Civil War Re-enactors Set up Camp at
Pomperaug Elementary School

Civil War re-enactors from the 2nd Connecticut Volunteer Heavy Artillery (VHA) recently set up camp on the grounds of Pomperaug Elementary School bringing history to life.

 Throughout Region 15, fourth grade students study the Civil War as part the District’s Social Studies curriculum.  “Our study of the Civil War is mostly literature based,” said PES fourth grade teacher Thomas Santoro.  “The objective of this project was to transform the printed word into a ‘Living History’,” he explains.

Made possible through a PTO teacher grant, the re-enactors set up an encampment with tents, camp fires for warming and cooking and live banjo music from the period.  With women in petticoats and men in confederate uniforms, seven members of the 2nd CT VHA spoke to students and answered questions about the way of life throughout the American Civil War.

“Our goal is to educate the general public about the military role of this Regiment,” explained re-enactor Brad Lewis, whose son Nathan is a fourth grader at PES.  “Our presentation allows a student to see and feel what it was like and how things were done back then.” 

The group provides additional research for educators, genealogists, families of descendants, and military history scholars by participating in living history demonstrations, encampments, and specific battle reenactments.

According to re-enactors, the non-profit organization currently has twenty-one regular members under arms.  Wives, family, and friends are also invited to join.  The unit has 16 junior members acting as cadets and eight associate members, including Mr. Lewis’ wife, Christina, providing civilian impressions

In the summer of 1864, Woodbury, CT soldiers from the 2d CT VHA regiment, marched to Cold Harbor, Va., to fight in their first Civil War battle.  This summer on August 17^th, 18^th  and 19^th, local re-enactors will bring that battle home to Woodbury when they host the first large scale Civil War re-enactment ever to take place in that town.

 “In attempting to stress the importance of bringing text to life,” explains Mr. Santoro, “I often use the analogy of going to a wonderful Italian restaurant and expecting to get satisfied by reading the menu. Bringing text to life loads up all of the senses and causes the students to have a complete educational experience,” he said.

This was a fun lesson,” said fourth grader, Josey E.  “It really makes me think about all the things they didn’t have back then, like television and electronics.  I like that the re-enactors are here to tell us about what it was like.  It makes you think more.”