Pupils learn about Civil War through reading program

Civil War 150th Anniversary

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Pupils listen as Scott Saxton of Endless Mountains Hot Air Balloons Inc. of Bucks County talks about the balloons Wednesday during the final day of the One Book, One Community Middle School Reading Program at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College in Richland. Todd Berkey
Tom Helsel of the 2nd U.S. Cavalry Company A plays a bugle. Todd Berkey

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May 18, 2011

Kelly Urban kurban@tribdem.com The Tribune-Democrat Wed May 18, 2011, 11:18 PM EDT

JOHNSTOWN — In conjunction with the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, Cambria County middle school pupils had an opportunity to travel back in time and learn about what life was like during those tumultuous years in American history.

The One Book, One Community Middle School Reading Program, hosted by Pennsylvania Highlands Community College, wrapped up Wednesday at the college’s Richland campus. It was designed to engage youngsters in a variety of activities related to the war.

Roughly 1,500 pupils were guided through 14 stations over the three-day event to listen to volunteers speak on topics such as ballooning, code breaking, glassblowing, medical treatments and music. In addition, Civil War re-enactors were on hand doing demonstrations.

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Civil War 150th Anniversary

Civil War 150th Anniversary PDFs
June 9, 2011
PART 4: War nears end with Overland Campaign
Part IV of a four-part series printing Sundays in June.

June 25, 2011 3 Photos
PART 3: Gettysburg campaign: Not a man faltered
The second day of 1863 was marked by an arms upgrade to the new .69-caliber rifled musket. Then soldiers – including Westmoreland County native William Ferguson Leslie – encrusted it on Gen. Ambrose Burnside’s infamous Mud March three weeks later.

June 18, 2011
PART 2: Invasion of Maryland: ‘A blizzard of fire’
As William Ferguson Leslie and the 11th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry were making their way through Virginia in autumn of 1862, Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee was writing his final orders to implement his invasion of Maryland.

June 12, 2011 3 Photos
PART 1: ‘Old Eleventh’: Into the heart of battle
William Ferguson Leslie was born and raised in the Ligonier Valley, Westmoreland County, and answered President Abraham Lincoln’s appeal for three-year volunteer soldiers to confront the Confederate rebellion.

June 4, 2011
Society sews up period fashion show, dinner
Period clothing from uniforms to ball gowns will be modeled to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. A Civil War fashion show and dinner, “From the Homefront to the Battlefield,” will be held at 6 p.m. June 11 at the Friedens Lutheran Church, 131 S. Main St.

June 2, 2011
Pupils learn about Civil War through reading program
In conjunction with the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, Cambria County middle school pupils had an opportunity to travel back in time and learn about what life was like during those tumultuous years in American history.

May 18, 2011 2 Photos
Local siblings received mercy
Soldiers from Somerset County came within a whisper of being executed after being captured and imprisoned during the Civil War. They were saved through the efforts of Somerset County Judge Jeremiah S. Black and the mercy of President Abraham Lincoln.

May 1, 2011 2 Photos
Somerset County soldier fought on despite wounds
Tobias Yoder, a Somerset County soldier in the Civil War, was as close to being a super man as anyone might imagine.

April 23, 2011 1 Photo
Local troops faced VMI’s teen brigade
“Look! They’re only children!”
That cry must have rung from the lips of many Union soldiers at the Battle of New Market on May 15, 1864.
Among them were members of the 54th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment, a large part of whom was recruited in Cambria, Somerset and Indiana counties in late summer of 1861.

April 16, 2011 2 Photos
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