FAYETTEVILLE, Tenn. —It’s an event that celebrates a nearby historical site and its contribution to history as the mustering site that afforded Tennessee the nickname, The Volunteer State. Camp Blount Volunteer Days takes place this Friday and Saturday.
Camp Blount is one of the few historical sites in Tennessee associated with the War of 1812 and it’s located near the historic Lincoln County Square on the banks of the Elk River. The location was also used in the Seminole Wars of 1818 and 1836, as well as during the Civil War.
School aged children, including home schooled kids, will be the focus of Friday’s events and the live history event will be open to the general public on Saturday. The event will feature re-enactors, craftsmen like blacksmiths and leather workers, historians, period music, and archaeologists.
This event celebrates the site’s importance as part of the War of 1812, when thousands of citizen-soldiers converged at Camp Blount to follow General Andrew Jackson to the victories at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend and the Battle of New Orleans. The Camp Blount Historic Site was created to preserve and protect the remaining 40 acres of what was once a massive locus of military activity.
The Camp Blount Historic Site Association (CBHSA), a 501(c)3 non-profit, works to preserve the local historical site and educate visitors about this prominent piece of history. The events on September 30 and October 1 are free. Organizers will accept donations and sell events t-shirts and other commemorative items. All proceeds will benefit the continued development and preservation of the Camp Blount Historic Site.
Interested schools and teachers can contact Gloria Meadows at [email protected] to arrange a time and provide a student count. Organizers will provide an educational program for all students. The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on both days.
To learn more about the southern, middle Tennessee historic site visit campblount.com. For a full list of activities, click here. The Tennessee Encyclopedia site also gives a detailed history of the site. You can also learn more at the group’s Facebook page. The exact address is 124 Huntsville Hwy Fayetteville, TN 37344. •
{The Lynchburg Times is an independently-owned, community newspaper located in Lynchburg, Tennessee the home of The Jack Daniel Distillery. We focus on public service, non-partisan, rural journalism. We cover the Metro Moore County government, local tourism, Moore County schools, high school sports, Motlow State Community College, as well as whiskey industry news and regional and state stories that affect our readers.}