An interesting way for students to experience the Civil War is to personalize it for them. One way to personalize the Civil War is to allow students to experience the war through the eyes (or in this case letters and documents) of a solider. The Library of Congress has created A Solider from the Wildcat Regiment that details the life of a Union solider in the 105th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. This digital resource center contains documents, photographs and letters related to Capt. Tilton Reynolds combined with ideas and suggestions on how you can incorporate the information into your classroom.
The following is from the Library of Congress Website:
A Civil War Soldier in the Wild Cat Regiment … a Collection Connection from the Learning Page
Help your students make personal connections with history by considering the lives of a young Union soldier and his family during the Civil War. Through letters and other documents, the collection describes the drudgery of life in military camps, details of troop movements, experiences of a prisoner of war, a soldier’s view of politics, and feelings of homesickness and familial love.
Once your students read and research these primary sources, have them reflect on how they would have felt being in the same situation or perhaps receiving one of the letters from an older brother.
Just a few more simple ways to engage students in history.
Until next time…
Thank you for this great idea. My students benefited from the use of these primary sources, the idea of first-person perspective, and personal letters as they read through these letters. We wrote letters back to these soldiers as if we were family members. This activity helped bring the Civil War to life for my students.