Teaching the Civil War with Technology

Dinosaur Footprints on the Gettysburg Battlefield

fifer1863 — Mon, 21 May 2012 12:41:06 +0000

This is the last in this series of videos from our recent trip to Gettysburg. What a great day, can’t wait to get back there with the kids.

In this video Jacob (with help from his brother Josh) is finding dinosaur footprints in Gettysburg.

The following is from “Dinosaur Footprints on the Plum Run Bridge” by Roger J. Cuffey. Which can be found on page 26 of the report on the geology of the Battle of Gettysburg by the DCNR.

The Triassic sedimentary rocks on the Gettysburg battlefield are unfossiliferous. However, a few dinosaur footprints can be seen in the sandstone or siltstone blocks forming the tops of the walls of the road bridge crossing Plum Run on the southern edge of the battlefield (p. 6, 25 in the present guidebook). Those blocks were taken from the
long-abandoned Trostle Quarry along Bermudian Creek, 3.3 miles due east of the US 15 - PA 94 exit at York Springs. They came from the Heidlersburg Member.

Visibility of the footprints varies with the angle and intensity of the lighting, and with the dry, damp, or wet condition of the block surface. Identification of footprints isparticularly difficult because of morphologic variability of the feet interacting with differences in the sediment surface and diagenetic processes later.

Easiest to recognize is a paired fore-and-hind-print, heading southeasterly, identified (Santucci & Hunt 1995) as the heterodontosaur or “basal” ornithopod Atreipus milfordensis, in the northwest corner of the fifth block from the east end of the bridge’s north side. On its south side, counting from the west end, the sixth through tenth blocks exhibit prints. The sixth’s south edge has a hind-print which is from the coelurosaur theropod Anchisauripus sillimani (or is the rear half of an incomplete Atreipus), the eighth shows a similar obscure print, the ninth bears two small coelurosaur hind-prints resembling Grallator tenuis (as well as another Atreipus), and the tenth has a very
obscure prosauropod Otozourn minus hind-print.

If you are like me and enjoy exploring the Gettysburg battlefield (especially with kids), I highly recommend JD’s book: The Complete Gettysburg Guide

Learning about Father Corby

fifer1863 — Mon, 21 May 2012 00:47:46 +0000

Here is another video in this series of video blog posts where my family is exploring the Gettysburg Battlefield. As you know our family goal is to learn something new every time we go to Gettysburg and this time we learned several new things.

In this video Josh is teaching us about Father Corby:

Here is a photo of Father Corby:

If you are like me and enjoy exploring the Gettysburg battlefield (especially with kids), I highly recommend JD’s book: The Complete Gettysburg Guide

Culp’s Hill in Gettysburg and General George Greene

fifer1863 — Sat, 19 May 2012 09:22:53 +0000

This is the 4th in another series of video blog posts where my family is exploring the Gettysburg Battlefield. As you know our family goal is to learn something new every time we go to Gettysburg and this time we learned several new things.

In this video Sarah is talking about the fighting on Culp’s Hill and about General George Greene

Here is a photo of General Greene:

If you are like me and enjoy exploring the Gettysburg battlefield (especially with kids), I highly recommend JD’s book: The Complete Gettysburg Guide

Gettysburg Rock Carvings on Culp’s Hill Part 2

fifer1863 — Fri, 18 May 2012 15:11:58 +0000

This is the 3rd in another series of video blog posts where my family is exploring the Gettysburg Battlefield. As you know our family goal is to learn something new every time we go to Gettysburg and this time we learned several new things.

In this video Jacob (with help from his sister Sarah) is showing us some rock carvings on Culp’s Hill:

If you are like me and enjoy exploring the Gettysburg battlefield (especially with kids), I highly recommend JD’s book: The Complete Gettysburg Guide

Teaching the Civil War Podcast Episode 23 – The John Rupp House

fifer1863 — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:26:04 +0000

Thanks for staying subscribed to my podcast and I hope you enjoy listening. In this episode I am talking about a recent visit to Gettysburg and visiting the John Rupp House Museum. I also talk about exploring the battlefield and the Gettysburg Foundation.

