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E G BENNETT PLACE COURIER Official Publication of the Bennett Place Support Fund, Inc. THE 222222222222 222222222222 Editor: Jeremiah DeGennaro Fall 2012 222222zm222222 Reflections on the Sesquicentennial: A Dispatch from Sharpsburg, Maryland “Maryland My Maryland” is the name of a popular song written during the American Civil War, which has become associated with the Maryland Campaign between the armies of General Robert E. Lee and General George B. McClellan. In September 1862, the two armies of North and South converged on the charming unas-suming village of Sharpsburg, Maryland lo-cated along the Antietam Creek and just about an hour’s drive west of Washington, DC. It became the bloodiest one day battle of the American Civil War at that point in the war. The battles of Gettysburg and Chickamauga would surpass the casualty lists the following year, but were multiple days of fighting. This Fall the 150th Anniversary of the battle was commemorated and I had the dis-tinct honor and privilege of being a participant. There were some 2,500 living historians/reenactors who traveled from across the country and some from around the world to take part in this anniversary remembrance. While my great great grandfather served in the 50th Georgia Infantry guarding the bridge along Antietam Creek, known as Burn-side’s Bridge, I served in the ranks of the Federal Army. Although some may think my Southern ancestors are “rolling in their graves” I have always felt our ancestors would simply be satisfied that we remember their struggle 150 years later and that our nation still stands as one. Before the weekend’s activities commenced I traveled with friends to some of the lesser known battles, which culminated in to the violent struggle through-out the town and countryside of Sharpsburg. Starting at South Mountain overlooking the town of Boonsboro, MD we traveled the mountain tops where heavy fighting occurred leading up to the march toward Sharpsburg. We first came across the monument of Major General Jesse Reno, commander of the Fed-eral IX Army Corps and the first corps com-mander killed in the Civil War. He had been known to most as a “soldier’s soldier”, be-cause of his dedication to standing right beside his men in combat. http://www.southmountain.stonesentinels.com/ Reno.php . Next, we trekked up the mountain to the North Carolina monument, which was a splendid memo-rial recently built within the last 15 years to honor the Tar John Guss Site Manager 222222222222 Bennett Place Courier Page 2 222222zm222222 The Bennett Place Support Fund Board of Directors President, Karen Edwards Vice President, Chandler Vatavuk Treasurer, Caroline Odom Secretary, Ernest Dollar Board Members Ruth Ann Bond Rob Everett Anne Hedgpeth Sam Miglarese Don Scott Jack Schrader Betsy Vatavuk Bennett Place State Historic Site Staff JOHN GUSS Site Manager JEREMIAH DEGENNARO Historic Interpreter III DIANE SMITH Historic Interpreter I Historic Sites Division JEFF BOCKERT East Regional Supervisor DALE COATS Deputy Director KEITH HARDISON Director DR. JEFFREY J. CROW Deputy Secretary LINDA CARLISLE Secretary of Cultural Resources Heel soldiers. Sadly, some of these men who had been casual-ties of the fighting were mercilessly bur-ied in a local farmer’s well, evident of the hatred and lack of respect these men had for one another at this point in time of the war. Further along the trails through the forests we noticed a newly placed historical interpretive plaque illustrating the role of my ancestor’s regiment. Coincidentally there was a dedication of this new marker honoring the soldiers of the 50th Georgia Infantry later that morning. Our tour led us to one of our final stops on top of South Mountain, the grand Memorial Arch monument dedicated to the war correspondents. http://www.southmountain.stonesentinels.com/Correspondents.php. In-scribed among the many names of those who covered the war through art and journalism was Theodore Davis, the artist who had been at the Bennett Farm the day Sherman and Johnston met. It is his artistry that has allowed us to know the actual appearance of the farm at the time of the surrender nego-tiations. There is still so much more to share of what is along South Moun-tain. Of course, we finished our day of touring with the Antietam Battlefield National Park, which one needs a couple of days to gain the full perspective of this strategic battle. After an exceptional day of touring the real history it was time to recreate it. Modern day civilians quickly turned in to Civil War era soldiers and civilians within a few hours and camps with roaring campfires and tentage began to spring up in the fields and woods on the outskirts of Boons-boro, truly the same ground the soldiers camped on 150 years before. The fighting around South Mountain and Crampton’s Gap were among the battle reenactment scenarios on Saturday, and later that evening soldiers of both armies began to gravitate toward the infamous “Miller’s Cornfield”. This was perhaps the most memorable moment of the entire event for my friends and me, standing guard in a Maryland cornfield at 2 am Sunday morning simply pondering what it must have been like for the soldiers of Blue and Gray getting ready to do battle. Historically, some of the most vicious and destructive fighting occurred through Mr. Miller’s cornfields as men of North and South fought toe to toe with neither side giving ground easily. THE Sesquicentennial Continues WITH BATTLES and OBSERVANCES in Maryland 222222222222 Bennett Place Courier Page 3 Follow Bennett Place Online ! ! Visit Bennett Place online on Facebook and Twitter! Follow us to stay posted on what is new around the site! http://www.facebook.com/bennett.place http://twitter.com/Bennett Place 222222zm222222 In addition to our Facebook page and Twitter feed, there is now an improved way to stay current with Bennett Place news online! Check out our brand new website at: www.bennettplacehistoricsite.com The new website, created by JW Web Solutions, is completely funded by the Bennett Place Support Fund, Inc. It features event photos, videos and blogs posted by the site staff. Information is available on the surrender, school programs, site rentals, and other uses for our historic site. There is an online gift shop if you are looking for a special gift for someone, or if you simply wish to make a donation to support Bennett Place, we would greatly appreciate the contribution. 150th anniversary of Sharpsburg, (continued). At dawn the battle reenactment commenced with artillery blazing red fire as both armies stepped off into the fog covered cornfield crushing the stalks underneath their boots and firing at one another as they ad-vanced. The Hagerstown Pike had been reconstructed along the side of the cornfield, and it too became a very realistic scene of the devastation now viewed through Matthew Brady’s photographs in modern day Civil War books. As one reenactor described, “It was worth the price of admission to see”, an odd statement to make light of such a horrific view. However, his assessment was di-rected more toward how realistic the reenactment had become. Among the regiments engaged in the battle was the 27th North Carolina Infantry Regiment, which Lorenzo Leigh Bennett served in at the time of the Maryland Campaign. Unfortunately, we still do not know for certain if Lorenzo actually fought in the Battle of Sharpsburg; all we know if that he died of disease just about a month later in a Confederate Army hospital in Winches-ter, Virginia. He was laid to rest in Mount Hebron Cemetery in the town. After four exhilarating battle scenarios, much drill, standing guard in a damp frosty cornfield in the middle of the night, and virtu-ally no sleep and poor food rations, it was a tremendous experience I will never forget given it may very well be the last time many of us will have that unique experience on this hallowed ground. We can only hope that we have honored the sacrifice of our ancestors as we continue to march into the year 1863/2013. 