Civil War Commemoration: Saturday in Morrisville

Morrisville, NC — This Saturday, April 18, 2015, Morrisville will hold a 150th Civil War Commemoration to both entertain the community and teach citizens about the town’s history.

The 1865 Civil War Skirmish

150 years ago, on April 13, 1865, a dramatic Skirmish took place in Morrisville, NC in the closing days of the Civil War. From the Town of Morrisville:

On April 13th, 1865, Union troops pursued Confederate soldiers west out of Raleigh. When they reached Morrisville, they shelled the town and charged the train station in an effort to capture a departing Confederate train. That night, a Confederate messenger sent by General Johnston delivered a request for a parlay for peace to Union soldiers in Morrisville. Union troops then established an encampment in the town while General Johnston and General Sherman negotiated the largest troop surrender of the war at Bennett Farm in Durham.

Commemoration Day Schedule

To commemorate these events, Morrisville will host an educational, fun-filled historical day at Town Hall Campus on Saturday, April 18, 2015 from 9 am-5 pm. At this free event, attendees will enjoy living history demonstrations, lectures, special tours and more.

You can view a detailed schedule of the day online, but some of the festivities include:

• Reenactments that highlight soldier uniforms, firearms & Civil War artillery
• The true Civil War love story of Union officer Smith Adkins & Southern lady Ellie Swain
• A presentation describing the evolution of NC soldiers & weapons during the Civil War
• An anniversary ceremony
• A talk on preservation by a Civil War historian and reenactor
• 19th century dance – learn some moves & try them out to live music from the period

CaryCitizen will be out at the event taking photos – we hope to see you there!

Event Details

The Fight for Morrisville Station – 150th Anniversary
Saturday, April 18, 2015; 9 am-5 pm
at Morrisville Town Hall, 100 Town Hall Drive

This event is free and open to the public.

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Story from staff reports. Photo by the Town of Morrisville.