Feedback on the show? email me at podcast@teachthecivilwar.com

Follow Me on Twitter

Music is by Mark Ferguson and is used with permission.

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Here is a photo of the Rupp House in November 1863

Here is a modern photo of the Rupp House

SHOW LINKS:

The Complete Gettysburg Guide

CJ’s Journey Through Scouting Blog

The Gettysburg Foundation

Exploring the Getttysburg Battlefield – Spangler’s Spring

fifer1863 — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:36:15 +0000

This is the 2nd in another series of video blog posts where my family is exploring the Gettysburg Battlefield. As you know our family goal is to learn something new every time we go to Gettysburg and this time we learned several new things.

In this video Josh is teaching us about Spangler’s Spring at the base of Culp’s Hill

If you are like me and enjoy exploring the Gettysburg battlefield (especially with kids), I highly recommend JD’s book: The Complete Gettysburg Guide

Gettysburg Rock Carvings on Culp’s Hill

fifer1863 — Tue, 15 May 2012 15:44:22 +0000

As my older son CJ was attending a Boy Scout event in Westminster, MD my family decided to do our favorite thing and spend the day exploring Gettysburg. In addition to packing a lunch, we grabbed my copy of The Complete Gettysburg Guide and my Flip video camera and set off. As you know our family goal is to learn something new every time we go to Gettysburg and this time we learned several new things.

In this video Josh is teaching us about a rock carving on the monument to the 14th Brooklyn.

If you are like me and enjoy exploring the Gettysburg battlefield (especially with kids), I highly recommend JD’s book: The Complete Gettysburg Guide

Teaching the Civil War Podcast Episode 22 – Stonewall Jackson

fifer1863 — Fri, 11 May 2012 19:27:10 +0000

Thanks for staying subscribed to my podcast and I hope you enjoy listening. In this episode I discuss the famous Confederate General Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson.

Feedback on the show? email me at podcast@teachthecivilwar.com

Follow Me on Twitter

Music is by Mark Ferguson and is used with permission.

Subscribe in iTunes

SHOW LINKS:

Creating Then & Now Images Video

Gettysburg Moments Facebook Group

Stonewall Jackson info from the Civil War Trust

Virginia Military Institute Primary Sources

The Stonewall Jackson Home

Stonewall Jackson information from Bucknell University

Stonewall Jackson Biography

Creating Then and Now Images

fifer1863 — Mon, 07 May 2012 19:21:43 +0000

Recently I have been creating some Then and Now images of the Gettysburg Battlefield where I take an original image from the Library of Congress and combine it with a modern version from the same (or close to) camera angle.

Here is a how to video that I created on how you can create these images.

GIMP

Selected Photos of the American Civil War

Let me know what you think.

Teaching the Civil War Podcast Episode 21 – The US Capital

fifer1863 — Thu, 03 May 2012 13:51:39 +0000

Thanks for staying subscribed to my podcast and I hope you enjoy listening. In this episode I share an interview with Ms. Sharon Gang who is with the US Capital Visitor Center. Ms. Gang talks about how the Capital is remembering the Civil War.

Here is a copy of their press release:

UNDERNEATH THE DOME:

Stories from the U.S. Capitol and the new exhibition marking the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War

Known for being the home of our nation’s legislative branch, the U.S. Capitol is the place where lawmakers come together to make pivotal decisions for our country. It is a working office building as well as a tourist attraction visited by millions every year.

The U.S. Capitol Visitor Center is the newest addition to this historic complex. At nearly 580,000 square feet, the Visitor Center is the largest project in the Capitol’s more than two-century history and is approximately three quarters the size of the Capitol itself.

In addition to being a place of work for Senators and Representatives from every state, the Capitol also houses an important collection of American art, and it is an architectural achievement in its own right.

