Civil War, Part 4: 1863

Readings

Part IV: When Abraham Lincoln was a Lawyer from Illinois

Kingfisher, pgs 346-353

Monday: Timeline

1848-1861
Franz Josef
First World's Fair
Napoleon III
Richard Wagner
Mark Twain
Nana Sahib
Florence Nightingale
Oil Well
Jenny Lind
Stephen Foster
Japan and Perry
Harriet Beecher Stowe
Victor Emmanuel II
Woodrow Wilson
Wilhelm
Theodore Roosevelt
Hans Christian Andersen
Stephen Douglas
Jefferson Davis
Willie and Tad Lincoln

Tuesday: Telegraph Office

President issues proclamation to free slaves.
Lincoln signs first Draft Law.
Lee wins Pyrrhic victory at Chancellorsville.
Gettysburg is crucial to victory; Lee retreats.
Mississippi fortress of Vicksburg falls to Grant.
Draft riots erupt in New York City.
Confederates win savage battle at Chickamauga.
President issues Thanksgiving Proclamation.
Lincoln delivers address at Gettysburg.
Union forces win Chattanooga.

Field Trip

Gettysburg, PA

Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center is open 8 am - 6 pm April - October and Park Roads are open 6 am - 10 pm and Soldiers' National Cemetery is open Dawn - Dusk.
From November - March, the Museum & Visitor Center is open 9 am - 5 pm, the Park Roads are open 6 am - 7 pm and the Soldiers' National Cemetery is open Dawn - Dusk.

Entry to the park and visitor center is FREE OF CHARGE
There is a fee for the film "A New Birth of Freedom" at the Museum and Visitor Center, and there are additional fees for Licensed Battlefield Guides and the David Willis house.

Hands-On Activity

Reenactment of Pickett's Charge

If you have enough people, you can reenact this will actors, if not, your student can use plastic soldiers and either take pictures or a video. There is a beginning monologue, but the rest of the action should be described by the student. He should write his script in advance.

Narrator: It is July 3, 1863. For about two hours Southern gunners have sent a firestorm of artillery shells against the Union at a point called The Angle. These guns, however, have not fallen silent. Union Commander George Meade thinks the imminent attack will be a frontal assault on The Angle. He and his men are ready. The stillness is ominous. 

1. Confederate troops start moving forward. (If using actors, start the Confederates 175-200 yards away and have them move at a rate of about 1 yard every second.)
2. All Rebs release their best rendition of the Rebel yell and yell it several times over the course of the battle.
3. Two or three Rebel soldiers are hit and fall to the ground dead; one Union man falls dead.
4. Two or three more Rebs are hit and fall to the ground dead. One is carrying the colors. Another Red picks up the flag and moves forward.
5. A Confederate officer with his sword drawn says, "Home, boys, home. Remember home is over beyond those hills." Two Union boys fall dead.
6. One or two more Rebs fall, one is shot in the chest, another receives a fatal head wound.
7. All Union troops chant several times, "Fredericksburg! Fredericksburg! Fredericksburg!"
8. One Union officer yells, "Glory to God! Glory to God! See the Vermonters go at it!"
9. One Union officer yells, "See 'em! See 'em!"
10. One Union officer yells, "Fire! Fire! Another says, "Come on, boys. Give them the cold steel! Who will follow me? One Union soldier falls dead.
11. The remaining Rebel army turns around and retreats quickly to the woods where they began.
12. General Pickett puts his hands to his forehead and shakes his head in disgust and grief.
13. All Union troops cheer enthusiastically for several seconds to several minutes.
14. General Lee flits back and forth, telling his troops as they return to the woods, "It's all my fault...all my fault."

Culture

Wednesday: Poetry

Research and read poetry composed during the Civil War. (Walt Whitman 's O Captain, My Captain is an example.) Can you write a poem with a Civil War theme?

Thursday: Delivering a Speech

The Gettysburg Address

Have your student deliver this speech, hopefully in costume.

