Traveling Trunk Additional Activities: Letters Home

LETTERS HOME

ACTIVITY:
Write or dictate a letter to a friend or family member detailing your experiences as a soldier.
We suggest this activity be used as a closure unit once students have had an opportunity to experience the full impact of the Civil War trunk.

PURPOSE:
To provide students with an opportunity to identify with a soldier's experiences during the American Civil War.

MATERIALS:
Paper, pencil, two copies of Civil War letters along with the Civil War Soldier Vocabulary and Civil War slang handouts (all of which are found on the following pages).

PROCEDURE:
It would probably be best to read the two letters orally with your students before they attempt to write letters of their own.
If there are students present who have a difficult time with written expression, an accommodation could be made where the individual could dictate his or her letter to a partner. This would help to simulate what did take place when men were unable to write due to battle wounds or illness.
Encourage students to write a believable account of a soldier's experience, providing as many details as possible. Once completed, students can share their letters with the class if so desired.

To more fully assess their understanding of broader themes and objectives of the “Nation at War” Traveling Trunk, you can offer your students the option of writing a letter to someone as a doctor or nurse, a mother, wife or daughter of a soldier, or even as President Lincoln himself.

Letters Home
Handout 1

LETTERS FROM THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG

This Confederate from the battle, known only as “Bud,” became involved in the second day’s fighting on the south end of the battlefield. His regiment of 406 men suffered 87 casualties. The 2nd New Hampshire, fighting in this same area, suffered 193 casualties.

My Dear Sister,
I seat my self to drop you a few lines to let you know that I am well at this time. We have had a hard time of it for the last six weeks. We left Fredericksburg on the 2nd day of June, and marched at the rate of twenty miles a day until we got in to Pennsylvania, and fought one of the Bloodiest Battles of the war. We passed through some of the prettiest country I ever saw in my life, they have the finest land in the world, and some of the ugliest women that I ever saw, they are mostly Dutch. They have the finest houses you ever saw, all made of brick, and there is a house every half mile. Our Generals would not allow us to touch a thing, and the consequence was we had to live on one pound of flour to the man for four days. I had to eat wheat. I would take it and boil it in a cup, and salt it, and then eat it, and it was good, at least it was good to a hungry man. I received your letter of the 21st of June on the 10th of this month, and was glad to learn that you were all well. I wish that I could have been at home during commencement. You must give my love to all the girls.

Sis, I am (Bare Footed), haven't got a Shoe to my name. Sis you must excuse my short letter this time, for this is all the paper that I have got in this world. I have not seen Jim on the march, I heard from him since the fight, he was not hurt. Cousin Ben is well at this time. Willie Gunnels was left in the hands of the enemy, he was hit in the side with grape shot, and it broke three of his ribs, but the shot did not go through the skin. Joel Anderson was wounded, but he was not left. We lost (80) men in our Regt. in all, killed and wounded and missing. I did not get hit, but I thought that they would hit me every time they shot. There was not one man in our company that was badly hurt, there was four of them got slightly wounded, but are with the company at this time.

Sis you must excuse my short letter, but this is all that I have to write on, this time. I will give you all the news the next time I write, which will be in a few days. Nothing more at this time. Give my love to the rest of the family.

Nothing more, I remain your affectionate - BUD

Letters Home
Handout 2

LETTERS FROM THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG

Point Lookout, Md. Aug 12th/63
Mrs. Vickery
Dear Madam
I have but just returned to the Regt (regiment) having been kept away much longer than anticipated. Your letter was handed to me which I now hasten to answer. The battle (Gettysburg) took place on the afternoon of the 2nd of July. Our Regt advanced about one mile (Mr. Oliver is referring to the fighting which took place at the Peach Orchard). We laid there awhile when the rebs pressed us so hard we got the order to fall back & Charlie was hit just as we got that order. It was a minnie ball. It struck him in the small of the back. It remained in him, could not be taken out. I asked him several times if he was in any pain. He always answered that he was not. He thought that he would get well, spoke several times about being sent to Philadelphia & then have you come out there to see him. The last time he spoke of it was the day before he died. The Surgeon heard it. He went to Charlie & told him it was impossible for him to live but a few days but Charlie did not think so. I asked him if he had any word to send you as (he) would have me write you. He said he would write himself in a few days, said that he felt so well he was most sure he could. On the afternoon of the 10th he began to fail and after dark he could not speak & did not know me for about three hours. About 10 in the evening he spoke your name once & I immediately bent over him, his lips moved for a moment but no sound escaped him. After that he did not know me but failed rapidly until a few minutes past one in the morning of the 11th when he died. He was loved and respected by the whold Co. (company) for his many good qualities & I feel that I have lost a very dear friend.
We got a box made and I marked a board & put (it) at the head of his grave. He had laid three days on the field after the battle, the rebs held it & we could not get to him. The rebs took his sword and belt. The Captain informs me that he has sent his things to you but I have a picture of yourself, a piece of silver money which Charlie carried with him sometimes & a knife which I will send you ... If I can do anything for you I shall be at your service. With regret I remain
Yours truly

