If These Walls Could Talk: The Little Rock Arsenal and the Old State House during the Civil War.

Wednesday, July 13, 2021 9:00 am—12:00 pm Virtual Workshop FREE Professional Development for Teachers

Discover the significance of the Little Rock Arsenal and the Old State House during the Civil War in this three-hour workshop.

Sponsored by the MacArthur Museum of Military History and the Old State House Museum.

 3 Hours of credit available  Registration required  For more info or to register: [email protected] [email protected]  Zoom link will be emailed to participants upon completed registration

MMAMH is a museum of the Little Rock The Old State House is a museum Parks & Recreation Department. of the Division of Arkansas Heritage. Workshop details

Discover the significance of the Little Rock Arsenal and the Old State House Museum dur- ing the Civil War. In this 3-hour session, educators from both the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History and the Old State House Museum will each conduct shorter ver- sions of three of their K-12 Civil War-related programs.

For brief descriptions of the featured programs, see below:  The Arsenal Crisis in Little Rock: Did you know the first shots of the Civil War were almost fired in Little Rock? Before Arkansas formally seceded from the United States, a militia group came into the city and threatened to seize the Federal Arsenal from the soldiers stationed there. Only a compromise between Governor Henry Rec- tor and Captain James Totten prevented armed conflict. That building now houses the MacArthur Museum of Ar- kansas Military History. Discover the educational opportunities and resources about the Little Rock Arsenal Crisis that are available for teachers and students.

 A Wagon Too Far: The Camden Expedition: After Federal troops recaptured Little Rock in September 1863, the Union armies wanted to expand their control of southern Arkansas, , and . In late March of 1864, General Fredrick Steele left the Little Rock Arsenal with hopes of linking up with General Nathaniel Banks’ army in Louisiana, so both armies could then invade Texas. However, low supplies, stiff Confederate resistance, and General Banks’ defeat in Louisiana forced General Steele to abandon his campaign and retreat to Little Rock. This session provides content and resources regarding the importance of supplies during the Civil War and high- lights the accomplishments of African American soldiers fighting for the U.S. during the Camden Expedition.

 You Be the Judge: Educators participate in a role-playing activity designed for 5th-8th grade students, where they assume the parts of judge and jury in the trial of Confederate civilian, David O. Dodd. Over the course of the program, students review the original trial transcript, study the evidence for themselves, determine sentencing and closing arguments, and ultimately debate whether historical accounts of Dodd’s activities accurately reflect the known facts of the case.

 The Accoutrements of a Union Soldier during the Civil War: People are often surprised to learn how the Civil War divided Arkansas. During this time, men from Arkansas fought for the preservation of the Union and to free enslaved people. At the outbreak of the Civil War, there were over 111,000 enslaved people in Arkansas who sup- ported the Union, along with thousands of white Arkansans and their families. More than 20,000 Arkansas men fought in the U.S. Army during the early 1860s. This program explores the equipment carried by these Arkansas men and the daily hardships they experienced as they fought to preserve the Union.

 Medical and Surgical Care during the Civil War: The era is often referred to as the “Middle Ages of Medicine” in U.S. History. There was a distinct lack of good care and many common misconcep- tions regarding the quality of that care during this time. This program covers the following themes: (1) medical environment at the time of the Civil War; (2) medical theory prior to the Civil War; (3) standard treatments prac- ticed by physicians; (4) educational requirements to become a physician; (5) camp diseases and their treatment; (6) battle wounds and surgical procedures; (7) wounds and infections. By the conclusion of the program, students will better understand medicine as practiced during the Civil War and how modern hospital practices and treatment methods owe much to the legacy of Civil War medicine.

 Soldier’s Aid Program: The Soldier’s Aid Kit introduces students to various items such as food, clothing, and bandages, that were desperately needed by the Confederate soldiers who were homesick, often ill, and suffering at camp. As the war raged on through the years, the Confederate government had less and less aid to support their military. This was due in part to poor planning by the Confederates and smart planning by the Union. As a result, Confederate citizens stepped up to help their soldiers’ needs. These life-saving aid kits often included much-needed items of dry food goods (like coffee, beans, rice); clean bandages and lint to fill and protect wounds; and fresh new clothes, especially socks, shirts, and pants. Without this aid, many soldiers were left to fend for themselves or die.