2008 Student History Encampment

It is 1865 and the country is divided. The South has been invaded in an effort to force the seceding states back into the Union at the point of a bayonet. In Alabama and the surrounding states, men of all ages have left their homes and families to fight advancing Union troops. A Detachment of Raiders under the command of Union General Lovell H. Rousseau has earlier approached Tallassee from the East and reeked havoc, as they rampaged over plantations and pillaged private property near Cheehaw Station. Now, Union General Wilson's Cavalry is approaching from the West, after defeating General Forrest in Selma. Both attempts by these Union Force's to locate and destroy the Confederate Armory in Tallassee where the Tallassee Carbine is being manufactured, and the adjacent Tallassee Falls Manufacturing Company, where fabric for tents and Confederate uniforms is being made, have failed.

On Friday, October 31st, 2008 you and your students can join the troops and help defend the Confederate Armory in Tallassee!

This program is designed to be an exciting and dynamic experience as students learn about the Civil War through a variety of hands-on activities.

Enlisting

• Those attending will learn: the requirements for being a Civil War soldier.
• They will see and learn about the supplies issued to the soldiers and how soldiers survived under harsh conditions.
  

Period Camplife

• Your students will learn about the living conditions of the soldiers on both sides of the conflict.
• They may roll a bedroll as the soldiers did, or they may actually pitch a tent and set up camp.
• While sitting around a campfire, students will learn what Civil War soldiers ate and how they prepared their food.
• Participating school children may even gather firewood or help prepare a typical soldier's meal.
  

Equipment - Officers and Enlisted Men

• Your school group will view campsites of officers and enlisted men and learn about the differences.

Sutlers

• They will learn what sutlers were and what part they played in the War.
• Students who have Confederate money can buy goods and supplies here as the soldiers did, or learn what the options were when they had no money.
  

Marching and Drilling

• At this station your kids will have an opportunity to watch infantry marching and drilling maneuvers and.........
• some students will be able to join with the infantry, in rank, and participate by following marching orders of the commander.
  

Artillery

• Your group will see how a cannon is loaded and fired, and see the variety of actual projectiles that were used in each different cannon with such devastation during the war.

Medicine

• This station depicts how injuries inflicted during battle and illnesses during that time in our history were treated.Period medical treatment and surgical techniques used on the battlefield are brought to literal reality by our period medical team.
• Students may be asked to assist the surgeon during an operation or be a pretend patient.
• Among other aspects of early medicine they will learn that nursing began during the "War between the States" and that battlefield injuries resulted in the beginning of the ambulance corps.
  

Transportation

• Our living history program has a wide variety of horse drawn transportation for the children to see, and gives them an opportunity to learn about the different types of wagons and horse drawn implements used during the period and the role each had.
• Students may have the opportunity to load a wagon with supplies for the troops or get up close and friendly with one of the horses.

Music

• Here is where your students will learn about the music of the period and the importance music played in the life of not only the soldiers, but as entertainment for civilians as well.
• Students will see and hear period songs played and sung using authentic period instruments and may even be asked to join in on the singing.
  

Period Dress

• Your kids will see the fashions of the day worn by real people and will learn about what soldiers and civilians wore during the 1860s.
• They will even have an opportunity to try on some of the clothing of the period, from hats to hoops.

Period Dance

• At this station in the barn we demonstrate the Virginia Reel one of the most popular dances of the period. Volunteers from your class can participate with our period dancers and learn the Virginia Reel.

 

MORE INFORMATION ON SCHOOL DAY REGISTRATION COMING SOON!