North Carolina law in the 1750s required able-bodied men ages 16-60 to serve in the colony’s militia. They gathered for military training several times a year and could be called away at any time, leaving their homes and businesses to defend the colony. Fort Dobbs State Historic Site will feature living history interpreters recreating an 18th century militia muster June 30-July 1.
Military training was part of life for the citizen soldiers, and the muster re-enactment will portray residents of “Fourth Creek Settlement,” as Statesville then was known. The presentation will feature scheduled demonstrations of musket, cooking and military camp life.
The free program will run 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. For additional information, please call (704) 873-5882. Fort Dobbs is within the Division of State Historic Sites in the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.