This entry was emailed from trip leader, Andy Johnson, to parents of students on the Grade 7 trip to Washington, D.C. This trip is specifically geared to be a pre-teaching opportunity related to the United States History units that they will study in Grade 8. This trip combines a great deal of fun with a lot of learning, under the direction of three great leaders from the school. Can’t ask for more!
“All is well in Georgetown. We had a very full day. We began with a drive out to Harper’s Ferry National Historic Site in West Virginia. Harper’s Ferry is a beautiful little town at the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers. It was of immense strategic importance during the Civil War as it was the home to a number of industries and a Federal arsenal. However, John Brown’s failed attempt to mount a slave insurrection using the weapons at the armory in 1859 was of special interest. The violence along the Kansas-Missouri border and Brown’s raid were really the beginnings of the Civil War. Not only did the kids get to explore the Civil War connections in the town, they also participated in a very interesting and active scavenger hunt organized by Aaron Olswanger. The kids explored 17th and 18th Century building techniques, examined Lock 33 of the Baltimore and Ohio Canal, looked at the ruins of the Federal Arsenal and traipsed up to the spot where Thomas Jefferson viewed the confluence of the rivers in 1783. After a short lunch break, we drove over to the Antietam National Battlefield.
Antietam was one of the most important battles of the Civil War. It was after this battle that President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. The battlefield lies near the town of Sharpsburg, Maryland. Our tour began at the Dunker Church which was the object upon which the Union focused the line of its advance into Lee’s army. We then drove up to the northern end of the battlefield and stood where Hooker’s men began their advance into what is now known simply as the Cornfield. Later we hooked around by the East Woods and stood at the southern end of the Cornfield where Jackson’s men fought repeatedly with Hooker’s for control of the field. Next we moved around the battlefield and followed the rough walking path down into Bloody Lane. We spent some time in and around this sunken road so that the kids could understand how the terrain lent such an advantage to the Confederate defenders.
Finally, we trundled down the the southern end of the battlefield where Ambrose Burnside’s units had the mission to force the southern bridge and roll up the Confederate right. He had a hard time doing that against the 400 Georgians under the command of Toombs on the highground on the western side. It must have taken immense courage to rush across that narrow bridge. Our kids did it with smiles and whoops and laughter.
All in all, this was a phenomenal day. I hope the kids enjoyed it as much as we did.”
Andy, Aaron and Robyn
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