Did You Know

I recently enjoyed visiting the Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site in Johnston County, North Carolina. The battle at Bentonville was the largest Civil War battle in North Carolina and was one of the last battles fought during the Civil War. It spanned 6,000 acres and was the cause of 4,133 casualties.

The Historic Site includes more than 2,000 acres of the battlefield and miles of hiking trails that still show the many trenches dug by worn and tired soldiers. A 10-mile driving tour is also provided, and I found it very rewarding. Along the tour, you’ll see sections with small monuments and signs describing the events surrounding that parcel of land.

Honestly, I’m not a history buff and never imagined I’d find any interest in this subject. I find the tactical and political aspects of history and war quite tedious.

However, I think about how life must have been for the women and children. What did they do while most of the men were away fighting and dying? Who did the work, and how did they manage their finances? How did life change for the women and children?

I am also curious about what they did with the deceased on the battlefield during and after the war ended. I’m sure you would agree that cleaning up after a bloody and horrendous war is not for the faint of heart.

I bought three books that piqued my interest.

1. Women at the Front, by Jane E. Schultz
2. Mothers of Invention, by Drew Gilpin Faust
3. The Aftermath of Battle, by Meg Groeling

I’ve decided to create a new feature tab on my website called “Did You Know.” As I read a chapter, I’ll make little quips of facts and interesting information that I think an audience of history lovers would like. I’m not sure how I’ll set it up exactly, but I believe this project will be fun and exciting to share with my readers. And it will help me connect to a broader audience. I can’t wait to share my first “Did You Know” post. Stay tuned, and thank you for your support.