Historical Encampment
Where can you find Scots and Celts from all centuries? Where can you find Revolutionary War folks, military and civilian, and Vikings? The Historical Encampment at Rural Hill! The camp time line extends from 200 A.D. to 1781 A.D including Jacobites, Colonial Militia, and the cream of the British Light Infantry, the Hesse Kassel Jaeger Korps.

Our Militia camp will re-enact 18th century life in the Colonies; the Jaegers will present military life in the 18th Century British Army. Blacksmiths and a Wood Wright will be demonstrating their craft all weekend. The Austlend Vikings will be present to demonstrate life in 11th Century Viking England. While you are at the Rural Hill Scottish Festival and Loch Norman Highland Games take a few steps back in time and visit the Historical Encampment!

The Hesse-Kassel Jäger Korps

In the spring of 1780 the Jaegers exceptional training and experience was seen here in the Carolinas where they fought in the siege parallels at Charleston while serving as the Engineers directing the Siege. Later they marched north with Lord Cornwallis when he moved into North Carolina. In February of 1781 when Lord Cornwallis crossed the Catawba River in his rapid pursuit of Nathaniel Greene and Daniel Morgan, the Jaegers passed close to Rural Hill. The Hesse Kassel Jaeger Korps will demonstrate 18th Century Fire Making, Crime & Punishment and display many exceptional and rarely seen flintlocks used by the Crown forces, including Nock’s Volley Gun, Shoulder fired mortars and the Ferguson breech loading flintlock Rifle.

The Catawba Militia

The militiamen recreate an American Revolutionary War militia unit from the western frontier of North Carolina as it was ca. 1780. The unit focuses on living history interpretations of typical 18th century skills in order to promote better understanding of daily life on the North Carolina frontier. A hands-on experience for visitors, especially children is emphasized through such activities as rope making, candle dipping, and drill demonstrations.