Civil War, Part 3: 1862

Readings

PART III: When Abraham Lincoln Kept Store in Illinois

Kingfisher, pgs 340-345

Field Trip

Antietam /Sharpsburg

Monday: Timeline

1830-1848
Andrew Jackson
Chicago
William Lloyd Garrison
Charles Dickens
Postage Stamps
Black Hawk
Texas
Boers Great Trek
Oregon Trail
China, Hong Kong
Victoria
Louis Philippe
Clipper Ships
Rubber
Telegraph
Ether
Matches
Bathtubs
War with Mexico
Zachary Taylor
Winfield Scott
Gold
Steamships
Photography

Tuesday: Telegraph Office

Battle between ironclad ships ends in a draw.
Grant wins decisive battle at Shiloh.
Admiral Farragut captured New Orleans for Union.
Federal Homestead Law signed.
Stonewall's classic offensive highlights Shenandoah campaign.
McClellan loses Seven Days 'Battle;  Lee could seize momentum.
Confederates win Second Bull Run battle.
Sioux uprising put down in Minnesota.
Bloody Antietam gives Union victory.
Union disaster at Fredericksburg;  Burnside replaced.

Wednesday: Journal

Write a one page narrative describing a chance encounter your character had with someone  (or something ) famous during the Civil War. Perhaps you were at Ford's Theater, or  you ran into a congressman with a box lunch at the first Battle of Bull Run or perhaps you heard Lincoln deliver his Address...use your imagination. You will need to do some research before writing this entry.

Thursday: Projects

Begin Civil War Museum display. Research something that was in important person place or thing in the Civil War and construct a display as if it were to go in a museum. It could be a diorama, a video production or a visual presentation. Visit museums to research how information is presented in a professional manner. Observe how captions, titles, models, pictures and documents are used in the displays. Plan carefully. Your presentation should be both accurate and entertaining. Think about colors, borders, lettering, labels, and the use of audio or video components. Use bright and contrasting colors.Try to limit the written word on your display, while at the same time conveying all the key elements. Use many visuals such as pictures, props or maps. Your presentation must have:

• a neat and clear title
• borders and mats around pictures, captions and maps
• precise lettering
• lots of visuals. Try to keep the word limit to about 500 words. Use pictures, drawings, maps, timelines and props to convey the information.
• Integrate into your display audio or video components.

Civil War Culture

Friday: Music

Listen to recordings of songs people sang during the Civil War. (Dixie. The Bonnie Blue Flag, John Brown's Body, Marching Through Georgia,  Battle Hymn of the Republic, When Johnny Comes Marching Home). If you are musically inclined,  can you compose a Civil War song?

Hands-on History

Baseball

If you have a large enough group to play, baseball the way it was played then would be so much fun! Gloves, masks and other specialized equipment were not used. The ball was, instead a tightly wound ball of twine and bats were long pieces of wood.

Civil War, part 2: 1861

Reading

part II: When Abraham Lincoln was a Boy in Indiana

Kingfisher,  pgs 322-329

Monday: Timeline

1815-1830
Noah Webster
Monroe Doctrine
Simon Bolivar
Sequoia
John Adams
Harriet Beecher Stowe
John James Audubon
Washington Irving
Benito Juarez
Charles Dickens
Victoria
Charles Darwin
William  Gladstone
David Livingston
George Stephenson
Naosuke II
Garibaldi
Leopold
Lion Hong Zhang

Field Trip

Manassas /Bull Run National Battlefield, Virginia

Tuesday: Telegraph Office

Research and include at least 3 supporting details for these headlines in the form of a Telegram.
Seven Southern states secede from the Union.
Jefferson Davis is the new president of CSA.
Abe Lincoln inaugurated 16th president.
Rebels shell Fort Sumter!
President Lincoln calls for 75,000 volunteers.
Robert E.Lee turns down Union Command
First casualties of war are in Baltimore riots.
Richmond, Virginia becomes new CSA capital.
A hero's death helps Union to secure Alexandria.
Confederates feast on Union civilian lunches after victory at Bull Run.
First income tax in US history levied in North.
Wilson Creek battle extends war in the west.
McClellan is new army chief.

Wednesday: Research

Write an in-depth analysis of your state during the war. What was this state's position and what was the war's impact on it?

