Annual Battle of Fort Branch

27th Annual Battle of Fort Branch, Hamilton. Site is Confederate earthen star fort overlooking Roanoke River. Battles 1:30 both days, living history, Saturday morning tactical, evening meal & dance, Sunday morning church service. All proceeds to Fort Branch preservation and restoration. Hosted by 1st N.C. Volunteers / 11th N.C. Troops.

Eleven cannon offered significant protection for the railway bridge over the river at Weldon, a weak link in the "Lifeline of the Confederacy" between Wilmington, NC and Richmond, VA. The fort also protected the nearby construction site of the ironclad ram C.S.S. Albemarle which later helped regain control of the lower Roanoke River and Albemarle Sound by sinking wooden Union ships. Citizens of the entire Upper Roanoke Valley benefited from the fort, as well.

Today, the site is the winter headquarters for the First North Carolina Volunteers, a Civil War re-enactment group. A battle re-enactment is held annually at the fort on the first weekend in November and includes a unique Living History Program. The annual events schedule often includes a springtime Living History Program and a unique Civil War Christmas celebration, as well.