Upcoming Events
'Naval Rendezvous' history set for November 16
When the CSS Ram Neuse was commissioned 160 years ago, the ironclad gunboat was still short of crewmen. To remedy the shortage of manpower, a recruiting event, held in Kinston and called a Naval Rendezvous, took place.
The name of the event may sound odd to us today, but "naval rendezvous" was the correct term for a recruiting drive sponsored by any individual naval ship or shore station. The current practice of dispatching naval recruits from a regional training camp was far into the future.
Re-creating such recruitment is appropriate for a living history event, and the 2024 re-creation of the "Naval Rendezvous" will take place at the CSS Neuse II on Saturday, Nov. 16.
Since this event is taking place in Kinston, what was then the frontlines of the Confederacy in this part of North Carolina, the event allows for the presence of soldiers as well as sailors.
Our re-creation will be largely imaginary but will feature an enlistment officer, drilling of new recruits, and various naval and military demonstrations through the day, In addition, crew members will be stationed at key points in the boat
Make plans to take in some of the local history of our area during this living history event.
The name of the event may sound odd to us today, but "naval rendezvous" was the correct term for a recruiting drive sponsored by any individual naval ship or shore station. The current practice of dispatching naval recruits from a regional training camp was far into the future.
Re-creating such recruitment is appropriate for a living history event, and the 2024 re-creation of the "Naval Rendezvous" will take place at the CSS Neuse II on Saturday, Nov. 16.
Since this event is taking place in Kinston, what was then the frontlines of the Confederacy in this part of North Carolina, the event allows for the presence of soldiers as well as sailors.
Our re-creation will be largely imaginary but will feature an enlistment officer, drilling of new recruits, and various naval and military demonstrations through the day, In addition, crew members will be stationed at key points in the boat
Make plans to take in some of the local history of our area during this living history event.