The 160th anniversary reenactment of the Battle of Bentonville will take place March 15-16, 2025. Tickets for the event, “A Terrible Storm,” are now on sale.

The battle scenarios on Saturday and Sunday are the only events that require tickets. The two-day commemoration event also has numerous free activities planned. Visitors can walk through the soldiers’ camps, smell period cooking, listen to lectures, learn about 19th-century medicine, shop the dozens of “sutlers” — vendors selling Civil War-related items — or just relax while listening to old-time music. Concessions will be available for purchase from food trucks and the Bentonville Volunteer Fire Department.

Tours of the Harper House will also be happening throughout each day. The farm home of John and Amy Harper, built in the late 1850s, played a key role in the Battle of Bentonville. Occupied by Union troops on the first day of fighting, the house served as a field hospital for Sherman's XIV Army Corps. Over 500 wounded soldiers, including 45 Confederates, were treated at this facility. John, Amy, and seven of their children remained at the home throughout the battle, helping to care for the wounded men.

Visitors are strongly encouraged to purchase tickets well in advance of the event as tickets will be limited. Advanced tickets for a single day are $15 or $25 for a two-day pass. At the gate (if available), tickets will be $20 per day. Children 10 and under attend free. For more information and to purchase tickets visit www.bentonvillereenactement.com. Tickets can be purchased online, or by calling (910) 594-0789. 

Harper House events at the Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site in Four Oaks, NC.

The battle of Bentonville (March 19-21, 1865), was the largest battle fought in North Carolina and was one of the last major engagements of the Civil War, with over 80,000 troops engaged covering 6,000 acres of farmland in eastern North Carolina. It was the only significant attempt to defeat General William T. Sherman's large Union army that marched from Atlanta. Sherman was aiming to occupy Goldsboro to destroy the railroad line to stop the supply of goods to Confederate troops. General Joseph E. Johnston met in Smithfield weeks before Sherman's arrival to engage and stop him.

Johnston marched towards the Village of Bentonville where the 3-day battle took place on nearly 6,000 acres of farmland in eastern Johnston County. After Sherman's victory over the smaller Confederate army, he occupied the town of Smithfield and announced to his troops that the War between the states was over. More than 1,000 re-enactors and 30,000 spectators are expected to attend the event, which includes two battles, military and civilian encampments, and special educational programs during the weekend.

In addition, miles of hiking trails wind through flat county-side and farm-land on the site, some of which saw active fighting in 1865. History buffs can enjoy signage detailing the event as they walk and those just looking to hike can do so on beautiful and well-maintained trails (though none are paved). Bentonville is even part of the state's Mountains to Sea Trail. Segments 11 to 12 of this trail, which stretch 1,200 miles across the state, extend from Howell Woods Environmental Learning Center down to Bentonville. 

Two hikers walking the Bull Pen trail at Bentonville Battlefield.

For those visiting the area not interested in walking, there is a Bentonville Battlefield Driving Tour (self-guided). With over 18 driving pull-offs and wayside markers in the Bentonville Battlefield area and beyond to Smithfield, Selma, and Clayton, visitors can track troop positions, marches, and major battles that took place here, March 19-21, 1865. Drive throughout the rural area and stop at several Civil War Trail driving pull-offs, and walk the Confederate cemetery and Union earthworks trails. 

The 2025 event is being sponsored by the Friends of Bentonville Battlefield, Inc., the Johnston County Visitors Bureau, and the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. All proceeds from ticket sales benefit battlefield interpretation and preservation. The site is located at 5466 Harper House Road, Four Oaks, NC 27524, 3 miles north of Newton Grove on S.R. 1008, about one hour from Raleigh and about 45 minutes from Fayetteville. For more information, visit https://historicsites.nc.gov/all-sites/bentonville-battlefield. Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site is part of the Division of State Historic Sites in the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.