SANFORD – The first weekend of August in 2018 marked the 237th Anniversary of the historic Revolutionary War skirmish between the Tories (Loyalists) and the Whigs (Patriots) at the House in the Horseshoe, about 10 miles above Carthage.
The annual event “highlights the struggles of the back-country as the Revolutionary War engulfed North Carolina.” The historic site welcomed a multitude of activities, demonstrations, food vendors, and historical “suttlers,” at the same time giving those in attendance the opportunity to become more educated about our North Carolina history.
Some of the activities were musket and cannon firing drills, tomahawk throwing, and a wreath laying ceremony by the Sons of the American Revolution. Other demonstrations included skillet throwing, spinning, brewing 18th century beer, weaving, and firing tools in extremely hot fires.
A large group of adults and children watched attentively as the two men worked together and answered questions at the same time. One of the demonstrators said, “If you got a hammer and a file, you can make anything else.”
Several ladies called “The Midnight Midwives” gave lectures about medicinal gardens and apothecary recipes used during the Revolutionary War.
Ladies, gentlemen, and children participating in the various events were dressed in clothing appropriate to the era, in spite of the very hot weather. Many of them expressed pride in the authenticity of their outfits. Kelli Connolly and Lisa English, members of the Johnston County Militia and the Wilmington Ladies Tea Walk Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, wore beautiful dresses, bonnets, boots, and jewelry as they greeted visitors to House in the Horseshoe.
The Moore County Genealogical Society was well-represented by a group of citizens offering services such as searching for family members, family records, locating graves, accessing digitized directories, and more. Their website is www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ncmcgs/.
Daughters of the American Revolution, as well as a new chapter for Children of the American Revolution, had informational booths, answering questions about the organizations and the many services that are now available.
There are nearly 3,000 DAR chapters in all 50 states. The Daughters of the American Revolution is a “nonprofit, nonpolitical women’s volunteer service organization dedicated to promoting historic preservation, education, and patriotism.” The Children of the American Revolution seek “to acquire knowledge of American History, to preserve and restore places of historical importance, to promote the celebration of patriotic anniversaries,” as well as other objectives. The website for the Daughters of the American Revolution is www.dar.org. The Children of the American Revolution’s website is www.nscar.org.
The Alston House, also known as the House in the Horseshoe, was the home of Whig Colonel Phillip Alston. During the Revolutionary War (1775-1783) there were groups of citizens-soldiers known as Whigs or revolutionists. The Tories were still loyal to the King of England, waging irregular warfare against the Whigs in what was considered the backcountry of North Carolina.
On the morning of July 29, 1781, Alston and his band of revolutionaries were camped at his home when a large unit of Tories, led by the notorious David Fanning, attacked the house with the wife and children of Phillip Alston inside. The loyalists were planning to set the home on fire by rolling a blazing straw-filled cart against it. Mrs. Alston , being a very brave woman and mother, decided that the fighting needed to stop and went to the porch, halting the battle and negotiating a truce. Both sides suffered several casualties, and Phillip Alston surrendered. However, the homestead was saved, and the Alston family was safe. Fanning left this area, traveling with his forces to Hillsborough, the temporary capital of North Carolina, taking the governor prisoner.
The people in attendance at the actual reenactment on the afternoons of Saturday the 4th and Sunday the 5th had to be impressed with the presentation of the battle: the soldiers, the town crier, the costumes, the weapons, the loud blasts from the rifles, the smoke-filled, sulfur-smelling air, the shouts from the men as they battled, and the way Mrs. Alston marched out on the porch and put an end to the skirmish.
The House in Horseshoe State Historic Site is located at 208 Alston House Road, Sanford, NC 27330. Regular hours of operation are 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Their phone number is (910) 947-2051. A Fall Militia Muster is scheduled for October 20 from 11 a.m.- 3 p.m. The Christmas Open House is set for December 8, from 2-7 p.m. There is no charge for these events. Please feel free to call for more information.
