raised in
Autryville, NC and I am now a rising senior at
Campbell University. (Roll Humps !!) Becoming an
intern and working at Bentonville Battlefield, is really a dream come true for me. I have been a student
of the American Civil War since I was a little fella,
and Bentonville is the first battlefield I remember
visiting. My mother took me to my first reenactment at Bentonville when I was ten and I have not
missed a reenactment since. It was at Bentonville
that history came alive for me for the first time, and
that experience started me on the path that led me
Kenly will begin his Senior year at Campbell University in August.
to become a history major in college.
My main job as the Buck Dunn intern involved scanning and organizing Dr. Mark Bradley’s research files used to write the definitive book, Last Stand in the Carolinas: The Battle of Bentonville. The
part of the internship I enjoyed the most however, was giving tours of the Harper House and talking
about the battlefield with the public.
At Campbell, I am a history major with a minor in religion. Besides academics I am involved in
a variety of extracurricular activities including Vice President of the Campbell University History
Club and being Risk Management Chair for the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. I also have the honor of
being a member of the history honors society Phi Alpha Theta, and being on the Dean/President list
the past three years. Besides these activities I also work for Campbell as a resident assistant, helping
manage dormitories and apartments. This fall I am very excited about starting a new job working for
the Study Abroad department helping conduct research and planning for programs.
Though it will be a bittersweet moment when my internship ends, I am looking forward to
starting school in the fall and beginning a new chapter. Bentonville and the awesome staff, both past
and present, inspired me when I was kid and have continued to inspire me this summer. In closing I
really want to thank all the members of Bentonville’s staff for their friendship and mentorship this
summer, and their continued dedication to telling the story of the Harper Family and the Battle of
Bentonville.
Page 8
From the Trenches
March 18-19, 2017
Bentonville Battlefield
Teacher Institute
This two-day course will give teachers the opportunity to
experience all Bentonville has to offer for educators.
Classroom resources, field trip activities and more all while earning Continuing Education Credit!
Coming June 2017
Scene of the last major Confederate offensive of the Civil War
BENTONVILLE
BATTLEFIELD
STATE
HISTORIC SITE
5466 Harper House Rd
Four Oaks, NC 27524
Phone: 910-594-0789
Fax:
910-594-0070
E-mail:
[email protected]
Site Hours
Tuesday through
Saturday
9 am–5 pm
Closed Sundays and
Mondays
Call for Holiday
Schedule
Admission is FREE
Site Staff
Donny Taylor, Site Manager
Derrick Brown, Assistant Site
Manager
Amanda Brantley, Programs
Coordinator
Chad Jefferds, Historic Interpreter
Jeff Fritzinger, Maintenance
Mechanic
Websites
www.nchistoricsites.org
/bentonvi/bentonvi.htm
The Battle of Bentonville, fought March 19-21, 1865, 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.
Today, visitors can take a self-guided driving tour of the preserved battlefield
and view four wayside exhibit areas, follow a short walking trail to view original trenches from the battle, and visit the Harper family cemetery and monument area. The Visitor Center contains exhibits and a brief orientation film.
Guided tours of the c. 1855 Harper House, a Union field hospital, are available
on the hour beginning at 10:00 a.m. with the last tour at 4:00 p.m.
Upcoming Special Events
August 27, 2016
Life on Campaign
Summer Artillery Program
Hear the roar of cannon fire! Starr’s
Battery will show how artillery regiments loaded and fired during the
Civil War. Infantry displays by the
27th NC Co. D will showcase a
common soldier’s daily life.
Demonstrations will occur throughout the day.
10:00-4:00.
October 22, 2016
Fall Festival and Living History
Bring the family and celebrate fall at
Bentonville Battlefield! Activities
include hayrides, carnival games
based on 19th century games, corn
shucking contest, townball (19th
century baseball), and more!
“Johnny has Gone for a Soldier:
The Southern Home-front During
the First Years of the Civil War”
Visitors to Bentonville will learn
about 19th century farm life, and the
chores that women and children
were suddenly responsible to
perform. Demonstrations include
open hearth cooking, children’s
games, spinning, sewing, and
more.
10:00- 4:00
December 3, 2016
“A Civil War Christmas”
Holiday Open House
Come celebrate a Civil War
Christmas during this Holiday
open house event. Costumed interpreters will decorate the
kitchen in festive themes using
natural materials such as holly,
magnolia, fruits, & popcorn
strands. Visitors can enjoy cookies and cider while listening to
period music. Costumed military
interpreters will be available to
discuss how the common soldier
spent his time on furlough with
friends and family.
10:00- 4:00