Some Key Facts

     Last Thursday it was once again time for the annual “History Days” at the Harry Grove Stadium here in Frederick. For those of you not familiar with Frederick, this is the home stadium for the Frederick Keys, a minor league baseball team for the Baltimore Orioles.  Groups of local school children come here to learn more about history at the various booths set up inside the stadium.  They also get to watch the baseball game.    

     As you may suspect, the staff here at the National Museum of Civil War Medicine is always happy to participate in this event!  You can see why in some posts about previous History Days here and here. 

The musket firing demonstration is always popular with the crowd!  This year, Tom got to do the honors.

Kyle got to throw out the first pitch, and to keep the ball!  If you’ve read some of my other posts, you’ll know that baseball was a popular game with Civil War soldiers.

     If you are wondering why Frederick’s baseball team is called the Keys, you might remember that the author of our National Anthem is Francis Scott Key.  He just happened to be born in Frederick County, and to practice law in the city of Frederick.  Maryland is full of tributes to him, including a Francis Scott Key Highway, two Francis Scott Key bridges, a Francis Scott Key shopping mall, and a Francis Scott Key High School! 

The Mount Olivet Cemetery, which is just across the street from the stadium, is the final resting place of Francis Scott Key.

     Key has somewhat of a Civil War connection as well.  His son, Philip Barton Key II, was shot and killed by Daniel Sickles, after it was learned that Key (the son) was having an affair with Sickles’ wife.  Though at the time Sickles was a U.S. Congressman, he later became a general in the Civil War.  In another interesting bit of trivia, Daniel Sickles was acquitted of this murder in the first use of the temporary insanity defense in the United States! 

Getting back to baseball…. Though we didn’t win this time, it was still a good game, AND we got to teach the fans a little more about baseball and the Civil War.  I’m sure everyone is looking forward to next year’s History Days!

A Different Way to Educate

     Most museums participate in various outreach programs, which help to promote the museums and educate the public about the missions of these museums.  These outreaches can be tailored for the general public, for a specific interest group, or for students.  Normally these programs are handled by the marketing or education departments, but sometimes collections staff members are included as well.  I was fortunate to be able to participate in a local outreach last week.

 

May 23 was History Day for many students at the Harry Grove Stadium here in Frederick.  This stadium is home to the Frederick Keys baseball team, which is an affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles.  The Keys’ name is in honor of the man who wrote our national anthem, Francis Scott Key, and who was also from Frederick County, Maryland.

 

 

     On History Day, various local museums and historical societies set up stations in the stadium for school children to visit.  Prior to the game, the students visit the stations to learn the answers to questions which have been supplied by their teachers.  Even though I know the subject of history can be fascinating, the students seem to have other things on their minds while in the stadium.  They race around to find their answers, hoping to still have time left to buy a hot dog, ride the carousel, and try to get some player autographs!

 

 

We managed to slip in some educational information during the game though!  Here, Kyle talks to the crowd about the muskets that Civil War soldiers used.

 

I think his demonstration of firing the musket was more popular with the students!

 

Clara Barton was even on hand to throw out the first pitch.  She actually has a pretty decent arm for a lady who’s been around since the Civil War!

 

Kyle wasn’t just firing a musket; he came dressed for the part as well.

 

Our Director, George, was able to tell the spectators a little bit about baseball, coffee, and beer in the Civil War.

  

It appears that Clara Barton is a Red Sox fan.  While I suppose it is understandable considering that she grew up in Massachusetts, I’m still not sure she should be allowed to sit with us!

 

The team’s mascot, Keyote, spotted us.  I suppose when your group includes people dressed in Civil War clothing, it makes you a little more noticeable!

 

Yes, we won!

 

     It appears that everyone had fun, and even learned a little bit of history too! 

 

Photos courtesy of the National Museum of Civil War Medicine.

Fun and Games

     Much of a Civil War soldier’s life was spent in camp, and camp life could be quite tedious.  Soldiers quickly came up with games to occupy their time.  Many of the games are old standards like card games, checkers, chess, and dominoes.  Other games, like lice races and cockroach races, were invented due to the conditions in the camp!  They also played a game which would later become known as our National Pastime.

     Playing baseball helped to ease the boredom of camp life, gave the soldiers an escape from the war, helped to maintain their physical fitness, and created a team spirit among the men.  Some soldiers took baseball equipment to war with them.  When they had no equipment they had to improvise with fence posts or tree branches for bats, and rag-wrapped walnuts for balls.

An illustration of Union prisoners at Salisbury, North Carolina playing baseball. 
Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress.

     

     Sometimes the camp baseball game would be interrupted by a battle.  A Union soldier named George Putnam once wrote about a game that was cut short by a surprise attack on their camp in Alexandria, Texas.  In his words:

Suddenly there was a scattering of fire, which three outfielders caught the brunt; the centerfield was hit and was captured, left and right field managed to get back to our lines. The attack...was repelled without serious difficulty, but we had lost not only our centerfield, but...the only baseball in Alexandria, Texas.

     It is difficult to discern from his account whether he was more upset over losing a comrade or their baseball!  It does give an idea of how much the men enjoyed the game.  In fact, the popularity of the sport surged after the war.

     So, when our museum was contacted to participate in History Days at the stadium of our local class A baseball team, the Frederick Keys, we happily accepted.  We set up a table which had information about Civil War medicine, and the middle school students there had to find answers for their history packets.  The pace was a bit frantic at times, but I think the students learned at least a little bit from us!

Students hunting for their answers at our table.

Here are the questions for the students. How many of them can you answer correctly?

Tom dressed as a Civil War soldier and demonstrated how to shoot a musket. The first baseman got in on the fun and fell down after the shot. That certainly got everyone’s attention!

     Once the game started, most of the students found their seats.  It gave us a chance to enjoy watching the game too. 

    

Here’s George Wunderlich, the Executive Director of the NMCWM, on the big screen, telling the crowd about baseball and the Civil War.

Now that the crowd has thinned out we can watch the game.

     I suppose this week’s post is missing its usual artifact element, but this is an occasional part of my job.  I have to admit that it’s nice to be able to have a legitimate excuse to attend a baseball game for work!