The Smoke And Noise Of Battle Move

From The Page To The Playground

he smoke from the muskets filtered around the three men who arrived at the Newtown Middle School to set up camp as if they were going to battle in the Civil War.

Middle school eighth graders journey to Gettysburg and Washington, D.C., this week to learn about the Civil War and other chapters of our nation’s history. In preparation for that, Victor Scalora, Bob Graves, and Mark Hubina from the second Connecticut Heavy Artillery, based in Woodbury, brought something of the Civil War experience right to the students’ playground at school.

The students were able to see firsthand the uniforms, weapons, and camp life of soldiers in the Civil War. A campfire was blazing as pork fat, potatoes, and hardtack cooked over the flames. A tent was sent up that looked as if it might house two or three soldiers. A lantern hung by a bench where a soldier might take a few moments to write home, play cards, or read.

Being able to understand and take part during the time period of the Civil War is what drives many to participate in the reenactments of the war.

“Some of the members have ancestors from the Civil War,” Mark Hubina of Trumbull said. “Some are just interested in the Civil War. Some have kids and it’s a good hobby for them.”

Bob Graves of Newtown participates in the Artillery with his two sons Jason and Doug. The Civil War is something that has always interested him and being able to reenact the time period provides a true sense of what life was like then.

“It’s kind of unique. I’ve studied the war all my life,” Mr Graves said. “You can do that from your air conditioned home, but you don’t really get the real explanation of it.”

Being able to bring the experience to the students is one way the trio can help them understand what the life of a soldier was like during the Civil War.

“For a lot of kids [textbook history is] dry,” Mr Graves said. “For a lot of them this is the only exposure they will get.”

The group of men brought 1853 Enfield rifles, which are British. The trio demonstrated the nine steps it took soldiers to load and shoot the musket. Then they fired the rifles, showing how loud three of them can be. They asked the students to imagine thousands of the rifles going off at the same time.

“You have to be standing up to load it,” Mr Graves said. “It’s almost impossible to load it laying down.”

Around the campfire, it was explained how the soldiers would cook their meals with pork fat and hardtack. Hardtack was used like a bread or toast. The soldiers would soak it is some water and then place it in the cooking pan to be flavored with the pork fat, making “skillygalee.” Vegetables were not always provided because the military did not have a lot, but states would help to supply the soldiers with them, according to Victor Scalora.

“We portray 1864 living Union soldiers,” Mr Scalora told the students as he spoke about the three-day battle at Gettysburg.

The uniforms worn by the men were made of wool. Shoes were also hard to come by and were worn out easily. The heel had a horse shoe metal on it to help the soldiers have a grip in the grass since there was not any tread on the shoe.

Jason Graves, also dressed in the soldier attire, thinks it is a good idea for students to be able to see firsthand the things from the Civil War.

“I’ve had an interest in it since I was a little kid,” Jason said. “The battles, they are exciting. [It’s good] so they would know what it is like.”

While Doug Graves also enjoys the battles, it is also opportunity to participate in a family adventure. “My dad sort of brought me up on this,” Doug said. “I like coming out and having battles.”

“It’s perfect for middle school kids,” said middle school teacher Gino LoRicco. “They like to touch things and move around. It is interactive,” Mr LoRicco said. “This presentation shows what the soldiers would bring from base camp to battle. This is the best way for middle school kids to learn in an informal presentation.”

Mr Scalora likes to pass on his interest in the Civil War to students who are studying or may be interested in the same time period as he is.

“I have an interest in the Civil War and that part of history,” Mr Scalora said. “I’ve had a deep passion for history since I was about their age.”

The enactment prepares the eighth grade students for the trip they are making to Gettysburg and Washington, D.C., April 25 through April 27.