Responses from four students in Mrs. Harris' Social Studies class can be viewed below:
Julian Washington
"Research your topic and summarize the ‘who, what, when, and where’ in the form of a few paragraphs"
B.A. Osborn, 1st Maine Cavalry, ca. 1864
Maine Historical Society
The Lincoln contribution to the war effort was 1,261 women and men. In 1861, 86 volunteers came from Lincoln and in 1862, 58 volunteers came from Lincoln. During the war more than twenty-five regiments received Lincoln men in the Civil War. I think all the people that fought in the Civil War were really brave.
One of the men that was part of the Civil War from Lincoln was William Copeland Clark. He fought in Virginia and North Carolina until April 1864. After the war, William Clark was a member of the Maine House of Representatives.
Another man that was from Lincoln and part of the Civil War was Benjamin Browne Foster. He practiced law in Lincoln from 1858 until the Civil War began. He joined the 11th Maine Regiment on November 2, 1861. He got all kinds of awards in the army.
Cody Jordan
"Create a ‘why’ question, research the answer, and create response answering the question"
Why did people from Lincoln want to fight in the war?
W. C. Clark of the 18th Maine, 1861
Lincoln Historical Society
People from Lincoln who fought in the Civil War might have agreed with President Abraham Lincoln about the Southern states breaking away, forming their own country, and having slavery. The men from Lincoln wanted to stop slavery and the secession too, so they joined the Union states to fight against the South to end slavery and reunite the United States.
There were people in the Civil War who were drafted, which means that they were picked in a draft by the government, like a reserve to serve in the military. There were also volunteers who wanted to fight for the North and restore everything back to normal. The people who were drafted might not have felt so strongly about the war; they were probably the ones who could care less if the South was separated from the U.S.
Theresa Clifford
"How does this topic connect to you in your life today?"
Without the Civil War most African Americans and even women would not have a lot of the rights that they have today. Life could be much different for these people. Slavery may also still be going on. My family or people I know could be involved as slaves or they might have owned slaves. We wouldn't have the rights to a lot of things that we have now.
"Describe your feelings or the feelings of someone living at that time when a certain event happened"
My feelings of the Civil War today are upset, grateful, and thankful. I’m upset that people had to go through the pain of war to help others be free; that they had to sometimes walk until their boots tore or were killed in battle. I am grateful that people were willing to die for what they believed in and for us. I am thankful that more then 1,261 people from my area and 2 million total in the Civil War would risk their lives to save others. More than 600,000 of them lost their lives trying, so that people today are not put into slavery and women and African Americans can vote.
If I lived back then, I think that my feelings on this would be the same. I think that I would be upset that my husband, son, nephew, or anyone in my family would have to fight for me. However, I would thank them for what they did and I would be grateful for them doing that not only for me, but for the strangers they would be risking their lives for.
"How did the Civil war impact your life? Your future? Or future as a town?"
The Civil War impacted my life because, when I am 18 I have the right to vote on my beliefs. However if it was back in 1860’s, I wouldn’t have that right as a female. The Civil War started people thinking about civil rights, like rights for women and people of other races. This impacted my future because, my children, nieces and nephews, and grandkids will be able to be free in the years to come. Hopefully, they will realize all the things that the people in the Civil War did for us.
Works Cited
Fellows, Dana Willis. History of the Town of Lincoln, Penobscot County, Maine, 1822-1928. Lewiston, Maine: Dingley, 1929. Print.
Goodwin, Beckie. Their Eyes Hath Seen the Glory. Lincoln Center, Me.: B. Goodwin, 1992. Print.
Morin, Robert. "Remembering the Civil War". History Term Paper. University of Maine, 2008. Print.