Trifter

Located in Petersburg, Virginia, Pamplin Park is a well-preserved battlefield dedicated to honoring the memories of Union and Confederate soldiers alike. It’s one of those “Virginia things” — things you aren’t aware of unless you live here.

In Nebraska, my home state, the Civil War is studied in school; its battles scrutinized and memorized until the unit test is over and something else — some other piece of American history is dissected. The Civil War, for all its violence, destruction, and its place in American history, is nothing more than some vague disagreement that took place between North and South a long, long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.

But hey, Nebraska was, after all, in its infancy at the time of the Civil War. And with the battlefields of our nation’s deadliest war half a country away, the whole thing takes on a vague and “legendary” quality. At least it did for me . . . until yesterday.

The Grounds

The grounds at Pamplin Park still bear evidence of the alterations the Confederate soldiers made. Square mounds rest in the center of an open field between the Education Center and the Battlefield Center. These mounds mark locations of Confederate cabins.

Site map of Pamplin Park. www.pamplinpark.org. 

Mounds from earthworks Confederate soldiers constructed in order to keep the Union Army at bay remain, eroded by weather and time, but still very evident. The trench along the outer edge remains, dipping deeply before sloping sharply upward to the mounds constructed by thousands of young men.

Hart Farm, the place where Mrs. Hart remained with her children throughout the long war, still stands atop a hill with a view from all sides, a place well-suited for defense against Union soldiers.

Tudor Plantation rests here, and numerous other fascinating sites I didn’t have the opportunity to see during my brief visit.

The Museum

The official Museum of the Civil War Soldier houses artifacts, reproductions, photos, and a knowledgeable staff ready to answer any and all questions.

Each person is given a MP3 player upon entering the museum. Museum visitors can pick and choose what they wish to listen to. Numbered selections are posted throughout the museum making this a very efficient way to learn. Rather than being filled with noise from a crowd of restless students unable to hear the guide, the rooms were filled with the sound of quietly shuffling feet of children being given the means to discover things on their own.

The amount of artifacts is impressive. And equally impressive is the fact that Pamplin Park honors soldiers from both sides of the war. All were, after all, American.

Impressive artifacts I saw include the fused north and south bullets. Apparently, these bullets, one from the Union side and one from the Confederate side, met in mid-air and fused, stuck that way forever. Another amazing item is the bullet-stopping bible worn in the breast pocket of a soldier. Bible and bullet are on display in the museum. There are weapons, uniforms, photographs, too much to mention here.

Education

As I mentioned, the staff is excellent. Our guide kept the students in line by dividing them into two companies (A and B) and leading them through the park while playing Civil War songs on his fife or his harmonica. At times, he sang marching chants with the students. His patience and kindness were exemplary.

The students were able to practice drilling with a re-enactor in period dress. He taught them about the uniform he wore (all wool and very hot), how to load a rifle in nine steps, how to right face, left face, about face, etc. The children used wooden rifles and learned to shoulder arms.

Another military officer in period dress explained to the children how shirkers, stragglers, and thieves were punished.

At the end of the day the kids were allowed to “re-enact” the Union’s taking of Petersburg after discussing what military strategy might have been best.

Cost

Total cost for each student was $27.50. This could be prohibitive for some, but I felt it was well worth the money.

Mom-o-Meter

I have to give Pamplin Park 4.5 out of 5 stars on my meter. The staff was great, the activities were well-organized, and the homage paid to all American soldiers was touching. It was a great field trip. If I have one complaint, it is that I didn’t get to see everything. The reason for the half-star deduction: cost might be prohibitive to some children. However, I do feel the park is well worth the price of admission.

To learn more about Pamplin Park, check out www.pamplinpark.org.