Begin work on Presentations project. You may pick one from this list or come up with your own project.

Thursday: Photography

Research Mathew Brady or Alexander Gardner to find examples of Civil War photography. Then, using the style of 19th century photographers, create your own Civil War pictures by staging scenes or posing soldiers that you photograph with your own camera.

Friday: Hands-On History: Marching and Drilling

This needs to be done with a group of students,  but the group doesn't have to be that large. I have done it with three students before. It is a great activity to do in a co-op.
Organize students into two lined with each line 13 inches apart from the row in front of them. Students in each line should be touching shoulders of the persons to the left and right.
The teacher yells,"Company,  attention! "
Students are to stand straight,  facing forward, heels together and the rest of their feet at a 4-5 degree angle. Their arms are to be relaxed with  the pinky of each hand angling their jacket hem. Their head and shoulders are back and facing straight ahead. If they have a weapon,  it is resting at their sides, holding it between their thumb and forefinger along the tight side with the butt resting next to their right foot.

Teacher yells, "Company,  in place, rest!"
Students keep their left foot in place and slide their right foot behind their left in order to form a T. They hold their hands in front, left, over right, relaxed.

Teacher can now roll call soldiers,  if desired. Students respond with "Here, Sir!"

Teacher commands, "Right, face."
Students, two at a time, turn right, the second set, stepping into the space left by the first set.

Teacher yells, "Front" and students move back in previous formation.

Teacher yells, "Forward,  march!" Students step out with their left feet. Teacher keeps rhythm with, "Left, right, left right..."

When marching with a weapon,  teacher should first give the command, "Shoulder, arms!" Students should hold the weapon off the ground with their index and middle finger under the trigger guard. At the command,  "Right shoulder shift, arms," and students should  bring their weapons up to their right shoulder and carry it flat against the shoulder,  holding the rifle under the bottom with their right hand.

When the students are to halt on the march, the command to slide the weapon back to the ground is, "Order, arms!"

Civil War, part 1, The Coming of the War

part 1, The Coming of the War

Reading

Abraham Lincoln's World, Genevieve Foster, Abraham Lincoln is Born, The Story Begins, and part I: When Abraham Lincoln was Born in Kentucky

Kingfisher History Encyclopedia, pgs 318-321

Timeline

Make a timeline that includes the years 1800-1815. Add the following people to the timeline in the appropriate places.You must decide whether you are going to add them at their birth time, death time or when they made their greatest impact on history, or all of these.

Napoleon

Beethoven

Dumas

Wellington

Nelson Bucher

Alexander I

Victor Hugo

Thomas Jefferson

Robert Fulton

John Marshall

James Madison

Tecumseh

Henry Clay

Daniel Webster

John Calhoun

Francis Scott Key

Andrew Jackson

The Constitution /Old Ironsides

George III

Role-Play: Making Characters

For this scenario,  you will be making two characters. One will be the field army identity,  a soldier (always male), whatever rank you decide to be and the second will be a home identity, who is a wife, sister, brother,  father,  mother, son, daughter or whoever you want this character to be. The only requirement is that this character must be close to the field army identity. Determine the names, ages, relationships, rank or occupation, family, Hometown, education, character traits and opinion on slavery for both characters.

Write a one page autobiography, fleshing out the character statistics. Fabricate your character's life up to 1861 when the war breaks out.

Journal Writing

• Each entry should be between 3/4 to a full page.
• Each entry should be dated parallel to the events of the week. For example, if you are studying the year 1860, then your entry should be dated sometime in 1860 and the events in the entry should be seasonally appropriate to the month you have picked.
• You should write two entries a week, one from the field identity, and one from the home identity.
• Fill your entries with the things learned about -the events, people and life from the Civil War era. Your writing should always be historically accurate. Each entry should include at least 4 historical facts learned during the week. Highlight the facts with a highlighter pen.
• Try to write as you might write to a relative today but do not use modern slang or references to inventions and conveniences not yet in use or people not yet born. The tone should be conversational.
• Stay in character when you write, referencing the reactions to the events taking place through the character's eyes.

