Transcript Tabitha R Uphill Battle Lesson Plan

Battles of Antietam
&
Fredericksburg
1862
The Uphill Battle
Lesson Plan by
Tabitha M. Richards
Topographic Map
Datum: a point of reference.
The concept of a topographic map:
 Contour lines - lines of equal elevation above or
below a reference datum (look in the key).

To visualize what a contour line represents,
picture a mountain and imagine slicing through it
with a perfectly flat, horizontal piece of glass.

The intersection of the mountain with the glass is
a line of constant elevation on the surface of the
mountain and could be put on a map as a
contour line for the elevation of the slice above a
reference datum.
You will find the
elevations of the
Confederate Line:
east of the
Dunker Church
(slide 4), the
Bloody Lane
(slide 5) and at
the Richardson/
Eshleman Line to
the West of the
Burnside Bridge
(slide 6) (red
stars).
Union Line: the
East Woods at 13
P R or
Pennsylvania
Regiment (slide
4), Roulette Farm
(slide 5) and
Burnside Bridge
(slide 6) (blue
stars).
Map by Andrew B. Graham
Note that the Contour interval between the contour lines is 10 feet.
Also note the closer the lines appear the steeper then incline.
Find the elevation of the
hill top to the east of the
Dunkard Church.
Find the elevation of the
13 P.R. (13 Pennsylvania
Regiment) in The East
Woods.
Does either side hold the
high ground?
Is either side
entrenched?
Find the elevation of
the Bloody Lane.
Find the elevation of
the Roulette Farm.
Does either side
hold the high
ground? Is either
side entrenched?
Find the
elevation at
the
Richardson/
Eshleman Line
to the West of
the Burnside
Bridge.
Find the
elevation at
the Burnside
Bridge.
Does either
side hold the
high ground?
Is either side
entrenched?
Antietam: The Bloodiest Day
Students will now read the
informational document regarding
the events leading up to, the day of,
and what happened immediately
following the Battle of Antietam.
Knowledge Check



Was there a clear winner at
Antietam?
If you had been in General
McClellan’s (Union) position what
would you have done differently?
Cite specific passages from the text.
If you had been in General Lee’s
(Confederacy) position what would
you have done differently? Cite
specific passages from the text.
You will find the
elevations of the
Confederate Line: Marye’s
Heights (slide 9), Lee’s
Hill (slide 10) and Lee’s
Headquarters (slide 11)
(red stars).
Union Line: Stafford
Heights (slide 9),
Shannon Flying Field
(modern site) (slide 10)
and The Slaughter Pen
(slide 11) (blue stars).
Map by G.E. Sission, Paul Blake, and
Benjamin Munroe.
Note that the Contour interval between the contour lines is 10 feet.
Also note the closer the lines appear the steeper then incline.
Find the
elevation of
Marye’s
Heights
(position of
the
Confederates).
Find the
elevation of
Stafford
Heights
(position of
the Union).
Did either side
hold the high
ground?
Extension:
Look up to
discover if
either side
was
entrenched.
Find the elevation of Lee’s Hill (position of the Confederates).
Find the elevation of east side of Shannon Flying Field (position of the Union).
Did either side hold the high ground?
Extension: Look up to discover if either side was entrenched.
Find the elevation of Lee’s Headquarters (position of the Confederates).
Find the elevation of The Slaughter Pen (position of the Union).
Did either side hold the high ground?
Extension: Look up to discover if either side was entrenched.
Battle of Fredericksburg
Students will now read the
informational document regarding
the events leading up to, the day of,
and what happened immediately
following the Battle of
Fredericksburg.
Knowledge Check



Was there a clear winner at
Fredericksburg?
If you had been in General
Burnside’s (Union) position what
would you have done differently?
Cite specific passages from the text.
If you had been in General Lee’s
(Confederacy) position what would
you have done differently? Cite
specific passages from the text.
Sources





"Battle Of Fredericksburg." History Net: Where History Comes Alive.
Weider History Network, 1 Jan. 2014. Web. 28 July 2014.
<http://www.historynet.com/battle-of-fredericksburg>.
Graham, Andrew B.. Map of the Battlefield of Antietam, Showing Troop
Locations as of September 17, 1862, Daybreak. N.d. Civil War Maps and
Charts by State, Washington DC. U.S. Corps of Topographical Engineers.
Web. 23 July 2014.
Riesterer, Jim. "What is a Topographic Map?." What is a Topographic Map?.
Geospatial Training and Analysis Cooperative, 7 Apr. 2008. Web. 29 July
2014.
<http://geology.isu.edu/geostac/Field_Exercise/topomaps/topo_map.htm
>.
Sisson, G.E.. Topographic map of Fredericksburg and vicinity, Virginia,
showing battlefields. 1931. Library of Congress - Civil War Maps,
Washington DC. Library of Congress. Web. 23 July 2014.
United States. National Park Service. "Teaching Materials." National Parks
Service. U.S. Department of the Interior, 15 July 2014. Web. 28 July 2014.
<http://www.nps.gov/anti/forteachers/classrooms/teachingmaterials.htm>.
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