House in the Horeshoe

A friend told us about a battle reenactment that was going to be held less than an hour from us. Anything that involves guns is a magnet for my kids.

It was a rainy day, but we bundled up to attend the battle reenactment at the House in the Horseshoe. It’s also known as the Alston House.

During the American Revolution there was division among the people living in NC, and other states as well. The Revolutionaries wanted independence, and the Tories honored the King of England. These 2 groups waged war against each other in North Carolina’s back country. One of those wars took place here. Colonel Alston and his men were camped at his house when a group of Tories attacked them. There are still bullet holes in the wall of the house. Several men died. It ultimately ended when the attackers wheeled a cart full of burning straw towards the house. They were trying to catch the house on fire. Mrs. Alston, who had been hiding in the chimney of the house with her small children came running outside waving her white henkerchief in surrender.

The reenactment left my kids speechless. There was a risk of them canceling it due to the rain because muskets don’t work in the rain. Luckily it cleared for a short time and we were able to watch the skirmish. Look at these happy history-lovers!

The reenactors camped on the property overnight. We got to tour their camps. Jefferson wants to be a reenactor one day. He was pretty fascinated with their enthusiasm and how true they are to history. Most of them wear handmade clothing. The behave and live in the way that actual men (and women) lived during that time.

Watching a woman load her musket

There were many activities for kids to participate in. Here we are learning penmanship with a quill and ink.

My kids were in awe of these costumes. I think I will need to make them a set of their own.

It was a wet and slightly miserable day, but totally worth it. We stood in the rain for several hours and left sopping wet. But we learned more about cannons and cannon balls than we ever knew existed!