222222222222 Bennett Place Courier Page 4 222222zm222222 Though cultivated today for kitchen use more than any other, herbs were once necessary for nearly all as-pects of everyday life. Medicines, cooking, bug repel-lent, beauty and dyes are some of the reasons herbs were grown or collected. Some of the herbs used for medici-nal purposes are ones we would call “weeds” today and ones we fight to keep out of our yards. A few were so valued the settlers brought their own seeds to the colo-nies and they spread quickly across fields and waysides. Today we no longer need to grow our own herbs be-cause we have access to them in our stores and our medicines are now already prepared. As for dyes, bug repellents, and beauty products, well these are also avail-able to us in different forms from liquids to sprays. The definition of an herb is a bit different depend-ing on the source. From the Manual of the Medical Botany of North America an herb is a plant which dies altogether, or down to the ground, after maturing its fruit. According to the Herb Society of America an herb is any plant that may be used for pleasure, fragrance or physic. Webster’s Dictionary lists an herb as any seed plant whose stem withers away to the ground after each season’s growth, as distinguished from a tree or shrub whose woody stem lives from year to year. This infor-mation is important because some of the herb that will be mentioned in this article and the next one contain some plants not normally associated in the category of an herb. Back when herbs were a necessity, they were often found planted in sunny spots close to the kitchen house or in the nearby kitchen garden so that the busy house-wife could simply pick what she needed when cooking or alleviating sickness from family members. As differ-ent nationalities arrived in the new world they too brought seeds and plants with them which increased the variety of herbs available for use. By the mid nineteenth century, the use of herbs began to decline with the intro-duction of more chemical based medicines. Some of the medicinal products households could purchase were not always beneficial because opium, cocaine, alcohol and other deadly herbs were sometimes used. There were no regulations for medications so along with the good there were also the bad. We take for granted the medicines we use today and expect them to work fast and cure almost instantly. Dur-ing the mid 19th century, this was of course, not the case. People who lived then were more self reliant. They did not call the doctor out often. They would try and “fix” the problem at home. Doctors also cost money and many could not afford to have one come out. At Bennett Place I have tried to grow some of the more popular herbs as well as some of the more inter-esting ones. It wasn’t until I started reading informa-tion about each different herb that I realized I had opened up a whole new fascinating and exciting world. There are so many different herbs that I wouldn’t do them enough justice in just one article so I am going to create a 2 part article in which I hope to cover the more common and some more unusual herbs. In this article I will feature some of the more common herbs we use and in the next article I will cover some of those more interesting ones. These will include many that we consider to be “weeds”. For some, the herbs listed below will be very familiar to you but I’m sure some will find out just how much more these herbs can do for us than flavor our food. PLANTER’S PROGRESS: Diane Smith Historic Interpreter I Growing Herbs and Finding Their Uses, Part One S T h e U 222222222222 Bennett Place Courier Page 5 222222zm222222 Before I list the different herbs and their uses, it is important to know how they are prepared. There are 4 ways that herbs would be converted and they are: When the part of the herb that is being used is the leaf, you will have an infusion. This is from tak-ing hot water and putting it over the leaves while they steep (like tea). What makes this differ from a regu-lar tea is the strength. Medicine is more concentrated, therefore only a small amount is needed. If the part of the plant being used is the root, seeds or woody stem then you will be making a decoction. This is done by cooking the herb in water at a simmer for approximately 30 minutes before being strained and stored. Again, only a small amount is needed. A very concentrated form of herbal preparation. This usually involves a base of alcohol. The herb is steeped in the alcohol for several weeks before being strained. To use, only a small amount (usually drops) are given in some kind of liquid like juice or water. This is for external use only with the herb being applied directly to the skin. They can be chopped, mixed with water or other substance to form a paste which would be easy to spread on the skin. If chopped, the herb would be placed in a cloth (usually cheese cloth) and held onto the skin or tied with string. A member of the mint family and is as popular today as it was back then. This is a great herb for cook-ing and only requires a small amount. Medicinally it can be used in different ways. Internally it can be used to ease intestinal issues as well as flatulence and as a stimulant for the liver. Externally it can be used to help with sores as it con-tains an antiseptic. It can be toxic so limited use is best. The root is used instead of the leaves and the plant must be at least 2 years old in order to have suffi-cient enough root. The root is pul-verized and applied to bruises, strains and muscle sprains. It acts as an anti-inflammatory. When used in a tea, the leaves are used and it acts as an expectorant. The leaves contain mucilagan which will make the tea slimy. This plant helps with digestion as well as in the treatment of round-worms. The plant has toxic properties so it must be taken in small amounts. It was also thought to help women keep from having a miscarriage. Of course, this isn’t true but was once believed to be so. A member of the mint family. Used by early colonists both fresh and dried to repel insects. As a tea (infusion) used to treat upset stomach, flatulence and help with menstrual flow. A.k.a. carpenters weed. This plant is a member of the aster family. It is used for staunching the flow of blood from wounds. It is also re-ported to be a diaphoretic. The leaves of the plant are made into a poultice and applied topically to the wound. Used as an insect repellent due to its offensive odor, taken internally, it was used as an antispasmodic and abortifacient (substance that in-duces abortions). Caution should be used when handling the plant as the oil from the leaves can cause blis-tering when exposed to the sun. It is also known for its symbolic meaning of regret. The fruit is wonderful to eat as most of us will agree. The leaves and roots work as an astringent. A tea made from the leaves helps alleviate bowel complaints and when made into a cordial (type of drink) it acted as a diuretic. Bet you never thought eat-ing strawberries were good for your teeth but in an 1811 recipe book eat-ing strawberries was an effective way to remove the tartaneous concretions of the teeth. As I mentioned above, herbs had other purposes besides being used in food preparation or medicine. Herbs when mixed together would make great bug repellents. One rec-ipe called for bay leaves, lavender, pennyroyal and rosemary. Herbs would also be used to help combat foul smells as in potpourri. Ever wonder how women covered their gray hair? Well for women with dark brown hair, using a rinse made from sage and rosemary would work and for women with lighter hair a chamo-mile tea rinse would work. As for beauty regiments, rosewater acts like an astringent and the leaves of the mullein plant would be used to give a blush to the cheeks. The leaves are a mild irritant when rubbed on the skin. After doing the research for this article I came to have a greater appreciation for the simple herb and I think you will too. Until next time, happy cooking. The Planters Progress: Growing and using Herbs (Continued) POULTICE. SAGE. MARSHMALLOW. TANSY. PENNYROYAL. YARROW. RUE. STRAWBERRY. INFUSION. DECOCTION. TINCTURE. 