Camp Martin Travels

These entries will be a combination of historical day trips, graduate level travel courses, and just little stops along the way. I have been teaching 8th grade American History for over 25 years. I am also a Civil War Reenactor and have traveled to Germany and Austria with several groups of exchange students and written about our adventures. Please check all my posts by using the monthly Blog Archive tabs shown below. I have posted over 150 Blog Episodes since 2009... Please explore them all!

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Landis Valley / Civil War Christmas


Landis Valley Farm Museum
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30th PA Co. E / Civil War Christmas

Winter Encampment
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It's Christmas time in the army during the Civil War and time to settle down for a spell and take a break from the war.  Our unit is invited each year by the Landis Valley Farm Museum to spend several weekends on site as part of a living history program during December.  Few battles during the Civil War were fought during the winter.  Most armies throughout history took the cold wet months of winter off because their black powder weapons would not work properly in the damp air.  Soldiers could take a break from the constant movement of war and set up more substantial lodgings that would become home temporarily. 

 
Winter Hut Construction
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Soldiers were given the task of building their own huts in small groups from whatever materials easily came to hand.  Much like Washington's soldiers at Valley Forge about a century earlier, the men worked to create neatly organized streets of winter quarters.  The log cabin like structure was topped by an A- frame tent for a roof that helped give the appearance of uniformity and continuity through the parallel streets.  For the first time of the year, the added height of the tent ceiling permitted soldiers the luxury of standing up more comfortably inside their shelter. 

Finishing Touches
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We have two example huts as part of our living history encampment.  The first is smaller for about two to four people who had previously been shelter-half tent mates in the field.  The one being constructed above was for a larger group of four to eight men.  Sometimes shelter huts occupied more men than would fit within the walls.  This was possible because the soldiers were all assigned to various camp patrols and duties with staggered shifts. As a result, the men of a hut were rarely all off duty at the same time of day or night to occupy the shelter.  Regardless, few if any soldiers had much privacy.  The last thing added to our winter hut was the door, which in this particular structure was attached with triangular shaped pieces of thick leather resembling makeshift hinges. An actual hut in the 1860's would then be caulked with mud or clay inserted between any gaps to seal open spaces from the frigid winter winds. 

Cast Iron Warmth
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Inside our completed hut a cast iron stove was added for comfort.  Most Union huts had a chimney so a fire placed inside could keep out the winter chill.   A wooden floor would keep the men's feet dry and prevent mud from forming at their feet.  Four men would occupy this hut with two sets of bunk beds to maximize the efficiency of their space.  Beds built off the ground created warmer sleeping quarters.  Some of our guys slept inside during the night but since I was so close to home (wimp) and my wife and kids would miss me (exaggeration) I decided to go home for the night to modern heating and the comforts of home!  So I will admit it... I went AWOL... but I was back, just in time for breakfast! Don't tell my sergeant!  (He went home too)  Modern Civil War era soldiers have the beneficial option of commuting to the war.

Round About Camp
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Winter was spent repairing gear, writing letters home, and going about the daily routines of camp life.  The men took shifts working various posts including guard duty, foraging parties, cooking, gathering wood, etc...  The men enjoyed taking a break from regularly issued rations of hard tack biscuits, dried beans, and salt pork during their stay in more permanent camps.  They could now take advantage of local food supplies and items offered by local towns trade centers.  The Union army was also followed by groups of migrating sutlers that sold a variety of scarce items to soldiers that were in demand at inflated prices. Deprived solders were tempted by goods and sutlers were all too happy to help them part with their monthly pay of thirteen dollars a month. 

Soldiers become Craftsmen
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During winter camp, soldiers could use their hands to craft items that would make life more comfortable.  Above a soldier creates a workbench that was later used to create stools, tables, benches, and other practical pieces of crude furniture the unit could use about camp. Some men with useful skills might be selected to take up their civilian trades on site repairing clothing, shoes, and leather items.  The routine of military life was soon established in the camps with regular schedules established to maintain camp discipline and order. 

The Invisible Enemy in Camp
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Camp life was always a dangerous place for the combination of common childhood diseases that collectively were referred to as camp fever.  More men died in camp from disease than from enemy battle wounds.  Germs had not yet been discovered and even simple wounds could quickly become infected.  Many men came from isolated rural areas and with low levels of immunity they were suddenly exposed to dangerous bacteria sources within the tent cities.  With the men quartered so closely together, sickness could quickly spread through the crowded camps.  Contaminated common water sources caused diphtheria, dysentery, and cholera, which were common life threatening illnesses.  The Sanitary Commission was later developed to help educate Union soldiers on the importance of good personal hygiene and worked to improve the level of good health within the camps. 