Vocabulary 

Use these words in this week's journal.

Abolitionist

Battery

Cartridge box

Deploy

Envelopment

Flanks

Hardtack

Main attack

Rank

Salt pork

Yank

Telegrams

Each week you will be researching information about the events of the war and condensing them into a brief and interesting telegram to include in your notebook. This week research what was going on in the year 1860 (and before, if you wish) and jot down some of your own conclusions about how what happened before the war, led up to the start of the Civil War. You will have to condense what you have learned into about three facts that you could write in a telegram form.

Map

On an appropriate map :

• Color and label the seeding states in 1861, which made up the Confederacy. Locate the capital. Draw the Confederate flag.
• Color and label the Northern states which fought as the Union. Locate the capital. Draw the Union flag.
• Label the four border states.
• Label the major rivers and mountain ranges in the Confederacy and border states.
• Label the major bodies of water touching the Confederate states
• Label Fort Sumter and add add the date of when the war began.
• Label these major battles:
• Battle of Manassas /Bull Run
• Battle of Antietam /Sharpsburg
• Battle of Gettysburg
• Sherman s March
• Appomattox Court House 

Newspaper Article

Research and write a newspaper article with the headline about the shelling of Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861.

Civil War Presentations Projects

• Write a mini play on one significant event during the Civil War. You may act out all the roles yourself, using quick costume changes and different voices, or you may organize a cast.
• Research both Confederate and Union flags used in the war and replicate an authentic flag.
• Find and make a recipe from the South and one from the north, authentic to the Civil War time period.
• Research uniforms and present the information you learn graphically and create a presentation to explain the information.
• Research Civil War maps in terms of their use and accuracy and create a presentation comparing a Civil War era map to a modern map of the same area.
• Make a diorama of a famous battle or event.
• Research artillery pieces and how effective they were in the war, and create a presentation to convey what you have learned. 
• Research hats of both soldiers and civilians. Discuss them in terms of both fashion and function.
• Research the music of the era. Include the background to one of the pieces.
• Research doctors, medical personnel, medical tools and supplies. Compare to modern methods.
• Research Matthew Brady, Timothy O'Sullivan and photography of the era. Show examples of their work.
• Research Civil War money. Both sides had trouble financing the war. What role did inflation play in the Union victory?
• Compare two generals, one Union and one Confederate, other than Lee or Grant. What common threads run through the biographies of both men?
• Research spies of the war. What made an effective spy? How difficult was it to detect spies in a civil war where both sides are nearly identical in dress and language?
• Research drill manuals. Demonstrate how soldiers drilled in preparation for battle.
• Research Lincoln's speeches during the war. Give an analysis of one of them and recite it in costume.
• Create a re-enactment of a famous event in Civil War history and film it with you as the narrator explaining the action.
• Research artists, sketch artists and painters who worked during the Civil War. Compare and contrast two of the works.
• Research recruitment posters of the war. Make one of your own using the techniques you believe were most effective, and explain your choices.
• Research the Red Cross during the Civil War and Clara Barton's contribution to the organization.
• Research inventions of the war. Which aided one side or the other? Which dramatically altered history? Which have changed little over the years to the 21st century?
• Research ironclads and how they were used by both navies in the war.
• Research the role of the bugler and the drummer in the armies of both sides. Perform one of the era's tunes or either drum or bugle.
• Research prisons of the Civil War, and make a presentation on them in general or one or two specifically.
• Research fortification techniques used by both sides. Begin your research with abatis, palisades and chevaux-de-frise.
• Take an event of the Civil War, explain what happened and then write an alternate history, a "what if" based on something dramatic changing the event.
• Research the rioting in Baltimore, and then compare it with a similar protest, like Kent State in 1970.
• Research bayonets and make a presentation on them.
• Research the role of the African American soldier.
• Write a history of blockage runners in the Civil War. 



