Into the Piney Woods Impressions

[Gallo de Cielo]

All,

A quick note to start your minds to turning as you watch football and feast on turkey in the company of friends and family.

Our guiding impressions for Into the Piney Woods are as follows:

Confederate- 28th Louisiana, Gray's Brigade, Mouton's Division

Union- 22nd Iowa, 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 13th Corps

Both were fine units who gave good account of themselves on several severely contested fields. For five days in March of '09 we'll walk in their footsteps and get a glimpse of what they experienced.

Kind regards,

[firstexas]

I can't wait Fred!! I am excited about doing a Louisiana soldier's impression. I need another BGR.

Pards, Bill.

[Pvt Peck]

Well I did Red River 1 and poured blood & flesh outta my brogans so this sounds right up my alley! Bring on the ticks & the mudbugs!

Ted Parrott
"Humbug"

[Federal Bummer]

Been wanting to do an Iowa unit for sometime. As a friend of mine would say, "OUTSTANDING." I starting to pray right now, that work doesn't screw me.

[DougCooper]

One of the cool things about the 22nd Iowa is that they actually list several killed and wounded during this period prior to Mansfield - they were at the point of the spear as it were. Great job by Tom and Fred in picking these two hard fighting (and marching) units. There is beaucoup info on the 28th LA from the QM of Gray's Brigade - supply, movement, etc. It is a fantastic read - The Reminisences of Uncle Silas, Silas T. Grisamore, 18th Louisiana Infantry. Grisamore had risen to Brigade QM by the Red River Campaign. it is a witty and very informative book.

[Cfarrell]

Fred, if I can recall the 28th Louisiana was from the Pleasant Hill area...correct me if I'm wrong. I know a number of post war graves are scattered throughout the area are of men who served in the 28th.

Kind Regards,

[Old Reb]

Cody,
The men of the 28th Louisiana were from Bienville, Jackson, Winn and Claiborne Parishes. All four parishes are in northcentral Louisiana. These men were from the piney woods and few owned slaves with the prominent occupations being subistent farmers, hunters, trappers and fishermen. In another words, they were backwoodsmen. Company G was from Winn Parish and Winn Parish was openly hostile to Confederate conscription officers and tax collectors.

Grisamore's book is an excellent read. His tongue in cheek praise of conscripts and shirkers and the hot blood seccessionist from New Orleans who just couldn't find time to actually serve in the army are classic!

[Cfarrell]

Thanks Tom. I kind of felt after I had posted that I got my units mixed up.

Regards,

[Old Reb]

One good thing about both the 22nd Iowa and the 28th Louisiana is they were both made up of hardy lads from the same side of the big river and thus tough fellows.

[Rob Murray]

Tom or Fred, Is there any thing to read on the 22nd Iowa, along the lines of Edward Newsomes book on the 81 Ill.?

[Hairy Nation Boys]

Yes. The 22nd was well documented. Seven of the ten companies we recruited out of Iowa City/Johnson County.(This just happens to be my hometown) With the University of Iowa and the State Historical Society located in town the number of resources are endless. I am going December 15th to do some research.

As far as books. Try Camp Pope Bookstore.
http://www.camppope.com/
It is an online bookstore devoted to the Trans-Mississippi. Just so it happens to be located right here in Iowa City. Clark is a good guy and he will help you with whatever you need. Camp Pope Bookstore is named after the training camp of the 22nd here in Iowa City. There is a marker, placed in 1926 to dedicate the spot. The City High football team played games there until roughly the
1940's, the soccer team plays there now and Longfellow school is now located on the site.

We have been waiting a LONG TIME to portray the 22nd and to finally portray an Iowa regiment. Nothing against the Hoosiers, Badgers, Suckers and Buckeyes but we Hawkeyes seem to get the major shaft when it comes to reenactments.
A very proud Hawkeye!

[huntdaw]

You're right about not seeing too many events doing Iowa impressions. Seems to be the same for Missouri Federal impresssions.

[Charles Heath]

Yep, I'm thinking 1st Iowa, 30th Iowa, and 35th Iowa pretty much sum up the only Hawkeye impressions I've ever enjoyed, but then again, I don't get out much. The MHG is kinda-sorta like Iowa in a loaner bayonet sort of way at Athens, and um,....never mind. :-)

[Alamo Guard]

With the age of most of us in the hobby I thought we might be the 37th Iowa, "The Greybeard Reg't"?....:)

[Hairy Nation Boys]

I am not ready for the Greybeards yet. :) Curtis King was 80 years old when he enlisted. Start recruiting at the old folks home.