222222222222 Bennett Place Courier Page 6 The SITE MANAGER’S DESK It has been quite a Fall with the heart of the 150th Anniversary of the American Civil War commemorations taking off with wonder-ful success. My staff and I have had the privilege of attending some of these grand events to include Shiloh, Tennessee, Sharpsburg/ Antietam, Maryland, Perryville, Kentucky, and Fort Pulaski in Savannah, Georgia. The year fin-ishes in December with the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia followed by the Battle of Goldsboro Bridge commemora-tion just outside of Goldsboro, North Carolina. During that same weekend, December 15-16, we will celebrate Christmas at the Bennett Farm with a special visit from Ole St. Nick, and we are equally thrilled to have General D. H. Hill por-trayed by Doug Batson, historian and author, (http://dhhill.org/About.html) pay us a visit. Sat-urday evening we will host our annual Christmas Social from 7pm-9pm. Please stop by if you can for food, drink, and good fellowship. In early October we kicked off our $50,000 capital campaign for our new museum exhibit project in which we will completely remodel our museum so that visitors can enjoy a fresh more comprehensive depiction of one of the most sig-nificant events of the American Civil War. We hope that all citizens of the United States will rally to support this effort as the Bennett Farm is hallowed ground where ALL Americans should feel welcome and have a sense of belonging. Bennett Place serves not only as a place of peace and unity, but a memorial to honor the sacrifice of more than 700,000 American lives. If you would like to make a contribution to help pre-serve their memory please visit our website: http://www.bennettplacehistoricsite.com/museum -fund/. Lastly, we now prepare for a new governor and a new departmental secretary, saying farewell to perhaps one of our most favorite leaders, Sec-retary Linda Carlisle. We thank her for all of the exhausting hours she has put forth to ensure our heritage is preserved for another day. We wish her all the best in her endeavors, and trust our new leader will bring as much charisma and posi-tive hope to North Carolina State Historic Sites. On behalf of the Bennett Place staff we wish you a Happy Thanksgiving, a Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays!! Enjoy this issue of the Bennett Place Courier. Thank you again for your continued support. John W. Guss, Site Manager By John Guss, Bennett Place Site Manager 222222zm222222 Museum Capital Campaign Underway! Fundraising for the renovation of our museum is now underway! Your dona-tions to the museum project will help us find and obtain artifacts, complete construction, and utilize new technolo-gies that will make our museum the best place to learn about the end of the Civil War. To find out about ways you can donate, visit our web-site: www.bennettplacehistoricsite.com/ museum-fund/ 222222222222 Bennett Place Courier Page 7 222222zm222222 JOIN THE CAUSE!! Become A Member of the Bennett Place Support Fund! Name date _______________________________________________ address _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ PHONE _______________________________________________ E-mail _______________________________________________ signature _______________________________________________ Contribution Levels. A Sergeant (1 yr) $25 A Lieutenant (1 yr) $50 A Captain (1 yr) $100 A Major (3 yrs) $300 A Colonel (5 yrs) $500 A General (lifetime) $1865 A President (1 yr) $5000 A Governor (1 yr) $2500 Total: $ MEMBERSHIP FORM T T Thank You to Our Latest Donors! Charles Thissen Colonel Robinson Everett, Jr. Captain Rick Sheets Captain Sam Miglarese Captain Sandra Wilson Sergeant In addition to the satisfaction of supporting the mission of Bennett Place State Historic Site, a donation at the attached contribution levels to our support group also entitles you to the following benefits: All Levels: Membership Card Quarterly Newsletter Notices for Special Events Captain and Above: 10 percent Gift Shop Discount Certificate of Appreciation Special Gift NORTH CAROLINA’S CIVIL WAR in real time: A look back at the NC newspapers of Fall 1862 222222222222 Bennett Place Courier Page 8 222222zm222222 “The Immense Value of Eastern North Carolina.” The immense value of Eastern North Carolina to the Southern Confederacy cannot well be estimated, when considered simply as a source of food for our army and people. When it is also considered as a question of reve-nue, to enable the government to carry on the war, and ultimately to pay the war debt, its protection against the ravages of the Yankees becomes a question of the utmost importance. We have taken the pains to prepare tables from the census of 1850 in order to make a proximate estimate of the number of negroes, amount of corn raised, and the value of the pork, beef and mutton, first in those Coun-ties already in the hands of the Yankees, and secondly, those lying upon and east of the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad, liable to be overrun by the Yankees during the approaching winter. First, we give Counties already in the enemy’s possession: Counties No. Slaves Bush. Corn Pork, Beef, &c. 12 37,902 3,417,399 $587,231 It is a reasonable calculation, and the facts would support the assumption, that the increase of slaves...for the past ten years was 20 per cent., which added would make 45,482, whose aggregate value at an average of $500 would be $22,741,000. There has been a still greater in-crease in that region since 1850 in the culture of corn— hence we put down the average increase to be one third, which would make 4,556,532 bushels of corn raised in the above counties in 1860, which, at $1 per bushel, would be $4,556,532. There has been a corresponding increase in the production of pork, beef, and mutton, which, in 1860, must have been valued at $782,974, but at present prices would be worth to the government $2,348,922. Here, then, it will be seen that the misguided policy which allowed the enemy to enter Hatteras, has been at a sacrifice of Norfolk and untold injury to Vir-ginia, and the ruin of twelve counties in eastern Carolina of great value to the South for their bread and meat, and almost the entire loss of $22,741,000 in slaves. But it must be remembered that we have made no estimate of other crops besides corn and the immense losses by the breaking up of the tar and turpentine, the fishing, the lumber and shingle interests, which far exceed in value the farming operations of that wealthy section. These statistics, though perhaps falling below the truth, show to the most careless observer how important it is to protect the Eastern part of the State by every pos-sible means in the power of the government, against the invasion of the Yankees. — Raleigh Standard, Raleigh, NC TROUBLE IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA Some twenty-five armed men visited Waynesville, in the adjoining county of Haywood, about 2 o’clock on the morn-ing of the 19th, and demanded the release of a man named Franklin, who was con-victed at the last term of our Superior Court of the murder of Mr. Noland. The Jailor having no force to resist the de-mand, was seized and held, while Franklin carried off in triumph. The party, we are informed, represented themselves as from East Tennessee, and said they had a re-serve of 300 armed men to back up their demand. The locality is about 45 miles west of this place, and bordering upon the most disloyal portion of East Tennessee, and the force gathered there is composed probably of disaffected men who have fled from their homes to avoid the Con-script Law. — Asheville News, Asheville NC TO THE WOMEN OF THE SOUTH. Editor Charlotte Bulletin: Sir: I wish to make public thro’ your columns, and those various other influential journals, a suggestion to the women of the South. It is, that a day be appointed on which at a certain hour they, with one consent, shall unitedly beg for peace from Him in whose hands are the hearts of men and the destinies of na-tions. Prayer has