Ms. Sharon Gang, spokesperson for the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center will be available for interviews to discuss:

The impressive – and ever evolving – history and architecture of the Capitol – such as that the Capitol served as a hospital during the Civil War, and that despite the on-going war, President Lincoln insisted on the continuing construction.
The Visitor Center’s newly opened exhibition of Civil War-related documents and artifacts. Marking the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, the items on exhibition are the DC Emancipation Act that ended slavery in the District of Columbia nine months before the Emancipation Proclamation was issued. The legislation, signed by President Abraham Lincoln on April 16th, 1862 freed nearly 3,000 people. Another item that will be on display is a marriage certificate from former slaves John and Emily Pointer. Both items are on loan from the National Archives.
A new student self-guide of the Capitol Visitor Center’s Exhibition Hall and the Capitol Grounds that includes historical background, activities, and questions to encourage discussion during the tour or for follow-up at school or at home
What to keep in mind when visiting the meeting place of the legislative branch — such as what to bring, what to leave at home, and important logistical information to keep in mind when visiting the Center.

The new exhibition of Civil War-related documents and artifacts will be on display through September 2012. Exhibition Hall is located on the lower level of the Capitol Visitor Center. No passes are required to enter the Visitor Center or Exhibition Hall.

Guests can prepare for their trip to the U.S. Capitol by visiting the Capitol Visitor Center’s website,www.visitthecapitol.gov, where they can make an advance reservation to tour the U.S. Capitol. A special tour focused on the Capitol and Congress during the Civil War is offered Monday through Friday at 3:30 p.m. and does not require reservations.

The Visitor Center is open Monday through Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, and Inauguration Day.

Feedback on the show? email me at podcast@teachthecivilwar.com

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Music is by Mark Ferguson and is used with permission.

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SHOW LINKS:

The US Capital Visitor Center

UPDATED – Health and Medicine During the Civil War

fifer1863 — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 12:45:05 +0000

Recently I had a guest blogger post on Health and Medicine in the Civil War. Shortly after the post was up, I received an email from Terry Reimer who is the Director of Research at the National Museum of Civil War Medicine about some points that needed to be clarified.

In an effort to provide accurate information, I want to share with you the correct information that I received from Terry. The following is some of the email that I received.

The staff at the National Museum of Civil War Medicine has enjoyed your website “Teaching the Civil War with Technology.” We truly appreciate having a link on the page on Health and Medicine during the Civil War, however, there are a few points concerning Civil War medicine that we wish to clarify. I have listed them below in the order in which they appear.

“Standardized medical schools did not yet exist…”
In America, medical schools were established to provide organized lectures to supplement the practical learning of an apprenticeship. In 1765 the Philadelphia College of Medicine, now the University of Pennsylvania, became the first medical school in the United States. By 1860 a total of one hundred medical schools had opened, although many had only a short life. Over forty were operating at the start of the war in both the North and the South. Most schools provided lectures for 14 to 16 weeks a year. There were no pre-medical education requirements.

“Soldiers had to rely on makeshift field hospitals…”
While field hospitals were indeed “makeshift,” they were not replaced by general hospitals. Both field hospitals and general hospitals are steps in the treatment of the wounded. At a field hospital, usually located in a barn or tent to the rear of the fighting, wounded soldiers were triaged into three categories: mortally wounded, slightly wounded, and surgical cases. Most surgeries were amputations and took place at the field hospitals. When it was safe to do so, the patients were moved to the larger more permanent hospitals.

“Later, general hospitals were established near battlefields…”
Prior to the Civil War, any organized system of hospitalization was virtually unknown in the United States. With the large number of wounded and sick needing long-term care, a network of general hospitals was created in cities in both the North and the South. At first, large existing buildings were taken over for hospitals, but soon both armies constructed large pavilion-style hospitals that were clean, well ventilated, and highly efficient. The quality of care that the patients received improved dramatically after the opening months of the war, and the general hospitals had an average mortality rate of 8 percent.

