Readers: Links

Here's where to find out more about writing and reenacting.

Writers' Organizations of Interest:

Historical Novel Society
Alliance of Independent Authors
Mystery Writers of America
North Carolina Writers' Network

Events at national battlefields, military parks, historic sites:

Descriptions and links for major annual Revolutionary War reenactments and living history events in the Carolinas. Check site calendars. These sites host additional history-related events throughout the year.

January: Living history at Cowpens National Battlefield in Chesnee, SC. No battle reenactment occurs on site, but there's plenty of living history, military drills, and firearms demonstrations.

History behind the event: On 17 January 1781, an army of Continentals and rebel militia commanded by General Daniel Morgan defeated British Legion provincials and their loyalist allies beneath Lt. Colonel Banastre Tarleton.

February: Living history at Moores Creek National Battlefield in Currie, NC.

History behind the event: On 27 February 1776, a group of nearly 1000 rebels defeated loyalists, many of them Scottish highlanders.

February: Living history in Hillsborough, NC.

History behind the event: Lord Cornwallis's army occupied Hillsborough on 19 February 1781 and stayed about a week before moving on.

March: Battle reenactment at Guilford National Military Park in Greensboro, NC.

History behind the event: Technically, Lord Cornwallis could claim the victory in this 15 March 1781 battle against General Nathanael Greene's army, but the victory cost Cornwallis about a quarter of his army.

April: Living history at Musgrove Mills State Historic Site in Clinton, SC. No battle reenactment occurs on site, but there's plenty of living history, military drills, and firearms demonstrations.

History behind the event: Rebel militiamen got the upper hand on an equal-sized party of loyalists in this 19 August 1780 battle. Note: This event is scheduled during a cooler time of the year than the actual battle.

April: Living history at Ninety Six National Historic Site in Ninety Six, SC. No battle reenactment occurs on site, but there's plenty of living history, military drills, and firearms demonstrations. One weekend in mid-April, the site delivers Revolutionary War Days (odd-numbered years) or French and Indian War Days (even-numbered years).

May: Battle reenactment at Alamance Battleground in Burlington, NC.

History behind the event: On 16 May 1771, a loyalist militia commanded by Governor William Tryon defeated a group of rebellious farmers who called themselves "Regulators." Although this battle predated the American Revolution, it presented an example of the type of back-country rebellion the Crown would struggle with throughout the war.

July: Battle reenactment at Historic Brattonsville in McConnells, SC.

History behind the event: On 12 July 1780, rebel militiamen defeated a combined force of loyalist militia and provincial British Legion dragoons commanded by Captain Christian Huck from the British Legion. A Huzzah! For Heroism goes to Martha Bratton, wife of rebel commander William Bratton. The day before the battle, she refused to tell loyalists her husband's whereabouts, even when they threatened to cut her throat.

August: Battle reenactment at House in the Horseshoe State Historic Site in Sanford, NC.

History behind the event: After enduring a brief siege of his house on 29 July 1781, rebel militia Lt. Colonel Philip Alston surrendered to loyalist forces commanded by Lt. Colonel David Fanning and was paroled. A Huzzah! For Heroism goes to Alston's wife, Temperance Smith Alston. Fed up with having her house shot through with musket balls, and so fearful for her children's safety that she hid them in the chimney, she initiated a ceasefire by exiting the house and signaling for parley.

August: Living history at Historic Camden's Battle of Camden Remembrance Day in Camden, SC. No battle reenactment occurs on site, but there's plenty of living history, military drills, and firearms demonstrations.

History behind the event: Crown forces commanded by Charles Lord Cornwallis defeated Continentals and rebel militia commanded by General Horatio Gates on 16 August 1780.

October: Living history at Kings Mountain National Military Park in Blacksburg, SC. No battle reenactment occurs on site, but there's plenty of living history, military drills, and firearms demonstrations.

History behind the event: On 7 October 1780, an army of rebel militia defeated an army of loyalist militia and provincials commanded by Major Patrick Ferguson.

October: Battle reenactment at Walnut Grove Plantation's Festifall event in Roebuck, SC.

History behind the event: Loyalist Captain William ("Bloody Bill") Cunningham and his men raided Walnut Grove in search of rebel leaders and killed three of them. A Huzzah! For Heroism goes to Kate Moore Barry, who slipped away to warn her rebel husband, Captain Andrew Barry, of the attack, and thus prevented the house from being burned.

November: Battle reenactments at Historic Camden's Revolutionary War Field Days in Camden, SC.

History behind the events: The Saturday reenactment depicts the Battle of Hobkirk's Hill, 25 April 1781, in which outnumbered Crown forces commanded by Francis Lord Rawdon defeated Continentals and rebel militia commanded by General Nathanael Greene near Camden. The Sunday reenactment depicts the Battle of Eutaw Springs, 8 September 1781, in which General Nathanael Greene retreated after his army fought more than four hours with Crown forces commanded by Lt. Colonel Alexander Stewart near Eutawville, SC. Both sides suffered staggering casualties.