been made continually for the success of our arms in battle, and these prayers have been answered, —in many instances beyond our hopes. Every prayer has doubtless breathed an humble petition for peace, but it is suggested that now our faithful women shall unite to pray in an especial manner for it—that God would forgive our enemies and turn their hearts, and that he would also forgive us our debts and would deliver us from the evil hands of bloody men. Let Monday the 1st of December be appointed, and on that day at 12, M., let the hearts of every wife, mother, sister and daughter, in every State in the Confederacy, go out in solemn, fervent prayer to God for peace. In places and Churches where female prayer meetings are usual, let the women themselves order the matter; where such meetings are not considered inadvisable, or are im-practicable, let the women stop and alone with God plead with Him for their country. Let the young, beauti-ful and thoughtless think of the dead, dying and mangled, think of the wid-ows and the fatherless and childless of this awful war, and let every woman’s heart be raised as with one voice on that day to God for help, and for PEACE. — Salisbury Watchman 222222zm222222 222222222222 Bennett Place Courier Page 9 CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS! BENNETT PLACE NEEDS YOU!! Volunteer Talmadge Walker leading visitors on a tour. For more information, contact Jeremiah DeGennaro, Volunteer Coordinator Call (919) 383-4345 or send an email to bennett@ncdcr.gov NEW SIGNATURE ITEMS AVAILABLE IN GIFT SHOP Fans and Friends of Bennett Place State Historic Site will be eager to know that a variety of new signature items are currently available for pur-chase in our gift shop. From soaps to shot glasses and boxes to water bot-tles, our gift shop is fully stocked with special items unique to Bennett Place. These items make excellent gifts, and any purchase in our shop goes directly to the Bennett Place Support Fund, Inc. to help finance site preservation, new educational programs, and special events. We accept cash, checks, debit and credit cards in our gift shop. Have a love of history or a desire to help in your commu-nity? Looking to accept new challenges or acquire new skills? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you would make a great volunteer at Bennett Place! We are always look-ing for dedicated people interested in helping us with the various needs we have on a daily basis. Volunteers at Ben-nett Place can help in a variety of different ways: D Guided Tours Living History Historical Research Landscaping D and Gardening D D In addition to the satisfaction of helping at an important historical landmark, volunteers at Bennett Place get special benefits from their service. They include special Bennett Place Volunteer shirts and hats, invitations to accompany staff on field trips to other museums and historic sites, and a discount at our Gift Shop! More information can be found on our website at: http://www.bennettplacehistoricsite.com/ 150th LICENSE PLATES NOW AVAILABLE As part of North Carolina’s commemoration of the Civil War sesquicenten-nial, special license plates are now available for purchase through the Depart-ment of Cultural Resources. The plates feature the theme being used by the North Carolina Civil War Sesquicentennial Committee: “Freedom, Sacrifice, Memory.” The license plate is available for a yearly $30 fee; proceeds from plate sales will go toward commemorative programs and battlefield preserva-tion. Applications will be accepted through 2015. For more information, or to download an application form, visit www.nccivilwar150.com. 222222222222 Bennett Place Courier Page 10 222222zm222222 The Bennett Place Support Fund, a 501 c (3) organization, is honoring one of its late members and con-tributors with an academic scholar-ship. This award of $500 will be awarded to a deserving student who is a rising senior of a North Carolina high school. The scholarship will be presented to the award winner dur-ing the 148th Surrender Commemo-ration events in April 2013. Mr. William “Bill” Vatavuk served as president of the Bennett Place Support Fund, Inc. during the 1980’s and 1990’s. He was a com-missioned officer with the U.S. Pub-lic Health Service and worked with the EPA for 30 years. He was greatly committed to community service and youth organizations, serving as a 4-H volunteer, a tutor, a Kids Vote Durham precinct volun-teer, and a member of Durham’s Youth Management Board. He re-ceived the honorable President of the US Call to Service Award for over 4,000 hours of community service. In addition to his leadership of the Bennett Place Support Fund, Inc. was his contribution of the Bennett Place history guidebook, “Dawn of Peace,” which was nomi-nated in 1990 for the North Caro-lina Mayflower Award. The $500 monies must be put toward tuition, lab fees, books, computers and related media sup-plies, or other related supplies. Ap-plications will be reviewed by a panel of judges. Applicants must be High School Seniors, planning to study History or Education in college. They must have held a 3.0 GPA over the past two semesters. Appli-cants must submit their application and a letter of recommendation from a teacher, mentor, or em-ployer. Applications can be downloaded from our website: www.benne t tplac ehi s t o r i c s i t e . c om/ education/william-vatavuk-scholarship/ DEADLINE for Submission is APRIL 1, 2013 For more details, call (919) 383- 4345 or email bennett@ncdcr.gov. BENNETT PLACE SUPPORT FUND NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR 2013 VATAVUK SCHOLARSHIP The late Bill Vatavuk, former president of the BPSF and namesake for the Vatavuk Scholarship Upcoming events AT BENNETT PLACE ! I 222222zm222222 222222222222 Bennett Place Courier Page 11 DECEMBER 15 - 16 Christmas in the Carolinas During the Civil War Saturday, 10 a.m. — 4 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m. — 3 p.m. Visit Bennett Place during the holiday season and witness how Christmas was celebrated in the Piedmont Carolinas during the Civil War. Living historians will decorate the farm in a typical modest fashion. There will be music and caroling along with refreshments served. Admission is FREE and donations are graciously accepted. For more information contact: 919-383-4345 or bennett@ncdcr.gov SANTA PHOTO FEBRUARY 23 Civil War Sesquicentennial Signature Event The Emancipation Proclamation: An Exploration Saturday, 10 a.m. — 4 p.m. On January 1, 1863 President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation to mixed reviews from a divided nation. Join us as we celebrate Black History Month with an exploration of the Emancipation Proclamation and what it really meant for enslaved African Americans from January 1863 until the end of the American Civil War. Admission is FREE and donations are graciously accepted. For more information contact: 919-383-4345 or ben-nett@ ncdcr.gov MARCH 23 - 24 TARHEELS: Soldiers of the Old North State Saturday, 10 a.m. — 4 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m. — 3 p.m. Confederate reenactors will be camped out at Bennett Place, demonstrat-ing campaign life for North Carolina’s Confederate soldiers during the American Civil War. Firing demonstrations, drill maneuvers, and talks and cooking demonstrations will be ongoing. Admission is FREE and donations are graciously accepted. For more information contact: 919-383-4345 or bennett@ncdcr.gov
Object Description
Title | Bennett Place courier |
Creator | Bennett Place State Historic Site (Agency : N.C.) |
Date | 2011 |
Subjects |
Bennett Place State Historic Site (Agency : N.C.)--Periodicals Historic sites--North Carolina--Periodicals Bennett Place State Historic Site (N.C.) |
Place | North Carolina, United States |
Publisher | Bennett Place State Historic Site |
Agency-Current | North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources |
Rights | State Document see http://digital.ncdcr.gov/u?/p249901coll22,63754 |
Physical Characteristics | v. : ill. ; 28 cm. |
Collection | North Carolina State Documents Collection. State Library of North Carolina |
