Gunboat Association to hold Civil War Living History program Saturday

The CSS Neuse Gunboat Association will hold a Civil War Living History and Encampment program at the Gov. Richard Caswell Memorial site on Saturday.

The event, which runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., will be free to the public and is located at 2612 W. Vernon Ave. The CSS Neuse Gunboat Association sponsors the program, which will encompass numerous aspects during the time of the Civil War.

“Do you love the sound of a cannon going ‘boom!’ and watching soldiers drill and fire muskets?” Program Coordinator Rachel Kennedy asked. “We will have re-enactors to demonstrate how soldiers trained for battle and the drills they practiced.”

CSS Neuse Museum Site Manager Matthew Young said the event will provide plenty of entertainment for those in attendance.

“Caswell Memorial was where the CSS Neuse used to be after it was pulled out the river before we moved it downtown in 2012,” Young said. “We do our programs out there because although it’s great to have the museum in the heart of downtown Kinston, there’s no interpretive space.

“In this program, we’ll have the Army and Navy represented, there will be a blacksmith showcasing techniques and civilians doing sewing, weaving and cooking demonstrations. We’re trying to hit aspects from 150 years ago.”

King’s Restaurant will have its food truck on site to provide visitors with lunch options. There will also be times for the cannons to be blasted (10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.) along with muskets (11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.)

For more information, contact the CSS Neuse Museum at 252-526-9600, ext. 223.