Soldier's Stew on the Fire
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Eating is always an adventure when you are suddenly back in the 1860's for mealtime.  A lot of thought and preparation goes into planning meals when we have an encampment.  Most of the work in done by our very capable authentic company cook Bruce.  For lunch we had chicken and rice soup with homemade biscuits and baked apples with brown sugar and cinnamon for desert.  For our evening fare, we had a stew of cubed beef with a variety of fresh vegetables. We have already butchered a live chicken, roasted a turkey, and once even had grilled squirrel that someone had killed while on a previous hunting trip.  People always ask me what squirrel tastes like and my reply is... I have no idea!  Even though I ate it, I learned a valuable lesson... if you grill any kind of meat long enough it doesn't taste like much of anything except charcoal.  Protein nonetheless!  Surprisingly, there was a lot of leftover squirrel at the end of our meal?

The Arrival of Spring
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As the chill of winter began to give way to spring, the men began to abandon their filthy huts for the outdoors.  They would remove the canvas roofs of the huts to create tents once again. Camping out in the open again in the fresh air was a pleasant contrast to the crowded and dark conditions of the huts.  The huts were slowly disassembled and recycled as handy firewood for their cook fires.  The warmer weather of spring also brought back the winds of war and the need to go back on campaign in search of the enemy.  Most remains of the winter camps would be plowed under and sown with seed causing evidence of their existence to disappear with the growth of crops. Today, archeologists are unearthing newly found artifacts by rediscovering the locations of the winter camps of both armies in rural areas where they still remain hidden, buried from view.

Union Winter Camp Huts
Photograph: Matthew Brady
1860-1865 Series / National Archives 


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Saturday, December 19, 2009

Kennet Square / Longwood Gardens

 Christmas at Longwood Gardens
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Kennett Square, Pennsylvania

Dupont Mansion
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It was a cold weekend and since my Philadelphia Eagles had a bye and weren't playing this particular Sunday, I decided to treat my family to some special togetherness fun! My wife Susan and I had discussed a return visit to one of the stops my parents often took me as a kid during the holidays, back in the day. The kids were thrilled (a little) and despite a 50 mph wind advisory forecasted for the entire day, I thought it would be a fun adventure. Tyler was a hard sell, but I bribed him with French fries on the road and well... I was going to drag him to the car kicking and screaming if need be. A little family road trip was just what we needed to get us in the holiday spirit! (Picture - The Dupont Mansion on the grounds of Longwood Gardens)

Fountains and Foliage
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Of course we first have to have a little history lesson... The land that eventually became known the world over as Longwood Gardens was first owned by none other than William Penn. He sold it to another Quaker fellow named George Pierce who farmed the land. Later, two of his sons began to collect specimens of different kinds of trees and by 1850 they had created an arboretum with one of the largest collections of trees in the nation. The property went up for sale at the turn of the century when it was purchased by the famous DuPont family who wanted to protect the tree collection from becoming firewood.

Tranquil Nature Indoors
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Over the years the DuPonts added to the tree collection with exotic varieties from all over the world.The property and collections continuously expanded over the years and the family created the Longwood Foundation in the late 1930's to set up financial support for the property long after they were gone. The goal was to open the extensive gardens to the public as an educational facility and in the mid 1940's Longwood Gardens made the 10,000 + plants accessible to the public. The centerpiece of the property is a huge conservatory greenhouse that covers 20 different gardens. Sounds awesome! Let's go check it out!

A River Runs Through It
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I was hoping the wind advisory was going to cut down on the crowds and... I was right! Not too many cars in the parking lot, we pulled almost into pole position up front! The MIA tourists were all probably Ravens fans watching the game from the safety of their homes, leaving the gardens for us to explore with unobstructed views! The kids were a little frightened to get out of the car with smaller trees almost horizontal from the wind. I tried to lighten the mood by telling the kids Longwood's policy that any tree that fell on you was your to keep was clearly stated in their brochure! They didn't find this funny? We got out and stumbled to the front gate safely.

