Photo 5: Freedmen's School: One of the many Freedmen’s schools in the postwar South.

I became the African
American’s top rail
To teach and to educate
Those who don’t fail
Doing so much good
And feeling hunkey dorey
Teaching all of these freedmen
So they can one day tell their story
Reconstruction, rebuilding
And new generations to come
Will have the ability to learn from me
And gentleman become
Reading and writing
Are the main things taught
Books, writing utensils
And paper were the main things brought
One day all of these children
Will be happy and joyful
In their new life, where they
Will be educated and hopeful

Photograph 1: Ruffin, Pvt. Edmund, Confederate soldier who fired the first shot against Fort Sumter

By the hands of Mr. Edmund Ruffin
I began the civil war
Fired against Fort Sumter
Didn’t know what was in store
All I heard was screams, moans
And the Yanks are coming
Fire, fire, fire
Can’t leave them controlling
Hurray, we have won the battle
But I feel so ashamed
Hurt so many soldiers
And the Union we defamed
Now that I have been through the mill
And feel so played out
We have lost the war
And now the Yanks victory shouts
Each side had their own thoughts
And thought they knew best
But now it is all finally over
And I feel very blessed