By Paul Brill

Special to The Pilot

The 42nd Malcolm Blue Historical Crafts and Farmskills Festival, held at the historic Malcolm Blue Farm in Aberdeen, on Friday through Sunday, Sept. 23-25, will feature an expanded dosage of Civil War re-enactors, consisting of members of the 26th North Carolina Infantry and Cavalry and the 1st N.C. Artillery.

Elements from the Moore County Scottish Rifles and the N.C. Naval Squadron will also participate. There will be a fine display of Civil War historical relics from North and South Carolina soldiers presented in the Clayton-Blair Historic Museum.

The Malcolm Blue Farm is an official site of the North Carolina Civil War Trails. In addition to the Civil War re-enactors, a special exhibit of Civil War items and relics used and associated with specific soldiers from both the Union and Confederate armies will be on display in the museum.

Permanent Exhibit

The museum has a permanent exhibit of artifacts, maps, graphics and brochures about the Battle of Monroe's Crossroads.

The Battle of Monroe's Crossroads museum exhibit gives a detailed review of the battle and events leading into the battle, including General Jordan's cavalry encampment of about 1,000 men at the old Bethesda Church and the Malcolm Blue farm on March 9, 1865. The battle was fought on March 10, between the cavalry forces of Confederate Gen. Joseph Wheeler and Union Gen. Judson Kilpatrick, about eight miles from the farm on the present-day Fort Bragg reservation.

The Union Cavalry was part of Gen. Sherman's army that was moving through Georgia and the Carolinas en route to the Fayetteville Arsenal that was eventually destroyed.

Festival Re-enactors

At designated times on Saturday and Sunday, Civil War re-enactors of both the infantry and mounted cavalry units on horses will conduct drills and skirmishes. The artillery cannon will also have scheduled demonstration firings.

The Civil War camp is open to the public at all times for informal discussions on camp life, -fighting tactics and equipment maintenance.

Donations Welcome

Supporting Civil War re-enactors and their horses and equipment costs money. Any persons wishing to assist with expenses associated with the re-enactors can send a tax-deductible gift payable to MBHS, P.O. Box 603, Aberdeen, NC 28315 or contact Paul Brill at (910) 692-8317. Gift increments of $25 will receive two three-day passes to the festival.

Civil War Relics on Display

This year marks the beginning of the 150th American Civil War initiation with historical study and commemoration taking place around the country over the next four years.

Some of the Civil War relics to be shown from the Carolina Boys of 1861 will include:

n North Carolina Confederate 1863 - dated Fayetteville Arsenal rifle and bayonet - 8,700 guns were made between 1862 and 1864.

n The soldier-marked, Confederate-made -cartridge box and shoulder sling of Jeremiah L. Moore from the 7th N.C. State Troops, who was from Iredell County.

n Slain Confederate militia officer 1st Lt. James T. Weir's (23rd S.C. Volunteers) leather sword belt captured in 1862 at the Battle of Kinston, N.C., can be viewed.

n A Model 1851 Colt Navy pistol engraved "G. E. Manigault" on the butt strap will be on -display. Gabriel Manigault was from the noted and wealthy Manigault family of Charleston and was a member of the Charleston Dragoons and adjutant to Col. Rutledge of the 4th South Carolina Cavalry.

n Palmetto Armory musket used by a soldier of the 11th S.C. Regiment, H.L. Infinger found in the Cheraw area.

n 1873 pure silver copy of the Great Confederate Seal, one of 1,000 copies made to raise money for Southern widows and orphans. The original seal resides in the Richmond Confederate Museum.

n The Port of Charleston/CSA Custom Clearance form for the first commercial ship to leave the harbor following the surrender of Fort Sumter.

n Various militia waist belt buckles, soldier photographs, South Carolina Palmetto Armory weapons and wooden canteens, one of which was probably taken from a 33rd N.C. soldier killed at Gettysburg.

The public is warmly invited to the Malcolm Blue Farm Festival and to begin the 150th -commemoration of the American Civil War.