Students get taste of Civil War era
Middle-schoolers shocked over era's social protocols
By ANN WALLACE • The Leaf-Chronicle • March 20, 2010
Pictures taken by GREG WILLIAMSON
Cannons were booming and the smell of gun powder was in the air Friday at Richview
Middle School. Re-enactors from Baxter's Battery and the 46th Tennessee Infantry set
up camp and eighth grade students had a first-hand glimpse at living history. "This is
the way to end our unit on the Civil War. This group is always impressive," said history
teacher David Thomack. Students were enthralled. "When you add guns and cannons
to it along with the smell of black powder, we seem to get their attention," re- enactor
Paul Allen said. For the re-enactors, it was a chance to share their passion. "This is
our hobby. This is what we do for fun," said Ken Curtis, emphasizing their goal is not to
politicize the Civil War. Student Ashley Newman called the excursion "different," and
13-year-old Jemima Orusa gauged the demonstrations as "very interesting." "I like
seeing and hearing in person," Jemima said.
Student Keandre Sadler agreed: "I like this
more than just reading a book." About 19
re-enactors spent the day giving
demonstrations as classes alternated
sessions at the outdoor camp site. Students marched drills as a soldier barked orders. They learned how heavy 10-pound muskets can be to tote and how both blue and gray infantrymen were expected to load and fire three shots within one minute. Girls and boys stood in disbelief as Leslie Talbott explained rules for meeting and "courting" boys during the mid-1800s. The girls were aghast when they learned the entire family would attend dances together and boys had to have letters of introduction to a girl's father in
order to ask permission to court his daughter. Boys were taken aback when they discovered it was common for boys to turn their paychecks over to the father until the boy reached the age of 21. "And the state law enforced it. Employers would be fined if they gave pay to a boy under 21 and not to his father," Talbott said. "Girls were trained to be the helpmate then," she added, "And boys were expected to be the provider." Students also learned a bit about the science used in Civil War field artillery. Curtis explained how the cornmeal is packed into the cannon after a black powder packet. "The cornmeal
slows down the reaction just enough for the black powder to expand into a louder and more powerful explosion," he said, "It's basic applied physics."
Civil War re-enactors fired cannons and demonstrated a Gatling gun, muskets and encampments on Friday at Richview Middle School.
Civil War re-enacter Leslie Talboltt explains the role of a young woman during that time to a group of Richview Middle School students. The re-enacters were at the school Friday to give demonstrations and a short history of what soldiers went through.
Baxter's Battery
Tennessee Light Artillery