Type | Text |
Language | English |
Format |
Newsletters Periodicals |
Digital Collection | North Carolina Digital State Documents Collection |
Digital Format | application/pdf |
Related Items | http://worldcat.org/oclc/713353799/viewonline |
Title Replaces | Bennett Place quarterly |
Audience | All |
Pres Local File Path-M | \Preservation_content\StatePubs\pubs_borndigital\images_master\ |
OCLC number | 713353799 |
Description
Title | Bennett Place courier |
Date | 2012 |
Description | Fall 2012 |
Digital Characteristics-A | 4.29 MB; 11 p. |
Digital Format |
application/pdf |
Pres File Name-M | pubs_serial_bennettplacecourier2012fall.pdf |
Full Text | E G BENNETT PLACE COURIER Official Publication of the Bennett Place Support Fund, Inc. THE 222222222222 222222222222 Editor: Jeremiah DeGennaro Fall 2012 222222zm222222 Reflections on the Sesquicentennial: A Dispatch from Sharpsburg, Maryland “Maryland My Maryland” is the name of a popular song written during the American Civil War, which has become associated with the Maryland Campaign between the armies of General Robert E. Lee and General George B. McClellan. In September 1862, the two armies of North and South converged on the charming unas-suming village of Sharpsburg, Maryland lo-cated along the Antietam Creek and just about an hour’s drive west of Washington, DC. It became the bloodiest one day battle of the American Civil War at that point in the war. The battles of Gettysburg and Chickamauga would surpass the casualty lists the following year, but were multiple days of fighting. This Fall the 150th Anniversary of the battle was commemorated and I had the dis-tinct honor and privilege of being a participant. There were some 2,500 living historians/reenactors who traveled from across the country and some from around the world to take part in this anniversary remembrance. While my great great grandfather served in the 50th Georgia Infantry guarding the bridge along Antietam Creek, known as Burn-side’s Bridge, I served in the ranks of the Federal Army. Although some may think my Southern ancestors are “rolling in their graves” I have always felt our ancestors would simply be satisfied that we remember their struggle 150 years later and that our nation still stands as one. Before the weekend’s activities commenced I traveled with friends to some of the lesser known battles, which culminated in to the violent struggle through-out the town and countryside of Sharpsburg. Starting at South Mountain overlooking the town of Boonsboro, MD we traveled the mountain tops where heavy fighting occurred leading up to the march toward Sharpsburg. We first came across the monument of Major General Jesse Reno, commander of the Fed-eral IX Army Corps and the first corps com-mander killed in the Civil War. He had been known to most as a “soldier’s soldier”, be-cause of his dedication to standing right beside his men in combat. http://www.southmountain.stonesentinels.com/ Reno.php . Next, we trekked up the mountain to the North Carolina monument, which was a splendid memo-rial recently built within the last 15 years to honor the Tar John Guss Site Manager 222222222222 Bennett Place Courier Page 2 222222zm222222 The Bennett Place Support Fund Board of Directors President, Karen Edwards Vice President, Chandler Vatavuk Treasurer, Caroline Odom Secretary, Ernest Dollar Board Members Ruth Ann Bond Rob Everett Anne Hedgpeth Sam Miglarese Don Scott Jack Schrader Betsy Vatavuk Bennett Place State Historic Site Staff JOHN GUSS Site Manager JEREMIAH DEGENNARO Historic Interpreter III DIANE SMITH Historic Interpreter I Historic Sites Division JEFF BOCKERT East Regional Supervisor DALE COATS Deputy Director KEITH HARDISON Director DR. JEFFREY J. CROW Deputy Secretary LINDA CARLISLE Secretary of Cultural Resources Heel soldiers. Sadly, some of these men who had been casual-ties of the fighting were mercilessly bur-ied in a local farmer’s well, evident of the hatred and lack of respect these men had for one another at this point in time of the war. Further along the trails through the forests we noticed a newly placed historical interpretive plaque illustrating the role of my ancestor’s regiment. Coincidentally there was a dedication of this new marker honoring the soldiers of the 50th Georgia Infantry later that morning. Our tour led us to one of our final stops on top of South Mountain, the grand Memorial Arch monument dedicated to the war correspondents. http://www.southmountain.stonesentinels.com/Correspondents.php. In-scribed among the many names of those who covered the war through art and journalism was Theodore Davis, the artist who had been at the Bennett Farm the day Sherman and Johnston met. It is his artistry that has allowed us to know the actual appearance of the farm at the time of the surrender nego-tiations. There is still so much more to share of what is along South Moun-tain. Of course, we finished our day of touring with the Antietam Battlefield National Park, which one needs a couple of days to gain the full perspective of this strategic battle. After an exceptional day of touring the real history it was time to recreate it. Modern day civilians quickly turned in to Civil War era soldiers and civilians within a few hours and camps with roaring campfires and tentage began to spring up in the fields and woods on the outskirts of Boons-boro, truly the same ground the soldiers camped on 150 years before. The fighting around South Mountain and Crampton’s Gap were among the battle reenactment scenarios on Saturday, and later that evening soldiers of both armies began to gravitate toward the infamous “Miller’s Cornfield”. This was perhaps the most memorable moment of the entire event for my friends and me, standing guard in a Maryland cornfield at 2 am Sunday morning simply pondering what it must have been like for the soldiers of Blue and Gray getting ready to do battle. Historically, some of the most vicious and destructive fighting occurred through Mr. Miller’s cornfields as men of North and South fought toe to toe with neither side giving ground easily. THE Sesquicentennial Continues WITH BATTLES and OBSERVANCES in Maryland 222222222222 Bennett Place Courier Page 3 Follow Bennett Place Online ! ! Visit Bennett Place online on Facebook and Twitter! Follow us to stay posted on what is new around the site! http://www.facebook.com/bennett.place http://twitter.com/Bennett Place 222222zm222222 In addition to our Facebook page and Twitter feed, there is now an improved way to stay current with Bennett Place news online! Check out our brand new website at: www.bennettplacehistoricsite.com The new website, created by JW Web Solutions, is completely funded by the Bennett Place Support Fund, Inc. It features event photos, videos and blogs posted by the site staff. Information is available on the surrender, school programs, site rentals, and other uses for our historic site. There is an online gift shop if you are looking for a special gift for someone, or if you simply wish to make a donation to support Bennett Place, we would greatly appreciate the contribution. 150th anniversary of Sharpsburg, (continued). At dawn the battle reenactment commenced with artillery blazing red fire as both armies stepped off into the fog covered cornfield crushing the stalks underneath their boots and firing at one another as they ad-vanced. The Hagerstown Pike had been reconstructed along the side of the cornfield, and it too became a very realistic scene of the devastation now viewed through Matthew Brady’s photographs in modern day Civil War books. As one reenactor described, “It was worth the price of admission to see”, an odd statement to make light of such a horrific view. However, his assessment was di-rected more toward how realistic the reenactment had become. Among the regiments engaged in the battle was the 27th North Carolina Infantry Regiment, which Lorenzo Leigh Bennett served in at the time of the Maryland Campaign. Unfortunately, we still do not know for certain if Lorenzo actually fought in the Battle of Sharpsburg; all we know if that he died of disease just about a month later in a Confederate Army hospital in Winches-ter, Virginia. He was laid to rest in Mount Hebron Cemetery in the town. After four exhilarating battle scenarios, much drill, standing guard in a damp frosty cornfield in the middle of the night, and virtu-ally no sleep and poor food rations, it was a tremendous experience I will never forget given it may very well be the last time many of us will have that unique experience on this hallowed ground. We can only hope that we have honored the sacrifice of our ancestors as we continue to march into the year 1863/2013. 