Sesquicentennial ceremonies commemorate Pea Ridge battle

The Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission commemorates the 150th anniversary of the Civil War in Arkansas with events between 2011 and 2015. The Battle of Pea Ridge was fought March 6, 7 and 8, 1862.

A re-enactment of the Bentonville confrontation between Union and Confederate armies will begin the weekend activities at 10:30 a.m. Friday, March 9, on the Bentonville square.

A concert by Bobby Horton, historian, composer and multi-instrumentalist, is set for 7 p.m. Friday, March 9, in the Shewmaker Center.

Horton combines his passion for music and Civil War history, and has recorded 14 volumes of authentic Civil War tunes. He plays all of the period era instruments and sings all the parts himself. This series is sold around the world and has led to a career in film scoring and a live presentation of these songs with the stories that accompany them. Horton is widely recognized as one of the country’s leading authorities of music from the Civil War period.

The Pea Ridge National Military Park Foundation is partnering with the Pea Ridge National Military Park sponsoring the events.

Soldier encampments, battlefield talks and guided hikes, artillery and rifle-firing demonstrations and a battlefield luminary are scheduled for Saturday, March 10, on the park.