Flowertown students pay rapt attention as information is provided by a member of the H.L. Hunley Camp.

By Susan Burges and Christine Mathews
Flowertown Elementary

How do you get kids excited about the Civil War? When members of the 27th South Carolina Volunteer Infantry and the H.L. Hunley Camp came to Flowertown Elementary, they did just that! Organized by Dave Mitchell and Rick Andrews, the Volunteer Infantry set up a camp similar to what the soldiers lived in. Dressed in uniform as Confederate soldiers and holding some original artifacts in hand, the Volunteer Infantry members guided third, fourth and fifth grade students through four stations. There, they learned about the weapons, Confederate money, and the daily life of a soldier during the war. At the end, the volunteers impressed students by firing various weapons. The students were excited about the knowledge and historical materials that the men brought with them. However, the students weren't the only ones that were excited! Teachers also had questions for the 27th South Carolina Volunteer Infantry. In addition, Mitchell and Andrews said that they would love to come back next year with their replica of the H.L. Hunley for students to discover. The stories that the Volunteer Infantry members shared went beyond a textbook. They dig back to the lives and real stories of the men and women who made history happen. One thing is for sure - when history comes alive, it's bound to be an experience that students will remember.