Hundreds of children and their parents have a new appreciation for what the battlefield experience is like.

Nearly 800 students and their parents came from all over Virginia and the region to get a unique glimpse of life during the Civil War. Some came all the way from Lynchburg while others came down from Pennsylvania.

Educational stations were set up at New Market's Battlefield Historical Park to teach the students about the life of Civil War soldiers.

Thomas Huffman brought his two daughters and he says it's important for children to learn about historic events through hands-on activities such as the ones in New Market.

"This is an awesome experience. I was telling the lady earlier that it's a part of our history that not a lot of people want to remember, but it's something that our kids really need to learn about because if it wasn't today, because of that war, is how our society is today," says Huffman.

Huffman says his daughters learned a lot and had a great time.

This is the first time an event like this has been held for home-schooled children.