The Gunnery at War
Like Charles Goodyear, Mr. Gunn
believed that it was necessary for each person to participate in the war
effort. To that end, during the 1860s, the style of his school changed to
that of a military school. He wrote, "Bill, if I cannot go to war, I
will do my best to make warriors." He did, and many of his students
were influenced by his new military school.
On Thursday, June 6th, an article in the Litchfield Enquirer mentions some of the activity of the Gunnery students:
"The juvenile Zouaves of F. W. Gunn's school paraded in full uniform. A salute of 34 guns was fired, the "star-spangled banner," and other patriotic songs were sung, and brief speeches were made by Rev. Augustus Smith, Elijah Woodruff, Esq., and F. W. Gunn. We had a happy time."
The picture to the left helps to illustrate what the Litchfield Enquirer was talking about; the military marches of the students in Zouave uniforms.
One of the great traditions that began because of the new military style of the school was the tradition of camping. F. W. Gunn is credited as starting recreational camping as we know it today, and the tradition goes back to 1861 when he took his students on a forty mile walk to Welch's Point in Milford. Similar walks continued in 1863 and 1865. The students set up camp for a week, and during that time, continued their education, played, and participated in military style drills. They also received news of the war’s progress while camped. Some of the students who later joined the war effort were no doubt greatly influenced by Mr. Gunn's military school, and especially the annual camping trip to Milford. Charley Goodyear, however, would not have participated in this first camping trip, as he had already joined the military by then. He does in his letters, however, support Mr. and Mrs. Gunn in their effort.
The tradition of the "School Walk," a day hike through Steep Rock, in the fall around the time of F. W. Gunn's birthday every year, commemorates these camping expeditions. The tradition of organized camping is practiced almost daily by those who venture into the woods to enjoy nature and sleep under the stars (or in a tent).
Sources:
Litchfield Enquirer: Thursday June 6th 1861
Stray Shot, March 1917 40
The Gunnery Archives
Silverman, Sara '08, The Nature of Camping, 2008
On Thursday, June 6th, an article in the Litchfield Enquirer mentions some of the activity of the Gunnery students:
"The juvenile Zouaves of F. W. Gunn's school paraded in full uniform. A salute of 34 guns was fired, the "star-spangled banner," and other patriotic songs were sung, and brief speeches were made by Rev. Augustus Smith, Elijah Woodruff, Esq., and F. W. Gunn. We had a happy time."
The picture to the left helps to illustrate what the Litchfield Enquirer was talking about; the military marches of the students in Zouave uniforms.
One of the great traditions that began because of the new military style of the school was the tradition of camping. F. W. Gunn is credited as starting recreational camping as we know it today, and the tradition goes back to 1861 when he took his students on a forty mile walk to Welch's Point in Milford. Similar walks continued in 1863 and 1865. The students set up camp for a week, and during that time, continued their education, played, and participated in military style drills. They also received news of the war’s progress while camped. Some of the students who later joined the war effort were no doubt greatly influenced by Mr. Gunn's military school, and especially the annual camping trip to Milford. Charley Goodyear, however, would not have participated in this first camping trip, as he had already joined the military by then. He does in his letters, however, support Mr. and Mrs. Gunn in their effort.
The tradition of the "School Walk," a day hike through Steep Rock, in the fall around the time of F. W. Gunn's birthday every year, commemorates these camping expeditions. The tradition of organized camping is practiced almost daily by those who venture into the woods to enjoy nature and sleep under the stars (or in a tent).
Sources:
Litchfield Enquirer: Thursday June 6th 1861
Stray Shot, March 1917 40
The Gunnery Archives
Silverman, Sara '08, The Nature of Camping, 2008