“…treated at unsanitary hospitals.”
Hospital sanitation was certainly not up to today’s standards, but most hospitals would not have been considered unsanitary for their time. Surgical cleanliness and the use of antiseptics as we know it today did not exist during the Civil War. Lister established the practice of antiseptic surgery using carbolic acid in 1867, a few years after the war was over. Germ theory was unknown, and the rigorous cleaning of hands and surgical instruments and use of antiseptic dressings did not occur until after the Civil War. However, some of the medicines and chemicals used by Civil War surgeons did have antiseptic qualities. Hospital cleanliness was considered important and the chlorine, bromine and charcoal used for this purpose contributed to a more “antiseptic” atmosphere for the General Hospitals.

Camp life itself was a threat to a soldier’s health. Healthy recruits became victims of illnesses that were easily spread due to the large number of people in the camps, the often unsanitary conditions, and the poor diet of the soldiers. Childhood diseases such as measles could devastate regiments, and many men succumbed to diarrhea and dysentery. Of the nearly 620,000 soldiers who died during the Civil War, two-thirds died not of bullets and bayonets, but of disease.

“Lead poisoning was called dropsy…”
The term dropsy was used to denote edema, the buildup of fluid in the tissues of the body, and not lead poisoning.

“These now outdated terms reflect the uncertainty and lack of knowledge…”
We need to be aware that it is unfair to judge people in history based on the knowledge that we have today. Civil War-era caregivers were not “uncertain” and did not “lack knowledge,” unless they are being compared to people whose resources are far greater than what was available to them. It is comparable to wondering why the people of the 1970s did not use the internet.

Bibliography
The Medical and Surgical History of the Civil War, prepared by Surgeon General Joseph K. Barnes, 1870 (reprinted 1991, Broadfoot Publishing Co., Wilmington, N.C.; originally titled Medical and Surgical History of the War of the Rebellion 1861-1865).

Civil War Medicine: Challenges and Triumphs; Alfred Jay Bollet, Galen Press, 2002

Doctors in Blue, The Medical History of the Union Army in the Civil War; George W. Adams, Collier, 1985 (first printing 1952)

Doctors in Gray, The Confederate Medical Service; H. H. Cunningham, Louisiana State University Press, Baton Rouge, 1993 (first printing 1958)

One Vast Hospital: The Civil War Hospital Sites in Frederick, Maryland after Antietam; Terry Reimer, National Museum of Civil War Medicine, Inc., 2001

Divided by Conflict United by Compassion: The National Museum of Civil War Medicine; Terry Reimer, NMCWM Press, 2004

Death is in the Breeze: Disease during the American Civil War; Bonnie Brice Dorwart, NMCWM Press, 2009

Prologue to Change: African Americans in Medicine in the Civil War Era; Robert G. Slawson, The NMCWM Press, 2006

Bad Doctors: Military Justice Proceedings Against 622 Civil War Surgeons; Thomas P. Lowry and Terry Reimer, NMCWM Press, 2010

Pictorial Encyclopedia of Civil War Medical Instruments and Equipment, Volumes I, II, and III; Gordon E. Dammann, Pictorial Histories Publishing Co., Missoula, MO, 1983, 1988, and 1998

Images of Civil War Medicine: A Photographic History; Gordon Dammann and Alfred Jay Bollet, Demos Medical Publishing, 2008

So, I want to apologize to everyone for the misinformation in the original post. I also want to say thanks to Terry and the folks at the National Museum of Civil War Medicine for providing the correct information. They even invited me down for a visit.

Teaching the Civil War Podcast Episode 20 – Art

fifer1863 — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:34:18 +0000

Thanks for staying subscribed to my podcast and I hope you enjoy listening. In this episode I discuss how you can teach the American Civil War in the Social Studies Classroom. I also share about a recent trip my family took to Gettysburg.

Here is one of the videos I took of the the kids finding rock carvings:

Feedback on the show? email me at podcast@teachthecivilwar.com

Follow Me on Twitter

Music is by Mark Ferguson and is used with permission.

