Saturday, July 5, 2008

Discovering The Civil War

The Civil War: Americans Asunder

Enhance your understanding of Civil War topics. These narratives, period photographs and images, and quotations were compiled by Fort Ward staff as an educational resource. Explore these web studies to find out about holidays, sports, the contributions of African-American soldiers, military funerals and much more...

• Voices from the Past: Alexandria, VA 1861-1865
• Civil War Baseball: Battling on the Diamond
• We Are All Americans: Native Americans in the Civil War
• Animal Mascots of the Civil War
• Unhappiness Abroad: Civil War Refugees
  

Merrymaking and Observances

For a nation torn by Civil War, Christmas in the 1860s was observed with conflicting emotions. The holiday celebration most associated with family and home was a contradiction, It was a joyful, sad, religious, boisterous and subdued event.
"Ought it not be a Merry Christmas?"

Black History

Fighting for Freedom: Black Soldiers of the Civil War
Approximately 180,000 African American soldiers took up the call to fight for the Union Army and end generations of slavery. Read about how these men had to fight not only the Confederates but prejudice as well.
       Earrly 1800's saw rise of free black society
       Free blacks acquired land, started church
       Black Baptists have strong Alexandria roots
To learn more about this topic, visit the Alexandria Black Historic Museum

In Their Own Words

Voices from the Past: Alexandria, VA 1861-1865
The prospect of a divided country and possible armed conflict prompted eloquent Alexandrians and visitors to the city to record their thoughts in diaries, letters, newspaper articles, and military communications. These voices offer a vivid portrait of life in Civil War Alexandria.

More Information:

    Northern Virginia Trails Map
    Virginia's Civil War Trails -- General Overvview 
    Regional Information about Virginia Civil War Trails
    Virginia Links Web Addresses
    Request for Information from Page One History Publications

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