I have visual learners.  They’re also kinetic learners they need something they can touch. There’s some lessons I do well with this, and others not so much.

The Civil War is playing nicely to their strengths.

We talked about the battle of Fort Sumter, which was a fairly anti-climatic battles itself for something that was the start of so many horrible things to come.

The metal tin represented the fort.  Beige soldiers are Union army, and red is Confederate.

Confederate forces ordered the evacuation and abandonment of all Union forces in December of 1860.  They expected Major Anderson to leave his command, instead he entrenched himself into the fort.

In March General Beauregard of the Confederate Army surrounded the Fort.  The situation became more and more desperate for the small contingent.  President Lincoln attempted to send reinforcements.

On April 4, 1861 the first shots of the civil war were fired, as the Confederates decided they had to take the fort before the Union reinforcements arrived.

On April 13, 1861 Major Anderson agreed to evacuate Fort Sumter under the gentle advice of a former Senator Louis Wigfall.

You have defended your flag nobly, Sir. You have done all that it is possible to do, and General Beauregard wants to stop this fight. On what terms, Major Anderson, will you evacuate this fort?

A great lesson that a gentle answer turns away wrath and can stop a battle before anyone dies.

Major Anderson’s one condition was a 100 gun salute to the United States flag, and he and his men were allowed to leave without any injuries or deaths.

The first battle of the Civil War ended with no casualties.

Linking up over at All Things Beautiful