I would some day like to portray the 21st Missouri at an event. They were the 1st NE Missouri Home Guard at Athens.

This winter I am going to write a history of the 22nd and Civil War Iowa City.

[Rob Murray]

Holler, Thanks for the above link. There is some nice reading material in there and Christmas is coming.

[Gallo de Cielo]

Rob,

There is some good info out there. The Reverend Doctor Harrison Holloway is presently getting some things rounded up. Perhaps he can chime in here with a few tidbits.

The website is being put together presently and once that is up and running we'll have additional information on there too.

Hope this helps a wee bit.

[Gallo de Cielo]

As I know there are thousands following updates to Into the Piney Woods on an hourly fashion, I wanted to offer a quick update.

We are altering the Federal impression from the 22nd Iowa to the 24th Iowa. The 24th was known as "the temperance regiment," through according to one junior officer within the unit, that commitment was not always followed to the T-
Jan 1864
"The boys had managed to get some liquor during the evening & quite a number of them got onto a regular spree. It was Christmas night & I let the Boys have their own way & they made a good deal of music. One of them John Pitman [of Tipton] talked very abusively about me at any other time I would not have stood it a moment but considering that it was Christmas night & a good many of the Boys were on a spree I thought I would let him have his say if it gave him any satisfaction. I am more than ever disgusted with drunkenness & there is no denying that there is too much of it in the army & that it is on the increase. When we are on a campaign the men can not get it, but when we are near the city a great many of them will have it & some will get drunk, My Boys have spent a big pile of money since we were paid off. "

With this tidbit in hand, I suspect many will go on a "spree" of their own.

I ask only that you save a pint of hard spirits for further announcements, such as the unveiling of the Into the Piney Woods website, which shall come in the near future.

Kind regards,

[DougCooper]

Yes. The 22nd was well documented. Seven of the ten companies we recruited out of Iowa City/Johnson County.(This just happens to be my hometown) With the University of Iowa and the State Historical Society located in town the number of resources are endless. I am going December 15th to do some research.

As far as books. Try Camp Pope Bookstore.
http://www.camppope.com/
It is an online bookstore devoted to the Trans-Mississippi. Just so it happens to be located right here in Iowa City. Clark is a good guy and he will help you with whatever you need. Camp Pope Bookstore is named after the training camp of the 22nd here in Iowa City. There is a marker, placed in 1926 to dedicate the spot. The City High football team played games there until roughly the
1940's, the soccer team plays there now and Longfellow school is now located on the site.

We have been waiting a LONG TIME to portray the 22nd and to finally portray an Iowa regiment. Nothing against the Hoosiers, Badgers, Suckers and Buckeyes but we Hawkeyes seem to get the major shaft when it comes to reenactments.
A very proud Hawkeye!

There are in fact 3 full length books on the 22nd, but as Holler discovered and Fred states below, they were very active on the back half of the Red River Campaign (suffering several dead and wounded in skirmishes) but did not join the brigade until after Pleasant Hill. Fox's Fighting 300 Regiments seems to indicate these casualties took place before Mansfield, but instead it was after.

So, as Fred says, we are switching to another regiment, the 24th Iowa. According to the owner of Camp Pope, there are no full length regimental histories of the 24th Iowa, but Holler and friends are all over the considerable info available in local historical societies, state archives, etc, including diaries. Kind of neat to see this much interest and hard work so far out...but the Hairy Nation Boys are thorough!

If anyone ordered a 22nd Iowa book from Camp Pope book shop to prepare (like I did) you can return them no questions asked for a refund, as "long as I can still sell them" says the proprietor, a good man and expert on the Hawkeyes.

[boozie]

I'm sure my Hawkeye pards will be pulling information out of the woodwork. Here is a little prime for the pump.

www.sunsite.utk.edu/civil-war/24th.html

[Silas]

I ran across this today while rummaging through google books : Roster and Record of Iowa Soldiers in the War of the Rebellion (http://books.google.com/books?id=-hTYaloutvUC&printsec=frontcover&dq=editions:0I5vBQ_ivNa-Y5vkart91sE#PPA781,M1). This link takes you to the section devoted to the 24th Iowa. Should the link change - because we are talking about the internet - look for volume three and start at page 781.

This event is pretty far away, but as we get closer, someone folks will want to do some digging on a history of the Union impression.