222222222222 Bennett Place Courier Page 4 222222zm222222 Though cultivated today for kitchen use more than any other, herbs were once necessary for nearly all as-pects of everyday life. Medicines, cooking, bug repel-lent, beauty and dyes are some of the reasons herbs were grown or collected. Some of the herbs used for medici-nal purposes are ones we would call “weeds” today and ones we fight to keep out of our yards. A few were so valued the settlers brought their own seeds to the colo-nies and they spread quickly across fields and waysides. Today we no longer need to grow our own herbs be-cause we have access to them in our stores and our medicines are now already prepared. As for dyes, bug repellents, and beauty products, well these are also avail-able to us in different forms from liquids to sprays. The definition of an herb is a bit different depend-ing on the source. From the Manual of the Medical Botany of North America an herb is a plant which dies altogether, or down to the ground, after maturing its fruit. According to the Herb Society of America an herb is any plant that may be used for pleasure, fragrance or physic. Webster’s Dictionary lists an herb as any seed plant whose stem withers away to the ground after each season’s growth, as distinguished from a tree or shrub whose woody stem lives from year to year. This infor-mation is important because some of the herb that will be mentioned in this article and the next one contain some plants not normally associated in the category of an herb. Back when herbs were a necessity, they were often found planted in sunny spots close to the kitchen house or in the nearby kitchen garden so that the busy house-wife could simply pick what she needed when cooking or alleviating sickness from family members. As differ-ent nationalities arrived in the new world they too brought seeds and plants with them which increased the variety of herbs available for use. By the mid nineteenth century, the use of herbs began to decline with the intro-duction of more chemical based medicines. Some of the medicinal products households could purchase were not always beneficial because opium, cocaine, alcohol and other deadly herbs were sometimes used. There were no regulations for medications so along with the good there were also the bad. We take for granted the medicines we use today and expect them to work fast and cure almost instantly. Dur-ing the mid 19th century, this was of course, not the case. People who lived then were more self reliant. They did not call the doctor out often. They would try and “fix” the problem at home. Doctors also cost money and many could not afford to have one come out. At Bennett Place I have tried to grow some of the more popular herbs as well as some of the more inter-esting ones. It wasn’t until I started reading informa-tion about each different herb that I realized I had opened up a whole new fascinating and exciting world. There are so many different herbs that I wouldn’t do them enough justice in just one article so I am going to create a 2 part article in which I hope to cover the more common and some more unusual herbs. In this article I will feature some of the more common herbs we use and in the next article I will cover some of those more interesting ones. These will include many that we consider to be “weeds”. For some, the herbs listed below will be very familiar to you but I’m sure some will find out just how much more these herbs can do for us than flavor our food. PLANTER’S PROGRESS: Diane Smith Historic Interpreter I Growing Herbs and Finding Their Uses, Part One S T h e U 222222222222 Bennett Place Courier Page 5 222222zm222222 Before I list the different herbs and their uses, it is important to know how they are prepared. There are 4 ways that herbs would be converted and they are: When the part of the herb that is being used is the leaf, you will have an infusion. This is from tak-ing hot water and putting it over the leaves while they steep (like tea). What makes this differ from a regu-lar tea is the strength. Medicine is more concentrated, therefore only a small amount is needed. If the part of the plant being used is the root, seeds or woody stem then you will be making a decoction. This is done by cooking the herb in water at a simmer for approximately 30 minutes before being strained and stored. Again, only a small amount is needed. A very concentrated form of herbal preparation. This usually involves a base of alcohol. The herb is steeped in the alcohol for several weeks before being strained. To use, only a small amount (usually drops) are given in some kind of liquid like juice or water. This is for external use only with the herb being applied directly to the skin. They can be chopped, mixed with water or other substance to form a paste which would be easy to spread on the skin. If chopped, the herb would be placed in a cloth (usually cheese cloth) and held onto the skin or tied with string. A member of the mint family and is as popular today as it was back then. This is a great herb for cook-ing and only requires a small amount. Medicinally it can be used in different ways. Internally it can be used to ease intestinal issues as well as flatulence and as a stimulant for the liver. Externally it can be used to help with sores as it con-tains an antiseptic. It can be toxic so limited use is best. The root is used instead of the leaves and the plant must be at least 2 years old in order to have suffi-cient enough root. The root is pul-verized and applied to bruises, strains and muscle sprains. It acts as an anti-inflammatory. When used in a tea, the leaves are used and it acts as an expectorant. The leaves contain mucilagan which will make the tea slimy. This plant helps with digestion as well as in the treatment of round-worms. The plant has toxic properties so it must be taken in small amounts. It was also thought to help women keep from having a miscarriage. Of course, this isn’t true but was once believed to be so. A member of the mint family. Used by early colonists both fresh and dried to repel insects. As a tea (infusion) used to treat upset stomach, flatulence and help with menstrual flow. A.k.a. carpenters weed. This plant is a member of the aster family. It is used for staunching the flow of blood from wounds. It is also re-ported to be a diaphoretic. The leaves of the plant are made into a poultice and applied topically to the wound. Used as an insect repellent due to its offensive odor, taken internally, it was used as an antispasmodic and abortifacient (substance that in-duces abortions). Caution should be used when handling the plant as the oil from the leaves can cause blis-tering when exposed to the sun. It is also known for its symbolic meaning of regret. The fruit is wonderful to eat as most of us will agree. The leaves and roots work as an astringent. A tea made from the leaves helps alleviate bowel complaints and when made into a cordial (type of drink) it acted as a diuretic. Bet you never thought eat-ing strawberries were good for your teeth but in an 1811 recipe book eat-ing strawberries was an effective way to remove the tartaneous concretions of the teeth. As I mentioned above, herbs had other purposes besides being used in food preparation or medicine. Herbs when mixed together would make great bug repellents. One rec-ipe called for bay leaves, lavender, pennyroyal and rosemary. Herbs would also be used to help combat foul smells as in potpourri. Ever wonder how women covered their gray hair? Well for women with dark brown hair, using a rinse made from sage and rosemary would work and for women with lighter hair a chamo-mile tea rinse would work. As for beauty regiments, rosewater acts like an astringent and the leaves of the mullein plant would be used to give a blush to the cheeks. The leaves are a mild irritant when rubbed on the skin. After doing the research for this article I came to have a greater appreciation for the simple herb and I think you will too. Until next time, happy cooking. The Planters Progress: Growing and using Herbs (Continued) POULTICE. SAGE. MARSHMALLOW. TANSY. PENNYROYAL. YARROW. RUE. STRAWBERRY. INFUSION. DECOCTION. TINCTURE. 