2019 Battle of Blountville Civil War Reenactment
Experience the 155th Anniversary Battle of Blountville Civil War Reenactment and Military Park on September 28-30, 2018 at the Old Hawley Farm in Blountville, Tennessee. Commemorate the Battle of Blountville which occurred on September 22, 1863 in beautiful Northeast Tennessee. Drawing over 7,000 visitors to its arena in previous years, the award-winning event is held annually on the beautiful 60-acre site known as the Old Hawley Farm. Union and Confederate reenactors will perform continuous living history demonstrations including infantry, mounted cavalry, artillery drills and full-scale reenactments of the Battle of Blountville.
Battle of Blountville Civil War Reenactment
The main battle reenactments will take place at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Skirmishes will also be held at separate times. Civil War music will also be played during the event. School Days activities will be held on Friday. A Ladies Tea and a Civil War Bonfire will be held Saturday.
The annual event is hosted by the Battle of Blountville Civil War Military Park and Reenactment Committee in conjunction with the Sullivan County Department of Archives and Tourism.
Admission: $3 for Adults, and Children 6 and under are free.
Schedule of Events (subject to change)
Thursday
9:00 a.m. Camps open to sutler & vendor setup
Friday
9:00 a.m. Camps Open
9:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. School/Education Day for regional school students
Reenactor, Sutler & Vendors setup to occur during day.
Saturday
9:00 a.m. Camps open & event begins
10:00 a.m. Infantry Demonstrations
2:00 p.m. Civil War Battle Reenactment
5:00 p.m. Camps close to public
Sunday
9:00 a.m. Camps open
9:00 a.m. Church Service
2:00 p.m. Civil War Battle Reenactment
5:00 p.m. Camps close
Battle of Blountville Civil War Reenactment Mini-Gallery
Old Hawley Farm
1173 Hawley Road
Blountville, TN 37617
Directions: From Interstate 81, take Exit 63 onto Hwy. 357 for 2 miles toward the Airport. Just before the Airport, exit right and turn left onto State Route 75. Continue for .7 mile, then turn right onto Muddy Creek Rd. Continue for 1.2 miles and turn left onto Hawley Rd. Go .3 mile to event site.
Reenactors & Participants
You are cordially invited! All Reenactors, Sons of Confederate Veterans, Sutlers, Civil War Vendors and Exhibitors, and members of all Civil War lineage organizations are cordially invited to participate in the Battle of Blountville Civil War Reenactment.
REENACTMENT CONTACT
Department of East TN Reeacting
Phillip Bishop, (423) 782-9668
Richie Ireson, (423) 292-3451
MILITARY PARK CONTACT
Battle of Blountville Military Park
Shelia Hunt, (423) 323-4660
For More Information
Contact one of the following representatives from the Department of East Tennessee Reenacting: Phillip Bishop, (423) 782-9668; Richie Ireson (423) 292-3451; or Shelia Hunt (423) 323-4660..
About the Organizers
The Battle of Blountville Civil War Reeactment Committee and the Battle of Blountville Civil War Military Park Executive Committee work hand in hand to preserve the legacy of the the Battle of Blountville which occurred on September 22, 1863 in historic Blountville, Tennessee.
A Short History of The Battle of Blountville
On September 22, 1863, the war with all its horror came to Blountville. Federal forces advanced from Knoxville and arrived on the outskirts of Blountville. Union forces quickly occupied the heights overlooking the west side of town; this chosen site was the cemetery – the “City of the Dead”. Union cannons were aligned on the gravesites of the locals and their slaves alike. Reacting to the threats, Southern forces formed artillery on a knoll near the present-day Blountville Middle School; another line was established by Rebel forces on a nearby hillside in front of the Masonic Hall, now the site of the maintenance building for the Sullivan County School System. The battle of artillery and cavalry began in earnest at lunchtime Union guns offered the initial volley with the Court House as the first target. In only a few minutes, the Court House was burning.
[su_accordion][su_spoiler title=”Read More About The Battle of Blountville”]Though casualties were light for both armies, the town was devastated, with countless homes and businesses burned to the ground by fires started by the explosions of Federal guns. For four hours, the battle raged when Union forces dislodged the Confederates who began a withdrawal to present-day Bluff City. The Confederates’ withdrawal was a pre-planned surprise counter-attack, with fresh Confederate troops awaiting the pursuing Federals. The plan was not destined for success when Union forces discovered the Confederate plot and refused battle; the men in blue retreated to Blountville. All of the Federal forces returned toward Knoxville within two days. That fateful little day left a burning town – a burned jail, a gutted Court House, businesses and homes destroyed – Only a few historic structures and homes remained.
Left behind were the dead and wounded from both sides as well as a town destroyed. Here on this ground, as well as in Gettysburg, men fought and paid the ultimate sacrifice. Eventually, both armies would withdraw from the immediate area, but Blountville, like much of the South, was left smoldering, and its citizens weeping; thus, this once peaceful village would never be the same.
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Battle of Blountville Civil War Military Park
The Battle of Blountville occurred largely in and around the historic town of Blountville, Tennessee. Recognizing the importance of commemorating the battle, Tennessee State Representative Tony Shipley spearheaded the move to establish a Civil War Park commemorating the Battle of Blountville. In February 2011, Sullivan County passed a resolution authorizing the Sullivan County Department of Archives and Tourism to assist the Battle of Blountville Civil War Park Executive Committee in development of the park in the interest of promoting heritage tourism. The Battle of Blountville Civil War Park and its development will primarily begin in the Historic District of downtown Blountville as recognized on the National Register of Historic Sites.
Mark your calendar today so you don’t miss the next Battle of Blountville Civil War Reenactment in September at the Old Hawley Farm in Blountville, Tennessee.
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