Letters Home
Civil War Vocabulary

accouterments – various military and personal items carried by a soldier (canteen, haversack, bedroll, etc.)

artillery – cannon and other large weapons

barracks – buildings that soldiers lived in while training

battle – a large-scale fight between armies of soldiers

bayonet – knife-like weapon attached to the front end of a musket or rifle.
boneyard – term from the game of dominoes referring to the pieces that are yet to be used

brogans – shoes made of leather

bedroll – blankets rolled and carried by soldiers, often containing personal belongings

bummer – soldier that would take needed items from farmers and townspeople; sometimes refers to his hat used to carry the items

cadence – measured movements, as in marching, to establish a flow of rhythm

canteen – tin or wood container on a strap, used to carry liquid

cap – a small, metal eraser-shaped device used to explode powder in a musket barrel

cap box – a small leather box attached to the belt to hold caps

cartridge – paper tube which held a bullet and gun powder

cavalry – group of men scouting and fighting from horseback

Civil War – war fought between different groups of the same nation

Corps Badge – patch worn on soldier's uniform (hat) to designate which part of the army he belonged to (seven Union Corps present at Gettysburg, and therefore seven different designs)

dysentery – severe intestinal inflammation, accompanied with a great deal of abdominal pain and diarrhea

foraging – roving the countryside in search of food; could involve taking supplies from farmers and civilians

Letters Home
Civil War Slang

The following are a number of words and phrases that were common during the Civil War. Soldiers wrote home to friends and family, often using many of these phrases. Try to use as many of the words and expressions below in your Civil War letter home. Let's hope your work is hunkey dorey!


1.Chief Cook And Bottle Washer: person capable of doing many things
2.Sheet Iron Crackers: hardtack biscuits
3.Sardine Box: cap box (part of a soldier's ammunition)
4.Bread Basket: your stomach
5.Greenbacks: money
6.Graybacks: name for southern soldiers or lice
7.Arkansas Toothpick: a very long, large knife
8.Pepperbox: a pistol (hand gun)
9.Zu - Zu: a Zouave soldier (wore very special colorful uniforms)
10.Fit To Be Tied: to be angry
11.Horse Sense: being smart, on the ball
12.Top Rail #1: being first class, the best
13.Hunkey Dorey: being great, really nice
14.Greenhorn, Bugger, Shunk: officers (men in command)
15.Snug As A Bug: very comfortable, cozy
16.Sawbones: doctors or surgeons
17.Skedaddle: to run away, scatter
18.Hornets: bullets
19.Bully: hurrah! yeah!
20.Possum: buddy, pal
21.Blowhard: a big shot, a show off
22.Fit As A Fiddle: in good shape, healthy
23. Scarce As Hens' Teeth: rare or scarce
24. Grab A Root: have dinner, potato
25. Tight, Wallpapered: intoxicated, drunk
26. Bark Juice, Tar Water: liquor
27. Nokum Stiff, Joy Juice: liquor
28. Hard Case: tough or difficult
29. Bluff: person who cheats
30. Jailbird: person who is a criminal
31. Hard Knocks: beaten up
32. Been Through The Mill: have done a lot
33. Quick-Step, Trots: sick with diarrhea
34. Played Out: tired and worn out
35. Toeing The Mark: doing the job
36. Jonah: bad luck
37. Goobers: peanuts
38. Fresh Fish: raw recruits, rookies
39. Whipped: beaten, defeated

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