[Hairy Nation Boys]

We, here in Iowa are currently working on the research. We went to the State Historical Society of Iowa two weeks ago and I am sorry to say they do not have much on the 24th. The 24th did not have people(that was published) submit their diaries or any other kinds of research. We do have a 24th Iowa gorup here in Iowa (not an authentic based group) but they do have some information that could be helpful. We have found wherer each company was raised and some of the towns/townships they came from.

We plan on going again soon to look at the Iowa City newspaper and Cedar Rapids.

Silas that is a good source. Thank you! We looked at that at the State Building.

[JustRob]

Any idea what type of uniform regs we're looking at? Frock coat? Hardee Hat?

I already ordered by Iowa badge from Wendy Osman. How about you?

[Hairy Nation Boys]

Here is just a sample of the guidelines:
24th Iowa
Sack Coat
Dress Hat
Springfields '61.


Is the badge pewter? I would like to see what they look like.

More information to come.

[boozie]

If they look good Holler, count me in for one also. Maybe we can get enough for a bulk order, or at least cut the shipping cost.

I'm just ready to get into those piney woods again!!

Here is just a sample of the guidelines:
24th Iowa
Sack Coat
Dress Hat
Springfields '61.


Is the badge pewter? I would like to see what they look like.

More information to come.

[PVT.THIB]

I'm just ready to get into those piney woods again!!

That is one of the few times I will ever hear that statement about that forest. Now that I live near it in Natchitoches I hear lots of negative things about it. I, personally, cannot wait for the event.

[Hairy Nation Boys]

Wasn't it about a year ago that we were there? I too am very excited to get back. It is amazing that going on 18 years of reenacting THAT event was by far the best I have ever attended. I thought Wilson's Creek '91(My first big event) Raymond '98, and Athens '05 was good but wow!

From that event I met a group of boys that I will never forget:
Little Mac, Boozie, Goose, Gobtop, Tim Arnold, Preston, Troy Groves, Native, Bogert, the list goes on.

My days may be numbered in this "hobby" but I do know one thing... I will NOT miss next year!

[Gallo de Cielo]

Good thoughts Reverend Holler.

We are now just under a calendar year until we'll all be tucked into the tall pines southwest of Natchitoches in scenic Kisatchie National Forest. If you made the last one, we'd love to have you back. If you missed out on the first go-around, we'd love to have you give 'er a whirl. Support from lads on the Left Coast and from the UK and other distant lands is swelling. A goodly crop from closer by would be stout as well.

Kind regards,

[DougCooper]

Kicking one's own backside for years is painful. Best avoid all that by clearing your schedule now and joining us. BGR was the best in my 20 years in the hobby...but Baker and Yearby have a way of raising the bar. This will be no exception.

The Iowa badges were from a type produced for most all the western states. I have seen an original Illinois badge (Ill.) and they are pretty cool. All but Iowa were an abbreviation (Ind., Minn., etc). I honestly can't remember if it was silver or pewter or perhaps nickle. No telling if the 24th wore them in the RR, but they certainly existed. The Osman's did the research before they reproduced them.

[Parault]

What will the uniform requirements be for the 28th Louisiana?
Will we have the opportunity chose Federal or Confederate? or after we register will we be told which unit to prepare for?
I, along with my son are looking foward to participate in a well rounded event.

[CornFedComrade]

Holler and other interested parties,
Checking the current catalog for the Osmans states the "Iowa" badge is made of fine German silver. The price is $15 ppd.

Hope this helps,

[Hairy Nation Boys]

It would be ok if a few had them but not all. This real Hawkeye is not going to buy one. But please for those of you who want one buy one.

My company letter lasted maybe half the day last year. And it is somewhere in the LA woods. Fred or Tom could you find it for me?
Thanks Jeremy! I hope to see you and some Cornfeds at some events this year. Any chance a few of you could make Kennesaw? We need as many Iowans or those that portray Iowans there.
On Iowa!

[Gallo de Cielo]

Holler,

The Ground Hornets spent two days in January tramping the hills and hollows for our quarterly muster, to no avail. On the second night one of the pickets thought he saw the tell-tale glint of moonlight on a brass letter. The wind was such that bearer of the brass insignia was determined to be the Bayou Yeti, which lets off a fierce and distinctive musk.

