Soldiers from Scarborough were present at most of the major battles of the Civil War from Gettysburg to Antietam to the Red River.

In fact 240 men from town enlisted in the Union Army and those men represented about 15 percent of Scarborough’s total population at the time.

Now, 150 years after the war ended, Scarborough’s contributions are being celebrated with a project sponsored by the library, called “Local & Legendary: Maine in the Civil War.”

On May 14 at Wentworth School, a multi-media presentation, featuring middle school students, will culminate the yearlong project that also included a One Book, One Community event and a Civil War film series, among other programs.

In addition, the Scarborough Historical Society has created an online exhibit, entitled “Scarborough: They Answered the Call,” which is now available for viewing on the Maine Memory Network website.

The exhibit includes photos and research regarding the soldiers from Scarborough who went off to fight in the war, which lasted from 1861-1865. The historical society also plans to upload a spreadsheet listing all the soldiers from Scarborough, including enlistment and discharge dates, company information, and, in many cases, information about what happened to them when they returned home.

The online exhibit also includes the speech Augustus Moulton gave when the town dedicated its Soldier’s Monument in 1913. The monument still stands at Dunstan Corner and is a reminder of the many sacrifices the residents of Scarborough made during the war.

The speech reads, in part: “During the Civil War no town and no place surpassed the patriotic record of old Scarboro. Every quota was promptly filled. Every requisition was promptly met. The town was depleted of its young men. In all the great battles . . . men from Scarboro took part . . . and did their duty.”

General Robert E. Lee surrendered on behalf of the Confederacy on April 9, 1865. But by that time many of the men from Scarborough had died in combat or from other causes.

Scarborough’s war dead include George E. Merrill, who died at the Battle of Fredericksburg in 1862; Henry Farr, who fell at the Battle of Cedar Creek in 1864; Robert Waterhouse who died in the Battle of the Wilderness in 1864; Enoch Snow, who died at the Battle of Ponchatoula in 1862; and Mahlon Parker who died during the Siege of Port Hudson in 1863.

Of the men who did return, the most well-known include Freedom Milliken who was the town clerk for many years; Noah Pillsbury, who became Scarborough’s first mailman and toll taker for the Columbia Pike; Thomas Libby, who opened the West Point Hotel at Prouts Neck; and Horatio Hight, who represented Scarborough in the Maine House of Representatives.

Celeste Shinay, the programming and development manager at the Scarborough Public Library, was the team leader for the Civil War project and this week said exploring the town’s history is important because it “provides context for where we are today, but more importantly, it brings us together and creates a sense of place.”

What she most enjoyed about the Civil War project, Shinay said, is that it “was very inclusive,” with students, the historical society and even individual members of the community taking part, by providing photos or other source materials.

She called the Civil War a “critical period in our country’s history” and noted that returning soldiers often suffered from what was then called Soldier’s Heart and is now known as post-traumatic stress disorder.

“Combat at that time was very raw and few were prepared for what they would witness,” Shinay said. “The similarities between then and now were very compelling to explore.”

Other important aspects of the project included bringing organizations within the community with a common interest together, Shinay said.

In addition, the funding provided through the project also supported Scarborough Historical Society’s efforts to become a 21st century institution. “They now have a sophisticated cataloging database, Internet access and a strong online presence,” Shinay said.

Engaging students in the exploration of local history has also been an important aspect of the Civil War project, according to Shinay, who said, “Their interpretation of our community’s Civil War history has been fascinating.”

She added, “They have a way of pulling in contemporary comparisons that many of the adults on the team never considered. And they were also very respectful of the artifacts and stories related to those who served.”

Shinay said involving students at the middle school in the Civil War project has also led to “building future stewards of our community’s history. We hope the students will continue to be engaged in local history beyond the classroom.”

For her part, Shinay said the most interesting thing she learned during the Civil War project is how Scarborough truly answered the call.

“Scarborough met and exceeded the quotas. And many re-enlisted. I think that commitment speaks to our community today. People who live and work in Scarborough are committed to preserving its reputation and quality of life. Knowing our history – understanding what came before – makes us stronger moving forward,” she said.

Mary Pickard, the member of the historical society assigned to work with Shinay and Jessica Kelly, a teacher at the middle school, said the joint project was a great way to “explore Scarborough’s Civil War legacy.”

She said the team from the historical society researched Adjutant General reports, Scarborough town reports, the Maine State Archives and online sources for information about soldiers from Scarborough.

For Pickard, one of the highlights of working on the Civil War project was the opportunity to meet with a descendant of Hiram Berry, a soldier from Scarborough who enlisted in the Union Army in 1864.

She said Berry’s relative shared “family history, photos and trivia of and about Hiram.” Another item of interest was a letter written by Clara Moses to her friend, Gardner Waterhouse, in which she cautions, “Take good care of yourself as you can.”

Pickard’s hope is that viewers of the online exhibit regarding Scarborough’s role in the Civil War, “will gain an appreciation of the town’s loyalty and concerns during the Civil War period and how events at that time may have shaped the Scarborough of today.”

George E. Andrews, who was born in Scarborough in 1832, served as a second lieutenant in the 12th Maine Regiment, Company D, during the Civil War. He mustered into the service in 1861 for a three-year period.Edward Pilsbury served as a second lieutenant in the 12th Maine Infantry, Company C during the Civil War. Following the war, he was stationed in Savannah, Georgia, to help with the reconstruction of the South. He is buried at Dunstan Cemetery. Courtesy photosOn Feb. 1, 1864, at the age of 18, Hiram Berry enlisted as a private in Company C of the 12th Maine Infantry. This document acknowledges Berry’s receipt of $200 for enlisting on the quota for the town of Scarborough. He is buried at Dunstan Cemetery.Horatio Hight served in the 12th Maine Regiment, Company C during the Civil War. He enlisted as a second lieutenant on Nov. 15, 1861, at the age of 27.A broadside with the headline: “To Arms! Citizens! Our Country Calls!” encouraged residents of Scarborough to join the 12th Maine Regiment in the fall of 1861.