Melissa+Coto-+1863

January 1863 Dear Diary,

The Civil War is still going on, and seems like this country just can’t stop fighting. We eagerly await the arrival of the soldiers who fought in the Battle of Stones River, although we don’t really know who’s comin’ home they say both sides suffered from a high number of casualties. President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation earlier this month, he’s tryin’ to free the slaves and that Confederate president Jefferson Davis delivered his “State of Confederacy” address. Too many speeches, and too much fighting if you ask me. February 1863 Dear Diary,

I was readin’ the Territorial Enterprise earlier and I saw the most peculiar name, Mark Twain, never seen him before. Arizona became a territory, wonder what they’ll do with that one. I’ve been hearing about Lincolns National Bank Act and because of it we’re going to have some sort of national currency system. March 1863 Dear Diary,

Those of us in the city are now having our postage delivered for free, they’ve hired 449 letter carriers so far! There’s still fighting goin’ on, but West Virginia agreed to slowly let all their slaves go free. Private Jacob Parrott received the first Army Medal of Honor this month for his role in the Great Locomotive Chase. Isn’t that somethin’? April 1863 Dear Diary,

The draft went into effect this month; all those poor boys are gonna be shipped off to fight when they should be in school. There’s still too much fighting goin’ on, we’re in the third spring of the Civil War, the people of Richmond are hungry and starting to riot. They’re callin’ it the Bread Revolt. They opened a hospital for the Ruptured and Crippled in New York, something about it being an orthopedic hospital, lord knows we need it with this war still raging. May 1863 Dear Diary,

The confederates are now waving a funny looking flag, no more Stars and Bars for them they say. Their anger ain’t getting’ them very far, Mr. Stonewall Jackson was wounded by his own men when he attacked Chancellorsville, the south won that battle. 29,000 men either died or were wounded, can you believe it? They created the Bureau of Colored Troops this month, that’s nice of them and the first black regiment left Boston to go fight in this bloody battle. June 1863 Dear Diary,

That Harriet Tubman was in the news the other day, she’s goin’ about freeing the slaves. Us women are beginning to rise up, we’re forming political organizations and making ourselves heard by writing letters delivering speeches and forming the Woman’s National Loyal League. July1863 Dear Diary,

Idaho now has a new city, Boise. We’re fighting at Gettysburg right now, and they keep saying it’s the largest battle ever fought on the American continent. Can you believe that? They drafted the first round of young men this month. I’ll be prayin’ for them. I’m hearin’ now that General Lee withdrew from Gettysburg, maybe this war is about over. August 1863 Dear Diary,

I guess there’s more fighting to be had they’re over in Little Rock, and then Fort Sumter, and Rocky Gap, so many battles I can hardly keep up. The Saratoga Racetrack opened in New York this month, seems like all the fun is to be had up there nowadays. October 1863 Dear Diary,

Sorry I skipped a month, nothing really to tell it was the same old stuff, such and such fought this, so and so seized that. I’m about dang tired of this war. Lincoln announced that the last Thursday in November will be Thanksgiving Day, that’s nice, a day for gathering during this time of great struggle. They’ve got this sport in England now that they call football,

November 1863 Dear Diary,

Four score and seven years ago, that’s all you hear about nowadays. They battled in Knoxville, Chattanooga, Missionary Ridge and Ft. Sanders this month, wouldn’t be surprised if Tennessee is blown to smithereens. December 1863 Dear Diary,

This’ll be my last entry for the year. Good Ole Abraham Lincoln issued his Amnesty Proclamation he’s talking about reconstruction and post war measures in the South. Looks like we are nearing the end of this war, I sure hope the new south is more peaceful than the last.

Pedagogical Implications: A Year in Review


 * 1) To begin the A Year in Review process I would show the students a variety of documents from a particular year we were discussing in class. I would then have them read through each document and note the different perspectives of that time during that year.
 * 2) I would then have them identify a year they are particularly interested in, and we would begin with the website “On This Day,” This website gives them a good overview of events from a specific year.
 * 3) After reviewing the overview of their selected year they would need to identify some key features they would like to focus on- for example, my year in review repeatedly discusses the wars going on during 1863, this was my main focus.
 * 4) Stylistically they will be given the same options we were, they can write a poem, song, Forest Gump rendition, diary, they could make a skit… etc.
 * 5) Students will need to submit drafts on designated days, and will present their final product.

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