For our Year 3 Unit 3 Celebration, my son decided to create his own character based on historic evidence. He wanted to be a Union officer, a colonel. He had me google a few key words (I forget what they were now.) and then he decided to be part of the 9th New York Calvary Regiment. I found a good web site on that regiment that had strong documentation. He studied that and pulled out details to incorporate into his character. The blanks were filled in with his own imagination. He kept his own name for the character's name. Since he would be in the calvary, he decided that he had horsemanship skills because he grew up on a farm in New York.
Following are his notecards, done in a similar manner to his sister. He did these on his own. While I painted his bedroom (we just moved into this house), he gave his speech. I gave suggestions for clarity. However in all the busy-ness of unpacking, painting, paperwork, etc, I never did check his actual notecards. I am finding that some of the key words are too verbose. This is not good since it encourages reliance on the notecards and little eye contact. However he did an excellent job on his presentation tonight. This shows that he is too dependent on those notecards. This lets me know what to target next time.
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Colonel _____________________ commanding 9th New York Calvary regiment
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union just won Civil War
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Civil War started b/c South believed state rights
they believed should have rigt own slaves
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however many North wanted detestable practice come end
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when matters came head South secceeded
Lincoln sworn office when South fired upon Ft Sumter April 12, 1861 declared war
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quickly I decided enlist army
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requested sent branch calvary since grew up riding horses own small farm
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wish granted introduced life 9th New York calvary regiment
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although knew war wouldn't glorious not prepared those camp conditions
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food terrible and same thing 3 times day 7 days week
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ate hardtack, dessicated vegetables, preserved meat, sometimes salt pork, beans, rice, dried apples
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camps also fell disease
soldiers who haven't gotten chance fight already dying malaria dysentery, small pox etc
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in addition how long how hard would become true soldier
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drill, drill, & more drill
learn how use swords, carbine musket rifle, pistols, bayonets
then had learn how use them horseback
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finally March 9, 1862, went into service Army of the Potomac
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April 5, 1862 AOTP lay seige Yorktown but May 4 ready bombard city Confederates withdraw making useless month-long seige
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union army began following, & eventually ran into end C line
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9th NY calvary clashed Confederate calvary I first taste battle
Providentially nobody our regiment died
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after battle General McClellan appointed me reconnoiter enemy position
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next day fought Battle of Williamsburg
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although stalemate C withdrew took possession Williamsburg
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regiment after 1 more battle transferred army of Virginia joined General Pope's campaign
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afterwards Oct 1862 again transferred againbe with AOTP
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I made many successful reconnoissance missions during time
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however several close calls
once while surveying landscape bullet tore off brim hat
suddenly 10 C horsemen emerged woods
I turned horses head quickly since I completely outnumbered
nothing stopped pursuit
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not when 1 their men fell raging rapid I leaped
not even when I turned saddle let fly bullet heard horsemen and bullet struck home
only when reach camp they forced turn around
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also during that time Battle of Gettysburg fought
biggest bloodiest entire war
4 months later ceremony held dedicated address
RECITE GETTYSBURG ADDRESS
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transferred twice more second last time again landing us AOTP
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4 days after last transfer Abraham Lincoln Inaugurated second term
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Second Inaugural Address great speech and last portion greatest part
RECITE "With malice towards none, with charity for all..."
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On April 9, 1865 we triumphed at last!
Gen Lee, Gen Grant, met Appomatox Courthouse where Lee formally surrendered Grant only Gen who had successfully defeated
Since our regiment with AOTP I witnessed surrender myself
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Tragically however April 14, 1865, actor John Wilkes Booth assassinated President Lincoln impertanintly shouting "Sic Semper Tyranis" "Thus always to tyrants."
Justly some soldier cornered shot him in old barn
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July 17, 1865 we 9th NY calvary honorably discharged army
we fought 141 battles
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