Battle of Bountville Civil War Reenactment

2018 BATTLE OF BLOUNTVILLE CIVIL WAR REENACTMENT

Coming Oct. 9-11, 2015 to the Old Hawley Farm, 1173 Hawley Rd., Blountville, TN

BLOUNTVILLE, TENN.  – The 2018 Battle of Blountville Civil War Reenactment will be held on September 28-30, 2018, at the Old Hawley Farm, 1173 Hawley Rd., Blountville, TN 37617.  Drawing over 7,000 visitors to its arena in previous years, the award-winning event is held annually on the beautiful 60-acre site known as the Old Hawley Farm.  The mission and purpose of the Civil War Reenactment is to commemorate the Civil War Battle of Blountville which took place on September 22, 1863, and to promote heritage tourism in Northeast Tennessee.

Activities will begin at 9 AM on Fri., Sept. 28, with “Education Day”, a special opportunity for regional school groups from across East TN and Southwest VA.  Students will enjoy visiting Civil War encampments and living history demonstrations by various artisans and historians.  Anyone wishing to schedule a school group may do so by calling (423) 323-4660. Students, parents, teachers and chaperones will be admitted free of charge on Friday only.

Two full-scale Civil War Reenactments will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Camps open at 9 AM each day, with several activities going on throughout the day until 5 PM on Saturday and 3 PM on Sunday.  Col. Stephen Lundberg will be in command of the Union Army, and Col. Aaron Sells will be in charge of the Confederate forces.  Reenactors, historians and heritage organizations will be coming together to present a living history in commemoration of the battle.  The event will include authentic Civil War battle reenactments, camp life scenarios, military and civilian life demonstrations and more.   Sunday’s event will begin with an old-time, open-air church service at 9 AM on Sunday. Country Boys’ Kitchen will be on hand throughout the weekend to offer food vending.

Displays and demonstrations throughout the weekend will include Civil War music; wagon displays; impressionists of Civil War personas; Civil War games; Civil War medical displays, Union and Confederate encampments and more.

ADMISSION is $3 for Adults, and Children 6 and under are free.

DIRECTIONS

Old Hawley Farm is located at 1173 Hawley Rd., Blountville, TN. From I-81 take exit 63 toward the Tri Cities Airport. Turn Left onto the Bristol Highway. Turn right onto Muddy Creek Rd. Turn left onto Hawley Road and enter the Battle of Blountville event site.

ABOUT THE BATTLE

East Tennessee was of strategic importance during the Civil War primarily because of the East Tennessee & Virginia Railroad. Early in the war, both sides recognized the important of the railroad line for both supplies and communications. Throughout the Civil War, several battles took place in order to gain possession of this railroad, and one of those was the Battle of Blountville which took place on September 22, 1863. That fateful little day left a burning  town… A burned jail, a gutted Court House, with businesses and homes destroyed.  Only a few historic structures and homes remained. Left behind were the dead and wounded from both sides as well as a town destroyed. Here on this ground, as well as in Gettysburg, men fought and paid the ultimate sacrifice. Eventually, both armies would withdraw from the immediate area, but Blountville, like much of the South, was left smoldering, and its citizens weeping; thus, this once peaceful village would never be the same.

THE EVENT IS SPONSORED BY the Department of East Tennessee Reenacting, the Battle of Blountville Civil War Military Park, and the Sullivan County Department of Archives and Tourism.

For additional information and full Calendar of Events, please visit www.battleofblountville.com or visit us on Facebook at Battle of Blountville Civil War Park and Reenactment. Phone inquiries may be directed to (423) 323-4660.