Fennimore Community Schools

Last Thursday, March 24th, fourth and fifth grade students participated in a presentation on the Civil War. Barbara and David Thyren, along with their daughter Christina, are Civil War reenactors who also do school presentations. They shared what life was like during the time of the Civil War (1861-1865). 

Children only went to school for six years. Each family had one slate to share during the day. Children also made their own toys to play with. Women dressed in layers that included hoop skirts. They also had dresses for different things they did such as cooking or going to town. The women had many responsibilities in daily living including sewing all the clothes. There were also about 480 women that served in the Civil War just as the men did, though some were found out. 

Soldiers did drills, drills, and more drills to be ready to serve. The process of  loading the rifle included using their teeth to open the gunpowder before pouring it into the barrel, then they packed it tight and put the bullet in. Soldiers put a bayonet on the end of their rifles and ran at the enemy to scare them off. If soldiers were shot on an arm or leg it was cut off, if shot in the belly the soldier was put off to the side to die. The food they ate included hardtack, pork and anything else they could find. 

The students learned a lot about the Civil War! Thank You, Thyrens!