CHARLOTTE, NC -- An annual civil war reenactment held in late October at Historic Brattonsville has been called off this year in a move organizers say is out of concern for the safety of visitors and reenactors.

The Civil War Reenactment at Historic Brattonsville, a living history Revolutionary War site in rural South Carolina's York County, was originally scheduled for Oct. 28 and Oct. 29. The event has been held for nearly three decades even though no Civil War battle occurred in the county, the AP reported.

"We continue to believe that military reenactments are an effective tool for teaching history to the public," said Carey Tilley, executive director of Culture and Heritage Museums, in a statement explaining the decision. "[H]owever, in light of the fact that there were no Civil War battles at Historic Brattonsville, the historical and educational benefits are outweighed by the potential danger and risk to public safety of hosting the event in the current political climate," he said.

"We also believe that the current National discussion surrounding the Civil War creates a greater sense of urgency for us to step back and reflect on our Civil War programming to ensure that going forward it aligns more closely with the site mission at Historic Brattonsville in linking the story of those tumultuous years to the actual Brattonsville community – including those who were enslaved there," Tilley said.

In the wake of violence that broke out in Charlottesville, Va. between white supremacists and protesters, memorials for the war between the states -- from statues aggrandizing Confederate leaders to reenactments -- are receiving deep scrutiny across the country. A reenactment originally scheduled in Manassas, Va., for example, was canceled in late August, The Washington Post recently reported.

"We plan this event all throughout the year, and to cancel now, it's hard," reenactor Vernon Terry told WSOC. "It's a decision we're not happy with, but we'll have to live with," reenactor Mike Short echoed to the station. "To say we're extremely disappointed is an extreme understatement," he said.

Photo via Pixabay

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