April 12th, 1861 began one of the most uncertain times in the history of our still young country-the United States of America. The nations was just beginning a five year stretch when cannons and muskets would literally rip communities and families apart. When I used to think about the Civil War, it was easy for me to focus on slavery as the main issue — and it’s certainly true, we were quite divided on the subject, having 19 free states and 15 slave states at the time. Disagreement over the “right” to own another human was definitely a hot topic, yet it was so much more than that! As a nation of then-34 states, we faced the real possibility of the country itself being permanently fractured.
Discussing these turbulent years with our children is important because, through studying the past, we can hopefully pave a better future. Finding great books like Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt (find the Audible version here) is a wonderful way to introduce the Civil War to your children.
This year, we took things one step further in our homeschooling. Using toy soldiers, spit-wad cannons, and pom-pom cannon balls, we reenacted a Civil War battle. Since the Battle of Gettysburg in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, is one of the most pivotal and famous of the war, we chose to focus on it.
To try and cover each infantry and every battle would take many books, but let’s fast forward from 1861: the war had been raging for two years already when on July 1st, 1863, the Union troops accidentally stumbled across a Confederate infantry brigade. The Union army opened fire … and the historic Battle of Gettysburg began. Overnight, reinforcements on both sides had poured into the area to fight. Exhausted, ill-fed men, battered by their previous movements and war endeavors, prepared to give their all for the cause they believed in. The town of Gettysburg itself, just 3 miles away, likely huddled behind closed doors praying to survive the next few days. With only 1400 yards between the two armies, the noise and chaos would have been impossible to ignore. I’m sure there were soldiers marching and cannons rolling through the town’s streets at any given time of the day.
Having recently observed a Civil War reenactment where just three cannons were fired, I can hardly imagine the deafening sound of hundreds of cannons going off simultaneously.
In this battle in particular, the Confederate army was led by General George Pickett. For three days, the Confederates steadily battled and attempted to advance General Robert E. Lee’s Northward invasion. The Union army was led by General John Buford and Major General George Meade. Meade was strategically positioned on Cemetery Ridge. On July 3rd, in a last-ditch effort known as Pickett’s Charge, the Confederates boldly marched out and attacked the ridge suffering horrible losses. The battle eventually crashed into hand-to-hand combat that didn’t end until over half of the Confederate troops lay dead or wounded on the battlefield. With no fresh infantries to step up, the Confederates knew they couldn’t win and began to fall back.
Both sides are tragically said to have lost over 23,000 men each, and in terms of casualties, this battle is still the United States’ most costly to date. After the horrible bloodshed, on July 4th, 1863, the Confederates began their retreat South. Although there would be other battles and fighting for another two years ahead, the tide had turned. The fear of the Confederates successfully invading and taking over the North had been quashed.
Because of the great loss on this battlefield, the Soldier’s National Cemetery was created in Gettysburg. President Lincoln was asked to come and give a speech for the dedication. Even though the war was still underway, Lincoln recognized the importance of the Battle of Gettysburg and accepted the invitation. On November 19th, 1863, he delivered the famous speech beginning with “Fourscore and seven years ago…” — known to all of us as the Gettysburg Address — to more than 15,000 people in less than two minutes. Short but powerful, it has echoed throughout many a classroom and all of time since. (Click here to read the Gettysburg Address.)
Perhaps you live close to a Civil War battlefield. If so, I highly recommend finding out if/when they hold reenactments, as they are very educational and fascinating to attend.
For a home reenactment, pick a battle and have your children take turns being on both the winning and losing sides. I happened to have a set, similar to this one, of blue and gray Civil War soldiers including little plastic tents, cannons, horses, and soldiers, but any toy soldiers could work. You could use Lego men or even handmade acorn people in a pinch. It doesn’t have to be a costly set, just something that sparks the imagination. 
Have a set of Lincoln Logs sitting around? Help your children make a few cabins to set up the town nearest your battlefield. Our little plastic cannons don’t really shoot, so I let each of my kids set out their men and taking turns throw little pom-poms towards the “enemy.” We did happen upon a small wooden cannon that shoots paper spit-wad cannons at the Pea Ridge Battlefield reenactment we attended, so they took turns using that, as well. Once the firing ceased, any men that had been knocked over were carried off the battlefield to be “buried” or placed in a makeshift infirmary.
Feel free to follow the historic account of the battle, or even make up fanciful endings of your own. As long as your children know and understand what really happened, there’s no reason why you cannot let their imaginations flow as to what could have gone differently.
Take a few minutes to talk about the sadness of war, but be sure to stress thankfulness for the freedoms we enjoy in our country.
Do you have family or acquaintances in the military today? Have your children take a minute to send them a message thanking them for their sacrifice.
There are so many ways that engaging your children’s imagination can enhance learning. Enjoy your living room history!