John Wilkes Booth Escape Tour

• Research Lincoln's assassination. If possible, take a field trip to Ford's Theater or the John Wilkes Booth Escape Tour. 
• Research Sherman's March to the Sea. Using maps and illustrations or photographs explain why it took place and what happened.
• Research the role of your state in the Civil War. Take photographs of as many of the sights as you can.
• Research censorship in the war.
• Research the role of religion and chaplains in the war. Research the US Christian Commission and its role.
• Research pistols and rifles used in the war. Show how they were used.
• Research conscientious objectors and how both governments dealt with them.
• Research desertion and deserters. Why did they desert and how did both governments deal with them.
• Research corps badges and make a visual presentation of the information.
• Research Lincoln's actions during the war that could be labeled "unconstitutional." Did these actions make him a dictator?
• Research the role of submarines in the Civil War. How were they important?
• Research the role of the foreign-born soldier in the Civil War. Which side benefited the most from them? What kinds of incentives were offered?
• Research the origins of the Medal of Honor during the Civil War.
• Research the Copperheads and the Peace Societies and present your findings of these dissidents organizations.
• Research the role of Allan Pinkerton and the Secret Service during the Civil War.

See more of The American Civil War curriculum, sources and resources here.

The Civil War and President Lincoln {1861-1865}

Quentin, September 2010

 Ever since I can remember my boys have love learning and playing all about the Civil War. They regularly dress-up and pretend to be soldiers in the war...

and reenact battles with toy soldier sets.

Quentin, in particular, loves to get everything exactly the way it was then, and so regularly looks at books on the Civil War.

A New Twist on an Old Game

So they could learn about Civil War weapons, we have played a War Card Game variation using cards with different types of weapons on them...

Playing War Games...or which is larger...a platoon or a battalion?

and another with military groupings on them.

Arms and Armaments of the Civil War card game

April 12, 1861

Fort Sumter, South Carolina

They have heard and seen pictures of our honeymoon in Charleston, South Carolina and our touring Fort Sumter. (Yes, we are the couple that spent our honeymoon touring museums.)

July 21, 1861 and August 1862

Manassas Battlefield, Virginia

We imagined what it would have been like at the Battles at Manassas.

July 1-3, 1863

The Battle at Gettysburg

We have walked through the Battle at Gettysburg step-by-step at our field trip to Gettysburg, PA.

Alex's notebook page (age 18, special education)

We have made pages in our notebooks about President Lincoln.

Strawberry Soiree 

We have had a Strawberry Soiree, just like Mrs. Lincoln.

Ivory Soap

In 1837 Mr. Proctor and Mr. Gamble began making and selling soap and candles. During the Civil War government contracts to provide the Union Army with soap and candles kept the factory busy. In 1879 Mr. Gamble’s son developed Ivory Soap. You can see how different Ivory soap is from other soaps by doing an experiment.

So, this time we studied the Monitor and the Merrimac and the Civil War on the sea.

books

• The Monitor and Merrimac, R. Conrad Stein, " An account of the naval duel fought in the Chesapeake Bay between the opposing ironclads of the North and the South that changed shipbuilding forever and affected the course of the Civil War."
• Lincoln: A Photobiography, Russell Freedman
• George Washington Carver, David Collins; (4th grade/age 9 and up) Although Caver's career was long after the Civil War, Carver helped to rebuild the war-torn South by offering alternative crops after the boll weevil devastated the cotton crop. This is a biography of this amazing man.

inspiration and sources:

• Johnny Cakes from Civil War Cooking: The Union at Only Small Things
• Civil War Trails at Civil War Traveler
• Civil War Links from The Forest Room
• Civil War Lapbook at Dynamic 2 Moms
• Who Owns the Sun? at Delightful Learning
• Loading an Enfield Rifle at The Hmmm...schooling Mom

Postcard-Geography Album: Virginia, "Old Dominion"

"The name Virginia was first applied by Sir Walter Raleigh and Queen Elizabeth I in 1584. After the English Civil War in the mid 17th century, the Virginia Colony was nicknamed "The Old Dominion" by King Charles II for its perceived loyalty to the English monarchy during the era of the Commonwealth of England." -wikipedia

This week's postcards are from a trip we took through Virginia three years ago. The postcards are from Luray Caverns and Natural Bridge. We have also visited Virginia Safari Park, Skyline Drive, Assateague Island and Manassas Battlefield. Virginia has a lot of places to visit.

