Eighth-graders see history in the making

september 14, 2009

On Thursday, September 17, Schuylerville eighth-graders saw history in the making as the remains of a Civil War soldier were interred at the Saratoga National Cemetery. The New York soldier was killed during the 1862 Battle of Antietam in Sharpsburg, Maryland, which is considered to be the Civil War’s bloodiest battle. This is the first time an unknown soldier was buried at the cemetery; the soldier was also the oldest laid to rest at the site. Additionally, the day marked the 147th anniversary of the battle.

“This is probably a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our students,” said Schuylerville Social Studies Teacher Tom Bryson. “I feel that any time we can take students out of the school to see and experience history, the classroom curriculum is cemented.”

Bryson read about the burial over the summer and began making phone calls to find out if Schuylerville students could attend. “The event is a perfect tie-in with the eighth-grade history curriculum,” he said. “The officials at Saratoga National Cemetery were very enthusiastic about our interest.”

The soldier’s remains—a belt buckle, bone fragments and a metal button—were discovered by a hiker in October 2008. The button design, which was particular to New York volunteers, meant the soldier’s origins could be traced back to New York State.