Subscribe in iTunes

SHOW LINKS:

Civil War Sketches from the Library of Congress

Civil War Sketch Artists

Alfred Waud Sketches

More Civil War Sketches

Alfred Waud

Edwin Forbes

Health and Medicine During the Civil War

fifer1863 — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 13:53:22 +0000

EDITORS NOTE: This is a guest post by Elaine Hirsch

Health and Medicine During the Civil War

From 1861 to 1865, the Civil War wreaked havoc on American life. Nearly 620,000 soldiers died and an additional 412,000 were wounded. The massive amount of injuries presented new challenges in the medical field. Hospitals and clinics were overwhelmed with patients, disease was rampant and sanitation practices were no where near as sophisticated as today’s standards. Standardized medical schools did not yet exist and there were less than 100 doctors in the army at the start of the war. These factors presented unique challenges that American hospitals were not prepared to meet. The National Museum of Civil War Medicine features a collection of online videos and resources to bring to life a medical world which we cannot imagine living in today.

At the war’s onset, the Union had not yet established its own hospitals and most public hospitals at the time were rat-infested, dirty, and plagued by diseases like smallpox. Soldiers had to rely on makeshift field hospitals to heal their wounds. Later, general hospitals were established near battlefields in civilian buildings like churches, schools, houses and farms.

According to the Colonel Eli Lilly Civil War Museum, injured soldiers were threatened by more than just the pain of their wounds. Many soldiers had never been exposed to diseases like chicken pox, the mumps or measles and were therefore more susceptible to this inflictions while being treated at unsanitary hospitals. At the time, doctors did not yet understand how many diseases were spread and used contaminated instruments on patients. Today, strict sanitation guidelines reduces the risk of spreading diseases and infection, but this knowledge was unavailable during the Civil War.

Antibiotics now save millions of lives each year but were not available in the 19th century. Doctors performed surgeries without gloves, used bare fingers to inspect wounds and simply wiped instruments clean using their aprons. Due to these practices and the infections they caused, the National Museum of Civil War Medicine calculated that over half the casualties incurred were a result of disease, not gunshots or bayonet wounds.

Medical jargon was also different during the Civil War. Doctors spoke of mania instead of insanity, lung fever instead of pneumonia and jail fever instead of typhus. Clearly, legitimate medical transcription services were not available at the time. Syphilis was simply called pox, rickets was used to describe any problem with the skeletal system and any day-long illness was called diary fever. Lead poisoning was called dropsy, circulatory problems were attributed to flux of humor and anemia was known as green sickness. These now outdated terms reflect the uncertainty and lack of knowledge held by the medical community at the time.

While medical technology and knowledge have certainly improved since the Civil War, the National Museum of Civil War Medicine asserts that some 19th century practices are still used during warfare today. Medical professionals working out of field hospitals are still often the first responders to emergencies and evacuating wounded soldiers is a priority now as it was then. Lessons learned during the Civil War about keeping adequate medical supplies on hand are still valid today. These lessons contributed greatly to the advancement of medical knowledge and influenced the way we now practice medicine both on war fields and in civilian hospitals.

Teaching the Civil War Podcast Episode 19 – Social Studies

fifer1863 — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 13:54:44 +0000

Here is one of the videos I took of the the kids finding rock carvings:

Feedback on the show? email me at podcast@teachthecivilwar.com

Follow Me on Twitter

Music is by Mark Ferguson and is used with permission.

Subscribe in iTunes

SHOW LINKS:

Civil War Maps from the Library of Congress

Maps of Gettysburg

Civil War Elections & The Election of 1860

Economics of the Civil War

Happy Easter

fifer1863 — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 12:25:00 +0000

As I am enjoying a few days off with the family, I want to take this opportunity to wish each and every one of you, a very Blessed Easter.

Civil War Easter Tidbits

Ever wonder what days Easter fell on during the Civil War.? Well, I looked it up:

March 31st 1861
April 20th 1862
April 5th 1863
March 27th 1864
April 16th 1865

Here is an entry in the diary of Union soldier Daniel Chisholm: “The beautiful Easter Sunday finds us all O.K. for it is as pretty and warm day, but we have no eggs. We could have them at 40 cents per doz. but I guess we will do without this time”- (Menge, p. 7).