 Stream of Christmas Cranberries
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I was a little disappointed that there wasn't a reduction in fees during a weather advisory but it was for a good cause. We had our tickets and were ready to head to the Conservancy building a few hundred yards away. We bundled up like astronauts and made our way out into the great expanse full of nature's fury! It was not an easy task as wind roared around us as we trekked forward and experienced the true meaning of wind chill. We made it inside and it was worth the long cold walk.

Getting the Christmas Spirit
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The gardens were truly beautiful and breathtaking in their perfection. It was like a quiet, still oasis of green, protected from the harsh winter winds outside by glass walls that allowed the light's warmth to spill inside.Despite the fact that we couldn't explore outside, the inside displays were large and extensive with paths that twisted every which way to new discoveries around every corner. The blooming poinsettia plants, decorated trees, and interior and winding waterways including a river of real cranberries, couldn't help but get you in the mood for the holidays. The kids thought it was pretty cool too... until I said we needed to come back this summer to explore the outside gardens.

It was a Blustery Day
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Now we had to make the dangerous hike back to the front gate and the wind was somehow blowing even more violently. I attempted to drown out the kid's complaints with the battle cry of French fries! French Fries! We made it to the car and headed to Applebee's Restaurant where it turned out they were OUT of French Fries. How is that possible? I was now getting the death stare from across the table! I was saved by the fact that the power began to cut out every five minutes or so from the howling winds. We got our food (without fries) and then headed for home. Overall, it was a good day with a family time memory in the bank. Plus, we didn't have to miss a good Eagles football game that was scheduled for next Sunday, which didn't have a wind advisory in the forecast for the record! Daddy's happy and that's all that matters. The End!





Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Williamsburg / Parting Shots


Colonial Williamsburg 
Teacher's Institute / Summer 2009
Series Part # 10

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 Some of my Favorite Pictures from the Week
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+ Carriage on Nicholson Street +
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+ Robert Davidson's Shop +
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+ St. George Tucker House +
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+ Sheild's Tavern Keepers +
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+ Prentis Store at Night +
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+ George Wythe's Study +
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+ John Orrell House Kitchen +
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+ Chestnut Horse in Paddock +
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+ William Randolph Lodgings +
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+ The Cobbler's Workshop +
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+ John Blair House Kitchen +
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+ Lady on Afternoon Ride +
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+ Nelson - Galt House +
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+ College of William and Mary +
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+ Bird Bottle Resident +
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+ Carriage / Duke Of Gloucester St. +
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+ John Tayloe House +
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+ Historic Colonial Squirrel +
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+ George Pitt House at Night + _____________________________________
+ Elizabeth Reynold's House +
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+ Sunday Morning Stroll +
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+ George Wythe Yard Path +
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+ Tarpley Company Shop +
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+ Williamsburg Garden Nursery +
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+ Merchant's Square Shops +
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+ Merchant's Square Shopping +
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PLEASE SEE RELATED BLOGS…

Colonial Williamsburg / Series Part # 1

 Colonial Williamsburg / Series Part # 2
Jamestown Matters – Archeological Dig 
http://campmartintravels.blogspot.com/2009/09/jamestown-matters-part-1.html

Colonial Williamsburg / Series Part # 3

 Colonial Williamsburg / Series Part # 4
Williamsburg / Duke of Gloucester Street 
http://campmartintravels.blogspot.com/2009/11/williamsburg-duke-of-gloucester.html

 Colonial Williamsburg / Series Part # 5
Williamsburg / Capitol and Gaol 
http://campmartintravels.blogspot.com/2009/11/williamsburg-captitol-gaol.html

Colonial Williamsburg / Series Part # 6
Williamsburg / Governor’s Palace 
http://campmartintravels.blogspot.com/2009/11/williamsburg-governors-palace.html

Colonial Williamsburg / Series Part # 7
Williamsburg / Great Hopes Plantation 
http://campmartintravels.blogspot.com/2009/11/williamsburg-great-hopes-plantation.html

Colonial Williamsburg / Series Part # 8
Williamsburg / Market Square 
http://campmartintravels.blogspot.com/2009/12/williamsburg-market-square.html

Colonial Williamsburg / Series Part # 9
Yorktown / Surrender Field 
http://campmartintravels.blogspot.com/2009/12/yorktown-surrender-field.html

Colonial Williamsburg / Series Part # 10
Parting Shots / Photography 
http://campmartintravels.blogspot.com/2009/12/williamsburg-parting-shots.html




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