222222222222 Bennett Place Courier Page 6 The SITE MANAGER’S DESK It has been quite a Fall with the heart of the 150th Anniversary of the American Civil War commemorations taking off with wonder-ful success. My staff and I have had the privilege of attending some of these grand events to include Shiloh, Tennessee, Sharpsburg/ Antietam, Maryland, Perryville, Kentucky, and Fort Pulaski in Savannah, Georgia. The year fin-ishes in December with the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia followed by the Battle of Goldsboro Bridge commemora-tion just outside of Goldsboro, North Carolina. During that same weekend, December 15-16, we will celebrate Christmas at the Bennett Farm with a special visit from Ole St. Nick, and we are equally thrilled to have General D. H. Hill por-trayed by Doug Batson, historian and author, (http://dhhill.org/About.html) pay us a visit. Sat-urday evening we will host our annual Christmas Social from 7pm-9pm. Please stop by if you can for food, drink, and good fellowship. In early October we kicked off our $50,000 capital campaign for our new museum exhibit project in which we will completely remodel our museum so that visitors can enjoy a fresh more comprehensive depiction of one of the most sig-nificant events of the American Civil War. We hope that all citizens of the United States will rally to support this effort as the Bennett Farm is hallowed ground where ALL Americans should feel welcome and have a sense of belonging. Bennett Place serves not only as a place of peace and unity, but a memorial to honor the sacrifice of more than 700,000 American lives. If you would like to make a contribution to help pre-serve their memory please visit our website: http://www.bennettplacehistoricsite.com/museum -fund/. Lastly, we now prepare for a new governor and a new departmental secretary, saying farewell to perhaps one of our most favorite leaders, Sec-retary Linda Carlisle. We thank her for all of the exhausting hours she has put forth to ensure our heritage is preserved for another day. We wish her all the best in her endeavors, and trust our new leader will bring as much charisma and posi-tive hope to North Carolina State Historic Sites. On behalf of the Bennett Place staff we wish you a Happy Thanksgiving, a Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays!! Enjoy this issue of the Bennett Place Courier. Thank you again for your continued support. John W. Guss, Site Manager By John Guss, Bennett Place Site Manager 222222zm222222 Museum Capital Campaign Underway! Fundraising for the renovation of our museum is now underway! Your dona-tions to the museum project will help us find and obtain artifacts, complete construction, and utilize new technolo-gies that will make our museum the best place to learn about the end of the Civil War. To find out about ways you can donate, visit our web-site: www.bennettplacehistoricsite.com/ museum-fund/ 222222222222 Bennett Place Courier Page 7 222222zm222222 JOIN THE CAUSE!! Become A Member of the Bennett Place Support Fund! Name date _______________________________________________ address _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ PHONE _______________________________________________ E-mail _______________________________________________ signature _______________________________________________ Contribution Levels. A Sergeant (1 yr) $25 A Lieutenant (1 yr) $50 A Captain (1 yr) $100 A Major (3 yrs) $300 A Colonel (5 yrs) $500 A General (lifetime) $1865 A President (1 yr) $5000 A Governor (1 yr) $2500 Total: $ MEMBERSHIP FORM T T Thank You to Our Latest Donors! Charles Thissen Colonel Robinson Everett, Jr. Captain Rick Sheets Captain Sam Miglarese Captain Sandra Wilson Sergeant In addition to the satisfaction of supporting the mission of Bennett Place State Historic Site, a donation at the attached contribution levels to our support group also entitles you to the following benefits: All Levels: Membership Card Quarterly Newsletter Notices for Special Events Captain and Above: 10 percent Gift Shop Discount Certificate of Appreciation Special Gift NORTH CAROLINA’S CIVIL WAR in real time: A look back at the NC newspapers of Fall 1862 222222222222 Bennett Place Courier Page 8 222222zm222222 “The Immense Value of Eastern North Carolina.” The immense value of Eastern North Carolina to the Southern Confederacy cannot well be estimated, when considered simply as a source of food for our army and people. When it is also considered as a question of reve-nue, to enable the government to carry on the war, and ultimately to pay the war debt, its protection against the ravages of the Yankees becomes a question of the utmost importance. We have taken the pains to prepare tables from the census of 1850 in order to make a proximate estimate of the number of negroes, amount of corn raised, and the value of the pork, beef and mutton, first in those Coun-ties already in the hands of the Yankees, and secondly, those lying upon and east of the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad, liable to be overrun by the Yankees during the approaching winter. First, we give Counties already in the enemy’s possession: Counties No. Slaves Bush. Corn Pork, Beef, &c. 12 37,902 3,417,399 $587,231 It is a reasonable calculation, and the facts would support the assumption, that the increase of slaves...for the past ten years was 20 per cent., which added would make 45,482, whose aggregate value at an average of $500 would be $22,741,000. There has been a still greater in-crease in that region since 1850 in the culture of corn— hence we put down the average increase to be one third, which would make 4,556,532 bushels of corn raised in the above counties in 1860, which, at $1 per bushel, would be $4,556,532. There has been a corresponding increase in the production of pork, beef, and mutton, which, in 1860, must have been valued at $782,974, but at present prices would be worth to the government $2,348,922. Here, then, it will be seen that the misguided policy which allowed the enemy to enter Hatteras, has been at a sacrifice of Norfolk and untold injury to Vir-ginia, and the ruin of twelve counties in eastern Carolina of great value to the South for their bread and meat, and almost the entire loss of $22,741,000 in slaves. But it must be remembered that we have made no estimate of other crops besides corn and the immense losses by the breaking up of the tar and turpentine, the fishing, the lumber and shingle interests, which far exceed in value the farming operations of that wealthy section. These statistics, though perhaps falling below the truth, show to the most careless observer how important it is to protect the Eastern part of the State by every pos-sible means in the power of the government, against the invasion of the Yankees. — Raleigh Standard, Raleigh, NC TROUBLE IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA Some twenty-five armed men visited Waynesville, in the adjoining county of Haywood, about 2 o’clock on the morn-ing of the 19th, and demanded the release of a man named Franklin, who was con-victed at the last term of our Superior Court of the murder of Mr. Noland. The Jailor having no force to resist the de-mand, was seized and held, while Franklin carried off in triumph. The party, we are informed, represented themselves as from East Tennessee, and said they had a re-serve of 300 armed men to back up their demand. The locality is about 45 miles west