Here is a link to an Easter Sermon from 1862

Finally, here is a clipping from April 1, 1861 edition of The Philadelphia Inquirer:

The joyous festival of Easter presented yesterday its religious contrasts with the sombre season of lent, which closed on Saturday night. Holy Saturday was observed with the customary offices of those churches which commemorate the day. Throughout Saturday, from seven o’clock in the morning until seven in the evening, the services in the roman catholic churches continued, excepting with a brief interruption. The new fire illuminating each altar was blessed, and the benediction pronounced upon the baptismal fonts. The Episcopal and Unitarian Churches, as well as the Roman Catholic, prescribe particular services for Holy Saturday.

Again, may the blessings of this Easter season be on you and your family.

Jim

Reference:

Menge, W. Springer Menge, J. August Shimrak. The Civil War Notebook of Daniel Chisholm: A Chronicle of Daily Life in the Union Army 1864-1865.New York: Orions Books, 1989.

Teaching the Civil War Podcast Episode 18 – Language Arts

fifer1863 — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 11:58:20 +0000

Thanks for staying subscribed to my podcast and I hope you enjoy listening. In this episode I discuss how you can teach the American Civil War in the Language Arts Classroom. I also share the Sullivan Ballou letter.

Here is a photo of Sullivan Ballou:

Feedback on the show? email me at podcast@teachthecivilwar.com

Follow Me on Twitter

Music is by Mark Ferguson and is used with permission.

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SHOW LINKS:

Sullivan Ballou Letter

Civil War Letters Collection fro mVMI

Civil War Love Letters

Civil War Letters

Gettysburg Rock Carvings with Sarah

fifer1863 — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 11:44:44 +0000

It was a beautiful here in central Pennsylvania last weekend so we decided to head to Gettysburg for the day. In addition to packing a lunch, we grabbed my copy of The Complete Gettysburg Guide and my Flip video camera and set off. As you know our family goal is to learn something new every time we go to Gettysburg and this time we learned several new things.

Here is the third of several videos and photos that we took. In this one, we are in the area near Devil’s Den and my daughter Sarah (aka @civilwarsallie) is reading about some of the more difficult rock carvings to find on the battlefield.

Here are a couple of photos of my kids looking for the carvings. They were very hard to see.

If you are like me and enjoy exploring the Gettysburg battlefield (especially with kids), I highly recommend JD’s book: The Complete Gettysburg Guide

Gettysburg Rock Carvings with Josh

fifer1863 — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 13:10:44 +0000

Here is the second of several videos and photos that we took. In this one, we are in the Rose Woods and my son Josh is reading about one of the more obscure rock carvings found on the battlefield.

Here is a photo of Colonel Brooke:

Here is the official report of Colonel Brooke from Gettysburg.

Here is a photo of Josh sitting atop the “Brooke Rock”:

If you are like me and enjoy exploring the Gettysburg battlefield (especially with kids), I highly recommend JD’s book: The Complete Gettysburg Guide

Exploring Big Round Top with CJ

fifer1863 — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 11:31:35 +0000

Here is the first of several videos and photos that we took. In this one, we are on Big Round Top and CJ is reading about the units that occupied Big Round Top during the battle.

Here is a photo of my son Jacob looking for places to visit in The Complete Gettysburg Guide by JD Petruzzi.

If you are like me and enjoy exploring the Gettysburg battlefield (especially with kids), I highly recommend JD’s book: The Complete Gettysburg Guide

Teaching the Civil War Podcast Episode 17 – The Irish and the Civil War

fifer1863 — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 05:52:48 +0000

Thanks for staying subscribed to my podcast and I hope you enjoy listening. In this episode I talk a bit about how the Irish played a part in the American Civil War.

Feedback on the show? email me at podcast@teachthecivilwar.com

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Music is by Mark Ferguson and is used with permission.

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SHOW LINKS:

David Kincaid – Haunted Field Music

Irish Brigade