The Course that Took Nine Years to Complete
When I saw Advanced Civil War listed in the college catalog, I was curious. I had taken Civil War and Reconstruction at another campus of the same college (NVCC), and I had enjoyed it, especially the field trip to Gettysburg.
I called the phone number listed in the catalog and was able to speak to the instructor, Charles Poland.
Basically, he told me, It's a field trip class. It consists of on-site lectures at places that were significant in the Civil War.
Field trips! That sounded like fun to me! I asked where we would be going.
Alexandria
Harper's Ferry
Bull Run
Ball's Bluff
I signed up! That was in Spring of 1990. Little did I know that I would take the course for nine summers, sequentially following the action of the war in Virginia and nearby states.
- Summer 1990: The Conflict Begins,1859-1861
- Summer 1991: Jackson's Valley Campaign, 1862
- Summer 1992: The Peninsula Campaign, 1862
- Summer 1993: The Antietam Campaign, 1862
- Summer 1994: Fredericksburg to Dranesville and Mosby's Raiders, 1862-1863
- Summer 1995: The Gettysburg Campaign, 1863
- Summer 1996: The Aftermath of Gettysburg, Grant's Overland Campaign,1863-1864
- Summer 1997: The Valley Campaign of 1864
- Summer 1998: The Petersburg Campaign and Appomatox, 1864-1865
Not all students take the course summer after summer, but a surprising number do. My classmates were diverse in age, from 18 to over 70. The repeaters were mostly middle-aged or older. Some had begun the classes before I did and were still with us in 1998, having repeated the later years of the war. These people are history buffs with an interest in the Civil War that is strong enough to motivate them to get up early on a Saturday morning and drive 30, 50 or even 120 miles to arrive at a Civil War site where the tour starts, and spend the day standing, listening, walking, and driving around the countryside.
But it takes more than an interest in history to keep people coming back year after year.
What kind of instructor attracts such a following? One with
- talent
- enthusiasm
- logistical ability
- knowledge.
Dr. Poland tells the stories of history with the fervor of an evangelist. Actually, he was once a preacher! Many trips conclude with a sermon of sorts, often a eulogy presented in a cemetery, a tribute to the soldiers who died in the battles that were described that day. He knows Civil War history in depth, the result of years of reading, writing, and teaching. He plans each field trip carefully, traversing the itinerary ahead of time, usually accompanied by his wife Betty.
Betty Poland has her own role in planning the trips. She identifies potential restroom stops along the route and helps check out a good place for lunch. She also watches for shady places for on-site lectures.
A Typical Trip
The class meets at a designated place on Saturday morning. (Time varies by location, usually between 8 AM and 9:30 AM.
Early morning, Pamplin Park near Petersburg |
The professor sets up his flip chart and introduces the historic background and the day's itinerary. Students sign in; hand-drawn maps are given out. Sometimes there is a walking tour associated with the lecture.
Back at the parking lot, Dr. Poland explains directions to the next stop. Participants travel by private vehicles to the next stop, which has been scouted out in advance as having sufficient parking for 20-30 cars. (Even though some students carpool, some come alone or with a friend or family member, so there are LOTS of cars!)
The next stop may be longer or shorter, but will feature visual aids, probably a map or diagram, possibly a reproduction of an old photo. Later stops will feature more charts and maps, a walk on the battlefield or a museum visit, and with luck, restrooms!
Sometimes the vehicles stay together in a caravan; sometimes each driver is on his own with directions and a map. Yes, folks get lost sometimes, especially since back roads are not always marked clearly.
A talk at The Dictator, Petersburg
 |
Lunch is usually a picnic in some pleasant spot, not necessarily featuring picnic tables or other niceties. It is a chance to socialize and relax.
The tour continues after lunch, with stops in historic spots both well-known and little-known, some so obscure that most participants would never find them without their guide, Charles Poland!
Often the afternoon includes a stop at a Civil War cemetery, or at least a building that was used as a hospital. We are reminded of the tragedy of men fighting their own friends and relatives, young men wounded and dying for a cause that they believed in, but for which many of us must struggle to understand today.
"On our field trips we see a faint fog of history. If we could see what it was really like, how hideous it was, we wouldn't dare to set foot here." [Cold Harbor]
Dr. Poland's Field Trip Tips for Teachers
- Limit what you teach - set the foundation.
- Maps should be simple.
- Use memory keys to help students remember. For example, a drawing in the shape of a mud turtle is a memorable way to show the shape of the Confederate line. This is a way of simplifying complicated information.
"Good communication doesn't try to give you everything."
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Experiencing the Drama of History
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Modified April 9, 2003