 We colored in a map of Virginia which includes products from the state, the state bird, the Cardinal and the state tree and flower, the Dogwood. (We did a Dogwood project for North Carolina, which could also be done for this state.)

 We colored in Virginia on our map and talked about its proximity to our state, Maryland. Of course, these two states also share the Chesapeake Bay.

Sam drew his own map.

Alex's history journal

We learned about George Washington's...

Alex's sketch in his journal

home, Mount Vernon, which is in Virginia.
We also noted that it was one of the first 13 colonies and that it was the 10th state to be ratified by the Constitution.

"From Arlington National Cemetery (once part of Robert E. Lee's homestead) to magnificent Monticello, Virginia has always had a prominent place in American history. Jamestown, Williamsburg and even the Pentagon are just a few of the many places highlighted in "O is for Old Dominion." Readers will also be introduced to such history makers as George Washington, Patrick Henry, and Booker T. Washington."

Since apples are the state's biggest product, we made Crockpot Applesauce.
Virginia is also famous for her country hams, and "red-eye" gravy is made from the drippings of pan-fried country ham and black coffee. Grits is a corn-based porridge very popular in the southern United States. Corn is a crop native to America. Collard greens, cooked southern-style originated with African slaves. 
Sweet tea is the staple drink of the Southern United States. Naming cakes and cookies in honor of Civil War heroes on both sides was a common practice in the years following the war. The Robert E. Lee cake is a orange and lemon layer cake.

We have "visited" 29 states with our postcard-geography album.
We still need postcards for these states:

Mississippi, New Jersey, Vermont, Wyoming.
If you live in any of these states and would like to help us with this project, please leave a comment on how I can get in touch with you. Thank you!

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Civil War: The Battle at Gettysburg

Wednesday, July 1, 1863

Looking North from McPherson's Ridge

The fighting began early on July 1 as Union Cavalry attempted to hold off the Confederate advance west of Gettysburg. At around 10:30 am the Union I Corps arrived and relieved General Buford's cavalrymen.

Reynold's Woods with Reynold's Marker

By the afternoon, however, the Confederates were and attacking west and north of town. The Union I and XI Corps were forced to retreat through town and up to the high ground known as Cemetery Hill, south of Gettysburg.

Thursday, July 2, 1863

The second day of battle saw fighting on both ends of the Union line.

Confederate General James Longstreet led the main thrust of attacks

Big and Little Round Top

on the left end of the Union Army, attacking in the areas around...From the Crest of Little Round Top

Little Round Top, At Devil's Den, Looking out at Valley of Death and Bloody Run

Devil's Den, Top of Devil's Den, Looking Toward the Wheatfield

the Wheatfield and the...The Peach Orchard

Peach Orchard.

With an attack on the extreme Union left turned back... Extreme Union Left at Little Round Top

at Little Round Top,

the fighting concluded on the left,

the hostilities quickly shifted to the far right end of the Union line with Confederate assaults on...View from Culp's Hill Observation Tower

Culp's Hill and East Cemetery Hill.

Friday, July 3, 1863

The final day of the conflict started early when the Federals launched attacks...View of Gettysburg from Culp's Hill

at the base of Culp's Hill,

attempting to retake earthworks that had been lost the evening before.

The fighting lasted nearly seven hours. By late morning, the Union Army had retaken their trenches and the Confederates on that end of the battlefield were spent.

Following a brief lull, Lee launched his final attack, Left end of the Angle

Pickett's Charge. The Angle

The Virginians led the way, as the Confederates attempted and...

High Water Mark of the Confederacy

failed to crush the center of the Union line.

Meanwhile we are reading this.

A Learning Twist on an Old Game

James and Sam play the Civil War Weapons game.

We are studying the Civil War this week. Today we played a version of the old card game "war," but these cards had names of weapons on them instead of numbers. They are learning which weapons are more or less powerful by looking at a ranking list and determining which wins in a skirmish. For example Sam might put down an Breech-Loading Rifle card and James, a Small Mortar Card. Since the Mortar is more powerful, he would win Sam's card that round.