The Civil War-era relics on display at the Rochester Historical Society meetinghouse illustrated an average soldier’s life during the nation’s bloodiest conflict.

Re-enactor and historian Mark Mello left it up to the audience to imagine the stories behind those objects.

A bullet taken from a Gettysburg battlefield, an authentic wooden canteen from the era and a 150-year-old hat worn by a Confederate soldier were passed among the group gathered on May 20 to hear Mello present “A Soldier’s Life,” a lecture.

“There’s something about holding these items that truly brings them alive,” said Mello, a Freetown resident.

The program was part of the society’s regular series that provides free presentations on historical topics.

Dressed as a 2nd lieutenant for the Union, Mello wore a black vest, riding boots, cap and white undershirt as he showed reproduction weapons, ammunition taken from battlefields and other items soldiers carried into battle.

Eighty-one Rochester men fought in the Civil War, including George H. Randall who participated in 15 major battles, 13 in Louisiana and two in Virginia.

“And he was never injured,” Mello said.

Born July 23, 1842 on Snipatuit Road, Randall returned from the war and lived to the age of 97.

Soldiers such as Randall fought in regiments with others from their hometown and state. Doing so boosted morale and prevented deserters, Mello said.

“You fought alongside friends and family,” Mello said. “If you were to run away, try explaining to mom and dad why your younger brother is dead on the battlefield.”

With an estimated 650,000 killed, Mello said the Civil War took the lives of more people than the combined casualties of all other U.S. conflicts. For the most part, men between the ages of 18 and 32 volunteered. Mello said their deaths greatly altered the country.

“A whole population was wiped out,” he said.

Mello brought artillery from the era to the presentation. He explained that cannonballs were designed to either explode over troops, bowl them over or act as a huge shotgun blast, spraying shrapnel across the field.

Handheld weapons such as rifles and sidearms were difficult to load and cumbersome he said, but proved to be more accurate than firearms from previous wars.

Officers, such as the one Mello portrayed, were generally issued Colt 1860s, a six shot revolver and a saber. Sabers, much like the bayonets affixed to rifles, were more for show then actual battle.

However, the bayonets did serve a useful purpose.

“It was an intimidation tactic,” Mello said. “And intimidate it did.”

In addition to the firearms, soldiers were issued haversacks. The haversacks, essentially utility bags, held soldier’s personal effects, cooking utensils and rations.

Mello brought a piece of hardtack that was passed among the audience.

“It’s made of flour, water and salt – salt if you were lucky,” Mello said. “These were the Twinkies of the day. They don’t spoil.”

One of the last items Mello shared was discharge documents for Thomas Lonsdale of Fall River. The framed piece of paper stated that Lonsdale was honorably discharge and paid $63 for his services.

Mello’s interest in the Civil War started when he watched the film “Gettysburg” as a 3-year-old. By the time he was 5, “I could quote the movie word for word.”

Mello eventually joined his father, another Civil War buff, in giving lectures and participating in battle re-enactments.

At the end of the presentation, he quoted Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain who surveyed Gettysburg after the battle in 1881: “In great deeds something abides. On great fields something stays. Forms change and pass; bodies disappear; but spirits linger to consecrate the ground for the vision-place of souls…This is the great reward of service. To live far out and on, in the life of others.”