of this place, and bordering upon the most disloyal portion of East Tennessee, and the force gathered there is composed probably of disaffected men who have fled from their homes to avoid the Con-script Law. — Asheville News, Asheville NC TO THE WOMEN OF THE SOUTH. Editor Charlotte Bulletin: Sir: I wish to make public thro’ your columns, and those various other influential journals, a suggestion to the women of the South. It is, that a day be appointed on which at a certain hour they, with one consent, shall unitedly beg for peace from Him in whose hands are the hearts of men and the destinies of na-tions. Prayer has been made continually for the success of our arms in battle, and these prayers have been answered, —in many instances beyond our hopes. Every prayer has doubtless breathed an humble petition for peace, but it is suggested that now our faithful women shall unite to pray in an especial manner for it—that God would forgive our enemies and turn their hearts, and that he would also forgive us our debts and would deliver us from the evil hands of bloody men. Let Monday the 1st of December be appointed, and on that day at 12, M., let the hearts of every wife, mother, sister and daughter, in every State in the Confederacy, go out in solemn, fervent prayer to God for peace. In places and Churches where female prayer meetings are usual, let the women themselves order the matter; where such meetings are not considered inadvisable, or are im-practicable, let the women stop and alone with God plead with Him for their country. Let the young, beauti-ful and thoughtless think of the dead, dying and mangled, think of the wid-ows and the fatherless and childless of this awful war, and let every woman’s heart be raised as with one voice on that day to God for help, and for PEACE. — Salisbury Watchman 222222zm222222 222222222222 Bennett Place Courier Page 9 CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS! BENNETT PLACE NEEDS YOU!! Volunteer Talmadge Walker leading visitors on a tour. For more information, contact Jeremiah DeGennaro, Volunteer Coordinator Call (919) 383-4345 or send an email to bennett@ncdcr.gov NEW SIGNATURE ITEMS AVAILABLE IN GIFT SHOP Fans and Friends of Bennett Place State Historic Site will be eager to know that a variety of new signature items are currently available for pur-chase in our gift shop. From soaps to shot glasses and boxes to water bot-tles, our gift shop is fully stocked with special items unique to Bennett Place. These items make excellent gifts, and any purchase in our shop goes directly to the Bennett Place Support Fund, Inc. to help finance site preservation, new educational programs, and special events. We accept cash, checks, debit and credit cards in our gift shop. Have a love of history or a desire to help in your commu-nity? Looking to accept new challenges or acquire new skills? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you would make a great volunteer at Bennett Place! We are always look-ing for dedicated people interested in helping us with the various needs we have on a daily basis. Volunteers at Ben-nett Place can help in a variety of different ways: D Guided Tours Living History Historical Research Landscaping D and Gardening D D In addition to the satisfaction of helping at an important historical landmark, volunteers at Bennett Place get special benefits from their service. They include special Bennett Place Volunteer shirts and hats, invitations to accompany staff on field trips to other museums and historic sites, and a discount at our Gift Shop! More information can be found on our website at: http://www.bennettplacehistoricsite.com/ 150th LICENSE PLATES NOW AVAILABLE As part of North Carolina’s commemoration of the Civil War sesquicenten-nial, special license plates are now available for purchase through the Depart-ment of Cultural Resources. The plates feature the theme being used by the North Carolina Civil War Sesquicentennial Committee: “Freedom, Sacrifice, Memory.” The license plate is available for a yearly $30 fee; proceeds from plate sales will go toward commemorative programs and battlefield preserva-tion. Applications will be accepted through 2015. For more information, or to download an application form, visit www.nccivilwar150.com. 222222222222 Bennett Place Courier Page 10 222222zm222222 The Bennett Place Support Fund, a 501 c (3) organization, is honoring one of its late members and con-tributors with an academic scholar-ship. This award of $500 will be awarded to a deserving student who is a rising senior of a North Carolina high school. The scholarship will be presented to the award winner dur-ing the 148th Surrender Commemo-ration events in April 2013. Mr. William “Bill” Vatavuk served as president of the Bennett Place Support Fund, Inc. during the 1980’s and 1990’s. He was a com-missioned officer with the U.S. Pub-lic Health Service and worked with the EPA for 30 years. He was greatly committed to community service and youth organizations, serving as a 4-H volunteer, a tutor, a Kids Vote Durham precinct volun-teer, and a member of Durham’s Youth Management Board. He re-ceived the honorable President of the US Call to Service Award for over 4,000 hours of community service. In addition to his leadership of the Bennett Place Support Fund, Inc. was his contribution of the Bennett Place history guidebook, “Dawn of Peace,” which was nomi-nated in 1990 for the North Caro-lina Mayflower Award. The $500 monies must be put toward tuition, lab fees, books, computers and related media sup-plies, or other related supplies. Ap-plications will be reviewed by a panel of judges. Applicants must be High School Seniors, planning to study History or Education in college. They must have held a 3.0 GPA over the past two semesters. Appli-cants must submit their application and a letter of recommendation from a teacher, mentor, or em-ployer. Applications can be downloaded from our website: www.benne t tplac ehi s t o r i c s i t e . c om/ education/william-vatavuk-scholarship/ DEADLINE for Submission is APRIL 1, 2013 For more details, call (919) 383- 4345 or email bennett@ncdcr.gov. BENNETT PLACE SUPPORT FUND NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR 2013 VATAVUK SCHOLARSHIP The late Bill Vatavuk, former president of the BPSF and namesake for the Vatavuk Scholarship Upcoming events AT BENNETT PLACE ! I 222222zm222222 222222222222 Bennett Place Courier Page 11 DECEMBER 15 - 16 Christmas in the Carolinas During the Civil War Saturday, 10 a.m. — 4 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m. — 3 p.m. Visit Bennett Place during the holiday season and witness how Christmas was celebrated in the Piedmont Carolinas during the Civil War. Living historians will decorate the farm in a typical modest fashion. There will be music and caroling along with refreshments served. Admission is FREE and donations are graciously accepted. For more information contact: 919-383-4345 or bennett@ncdcr.gov SANTA PHOTO FEBRUARY 23 Civil War Sesquicentennial Signature Event The Emancipation Proclamation: An Exploration Saturday, 10 a.m. — 4 p.m. On January 1, 1863 President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation to mixed reviews from a divided nation. Join us as we celebrate Black History Month with an exploration of the Emancipation Proclamation and what it really meant for enslaved African Americans from January 1863 until the end of the American Civil War. Admission is FREE and donations are graciously accepted. For more information contact: 919-383-4345 or ben-nett@ ncdcr.gov MARCH 23 - 24 TARHEELS: Soldiers of the Old North State Saturday, 10 a.m. — 4 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m. — 3 p.m. Confederate reenactors will be camped out at Bennett Place, demonstrat-ing campaign life for North Carolina’s Confederate soldiers during the American Civil War. Firing demonstrations, drill maneuvers, and talks and cooking demonstrations will be ongoing. Admission is FREE and donations are graciously accepted. For more information contact: 919-383-4345 or bennett@ncdcr.gov |
OCLC number | 713353799 |