Civil War Battle Investigation Enrichment Project
Completion of this assignment will earn you 20 points. This will be counted in
the grade book as 20 out of 20 points.
Due by January 9, 2015
Your assignment is to cover a battle of the Civil War from the perspective of a historian. You will be asked to
share your information with the class after completion. You can create a poster, PowerPoint slide show, a video
newscast, or video documentary.
You may complete this Enrichment Project with two other people if you choose to complete a video. Divide the
work among members of your group. There should be no more than 3 people in a group. Have everything
ready before the due date.
You may choose any battle from the Civil War to complete this project. The list of battles below has a lot
of information available in the library, textbooks, and on various websites that are listed below.
First Manassas ( Bull Run)
Battles of Seven Days
Second Manassas ( Bull Run)
Antietam
Fredericksburg
Chickamauga
Chattanooga
Wilderness
Spotsylvania Courthouse
Cold Harbor
Chancellorsville
Gettysburg
Vicksburg
Shiloh
Cedar Creek
Assault on Petersburg
Your presentation must include:

A description of the major events of the battle in chronological order, including the date and time of day
the events happened. Who attacked first? Was this battle fought for a particular reason?


The generals and leaders of each army at the battle.
At least two photographs from Selected Civil War Photographs 1861 - 1865, an archive of photos
from the Library of Congress.
Include at least one map of the battle to explain the action to the class. You should show starting troop

positions, fortifications, physical features and landmarks, and troop movements in the battle.
The American Memory Collection also hosts a Civil War Maps Collection. PBS also has a series
of Civil War Maps.
What was the significance of this battle on the course of the War? BIG IDEA

The following National Park Service site is good for basic facts about the battle – casualties,
campaign, etc.
http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/abpp/civil.htm
This National Park Service site gives you links to some of the battlegrounds that are now national parks, which
then have more information.
http://www.nps.gov/history/history/categrs/mili2.htm
This site has most of the battles presented in Flash animations. It will show movements of troops and
key events of the battle. It also has buttons you can click for other information about the battle.
http://civilwaranimated.com/
This site is good for finding primary sources, official military records, officers reports,
etc.http://www.civilwarhome.com/records.htm
The Library of Congress site is good for searching
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/index.html
Special collections of maps - http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/civil_war_maps/
Photo collection - http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/cwphtml/cwphome.html
Great Map Site - Civil War Trust
A good information source - Virtual Reference Center Type in the location of your battle, ie. Vicksburg
More links than you should ever need can be found here on the American Civil War Homepage. Battles are
near the bottom of the very long page.
A major resource for your research will be Joyce Valenza's and Len Arlen's Webquest Resources Page. Use
their free links - the others belong to the school they work for.
More Links!
Battle of Wilderness - Source 1
Primary source - Petersburg
Battle of Wilderness - Source 2
Eyewitness account - Wilderness
Battle of Wilderness - Source 3
Animated Civil War
Cold Harbor Battle - primary sources, maps,
information
Battle of Wilderness animation
Civil War Battles: An Investigation Rubric
________ A description of the major events of the battle in chronological order, including the date and time of
day the events happened.
________ The generals and leaders of each army at the battle.
________ At least two photographs
________ Include at least one map of the battle to explain the action to the class. You should show starting
troop positions, fortifications, physical features and landmarks, and troop movements in the
battle.
________ Why was this battle fought?
________ Who attacked first?
________What was the significance of this battle on the course of the War?