The Civil War: Americans Asunder | Merrymaking and Observances | Black History In their own Words | Sports and Games The Civil War: Americans Asunder Click on these special features to enhance your understanding of Civil War topics. These narratives, period photographs and images, and quotations were compiled by Fort Ward staff as an educational resource. Explore these web studies to find out about holidays, sports, the contributions of African-American soldiers, military funerals and much more... Montgomery C. Meigs - Master of Efficiency Civil War engineer Montgomery C. Meigs is still making his mark in the 21st century with enduring public works projects and historic structures. "Ought it not be a Merry Christmas?" Fighting for Freedom: Black Soldiers of the Civil War Voices from the Past: Alexandria, VA 1861-1865 Civil War Baseball: Battling on the Diamond We Are All Americans: Native Americans in the Civil War Animal Mascots of the Civil War Unhappiness Abroad: Civil War Refugees Merrymaking and Observances "Ought it not be a Merry Christmas?" For a nation torn by Civil War, Christmas in the 1860s was observed with conflicting emotions. The holiday celebration most associated with family and home was a contradiction, It was a joyful, sad, religious, boisterous and subdued event. Black History Fighting for Freedom: Black Soldiers of the Civil War Approximately 180,000 African American soldiers took up the call to fight for the Union Army and end generations of slavery. Read about how these men had to fight not only the Confederates but prejudice as well. In their own Words Voices from the Past: Alexandria, VA 1861-1865 The prospect of a divided country and possible armed conflict prompted eloquent Alexandrians and visitors to the city to record their thoughts in diaries, letters, newspaper articles, and military communications. These voices offer a vivid portrait of life in Civil War Alexandria. Sports and Games Civil War Baseball: Battling on the Diamond In this brief chronicle of the origins of our national pastime, Fort Ward Museum explores the founders, heroes, rules and practices of the game.