Ohio Civil War, Nationa WWI & II Show Threate MEGA Historical Event Highway MANSFIELD, Ohio— Bursting with Civil War, WWI, and WWII enthusiasts for a weekend packed with so much to see, two days were needed to enjoy all the special features. The show was a true testament that our history is not forgotten as thousands of guests filled the grounds looking for some Civil War to WWII historical education. Guests enjoyed hearing fun facts about the wars and were given an opportunity to see unique and rar memorabilia. They experienced living history encampments, cannon firing demonstrations, and even enjoyed singing along to period music. The show is a
family event that should not be missed. This was the 44th year for the grand event. The testimonials about the Show tell the real stor
Reilly’s Battery during one of th (Tom Scott)
“Wonderful Show, Year in, Year Out – GO! – Joe “Exceptional Event!” – Francie “First time I attended, very enjoyable!” – Charlene “The BEST Show in the Country” – Phil It was all that and more, anoth successful year for both dealers and guests. The Annual Ohio Civil War, WWI, and II Show is held at the 14– American Battlefield Trust 40 – Book Reviews 34 – Central Virginia Battlefiel
America’s Monthly ister Battlefield y North Carolina rchange Richland County Fairgrounds in Mansfield, Ohio, over the first weekend in May every year. Seven buildings full of military material from 1775 through 1945 form the venue. Hats off to the Williams famil that continues to manage and coordinate the Show. It takes a year, planning to contact all th dealers, and orchestrate all the added special features that have become crowd pleasers for young and old. The Williams family has a passion for history, and they come by it honestly. Don Williams originated the Show in 1977 with just a small aisle of tables and a dream to keep our
history alive. The Show quickly grew to 750+ tables with all the added outdoor features, making i an event not to be missed. The show’s favorite features
are the Civil War and WWII encampments that sprawl over the entire grounds. There were rows of cannon along the tent lines and fire pits set up for evening campsite story telling. You could hear soldiers marching in uniform step as drums beat out a traditional air. The still
H Show . . . . . . . . . . . . see page 22 – Critic’s Corner 24 – Emerging Civil Wa st 45 – Events
KINSTON, N.C.—The Wyse Fork Battlefield, Kinsto N.C., some 4,000 acres of historically significant landscap is now threatened by a proposed construction project (TIP Project R-2553 (34460) for a new interstate (I-42) that will run from Raleigh to Morehead City. The planned North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) I-42 bypass includes an intersection that will destroy the core battlefield area as defi in the National Register. The Wyse Fork Battlefield National Register District (NRD) application was submitted to the NC State Historic Preservation
Office and filed as a NRD in 2015 federally designated as a NRD in 2017, and specifically honors North Carolina’s third largest Civil War land engagement; it has several other historical and legally protected entities as wel In specifics, it would eliminate or relocate the historic Cobb House, the Union headquarters and field hospital, as well as th entire left flank of Maj. Gen. Jacob D. Cox’s defensive line, the original intersection over which the armies fought, a 1781 Revolutionary War component, and portions of two other 1864 engagements within the NRD. There are also historically significant buildings and family graveyards. The existence of mass burials associated with the 1865 battle can be projected, based on the number of casualties, Union officer accounts, and current practices of interring those kill in action. The Wyse Fork road junction is located on higher ground bordered several watercourses. The high ground is virtually surrounded by wetlands that dictated where the historical pathways that became roads traversed the landscape. The cross roads is part of a road network that minimized lower, swampy ground and provided 32 – The Gra 20 – The Sou 16 – Through
Register Core Area. a solid surface for foot, hor and wagon traffic in the past just as it does for today’s motorized vehicles. Right-ofway acquisition is slated for so the final decision on impa Wyse Fork has not yet been ma On April 30, 2022, some 50 people, chiefly from eastern North Carolina, but others fr as far away as Oregon, toured Wyse Fork NRD with specific attention paid to those areas most likely to be impacted by the project. Among the tour
NC House of Representative Chris Humphrey and Karen Nethercutt, descendant of Colonel John Nethercutt. ar
group were several descendants of soldiers who fought at Wyse Fork, including Karen Nethercu a descendant of Colonel John Nethercutt, 66th North Carolin Infantry, who also served on General Hoke’s staff and rode through intense artillery and musketry almost into the Union entrenchments on March 10, 1865. From current landowners and other local residents, it apparent that oral traditions about the battle are still com and relate to places, people, and specific events that are incompletely recorded. At the road junction the tour group was treated to a living histor presentation by Wilbur King, who portrayed his great great grandfather Sgt. John Parker Miller, Company H, 66th NC Infantry, who fought in the fi just south of Dover Road/I-70 Wyse Fork. He survived but was killed shortly after the war. Chris Humphrey, NC State Representative for Lenoir and Greene Counties, came along on the tour, representing Lenoir
H Interchange . . . . . . . . . . . see page s And That via Unfinished Fight