The Yeti is believed to have picked up many items lost during the event, including my poke sack of smoking tobacco, lost the first day. It also had on a shirt dropped by Greg Deese, Frank Aufmuth's bugle mouthpiece, and part of TJ Brumager's shoe. Someone had taught it to eat pine needles as well, for the picket plainly saw the Yeti eating them.

Efforts to recover the brass letter failed but you'll get another crack at in come March of '09.

Regards,

[Hairy Nation Boys]

Fred,

Thank you for your efforts. We have a thing up here in Iowa called the Man Beast. Most be the same family.

By the way did you happen to see Chase Pinkum?

Oh Chase Pinkum
What were you thinking
you signed three years
to fight for Abe Lincoln!

We are already working on next year!

Can't wait!

[rkg]

Holler,
Just read your post and had to smile. 2009 is going to be bully!

[Hairy Nation Boys]

Goose(as we called Deese) also dropped on Saturday a deck of cards, a huge book (I think it was Moby Dick. I prefer Dime novels) paper and much, much more. He was like a sutler in the Sh*t A$$ Platoon.

We know the rebs had fun finding his stuff. Made for some really good first person. But it also should teach people to only take what you need!

Holler

[Cottoncarder]

Ah ha! That explains it! On the second day in 07 some of us trekked down to the waterfall for a much sought after bath. Mr. Burns and Simpson had built us a nice platform out of fallen wood that spanned the small creek on which to stand and it was tucked back into a fern covered grotto and out of sight of prying eyes. The waterfall then cascaded overhead from about the height of a modern day shower head. It took some mountaineering skills to climb down in there and needless to say the bulk of clothing had to be left up top draped on vegetation.

Upon returning up top I discovered the period cut glass broach I had bought from John and Beth Crabb missing and after crawling around on hands and knees in my underpinnings like a fool for a good long while, I gave up finding it. So, if you run into that dad burned Yeti, tell him that broach looks better on me will ya?:D

[Annette Bethke]

Are any civilian impressions expected for this event?

[Gallo de Cielo]

Annette,

Yes we are. I'll get some additional info up on that soon.

I work in college admissions and this time of year is fever-pitch!

Cordially,

[SCTiger]

Sign me up to as a Federal, I want to see how Master Campaigner Doug Cooper sets the example.

[Mcouioui]

For one spirit of this event...
A special thought today for our friend in all who would be 50 years old today...
"You miss us companion, but you are always there in our heart"

[DougCooper]

Sign me up to as a Federal, I want to see how Master Campaigner Doug Cooper sets the example.

Greg - do what we all did (including you) at BGR and just try to keep up with Baker and Yearby. :) We may need you to reprise your role as escape artist so we can find out what the Pelicans are up to.

[EVOC]

For one spirit of this event...
A special thought today for our friend in all who would be 50 years old today...
"You miss us companion, but you are always there in our heart"
__________________
William Miconnet


William,

I did not meet many of the Lazy Jacks at BGR, but I am an introvert. Steve walked up to me during a break in the last march and struck up a conversation. He impressed me as a fine, friendly gentleman.

p.s. I enlisted the help from a college student to translate your research on Black Confederates. It will probably take awhile longer.

[Mcouioui]

Thanks Joe,

Steve was like that, he was open-handed (le coeur sur la main) as said in French...

[Silas]

Boozie added this link to information in text format about the 24th Iowa : http://www.sunsite.utk.edu/civil-war/24th.html The great advantage is that it is quick loading. Unfortunately, it's lacking some important details.

I had provided this link to a scanned version in pdf format which is a slower load : Roster and Record of Iowa Soldiers in the War of the Rebellion (http://books.google.com/books?id=-hTYaloutvUC&printsec=frontcover&dq=editions:0I5vBQ_ivNa-Y5vkart91sE#PPA781,M1). It contains much of the same information as the text format provided by Boozie, but the advantage is that is it contains biographical information about every soldier in the regiment. In particular, there's information about state where born, place where enlisted, date when enlisted, date when mustered out, and incidentals like killed, wounded, captured, promoted, deserted and et cetera. Downloading the entire volume onto my computer made it much easier to view these pages than one at a time online.

I am fortunate to be able to review this information and a bit more at my local public library which contains all the volumes of the Iowa Adjutant General's reports. I was able to learn a bit more about the field and staff officers of the regiment from these other volumes. Once we get closer in time to the event and companies designated, a review of the biographical information for each company will be a great boon to the blue participants of this event.

[DougCooper]

Here is that portion of the Regiment's movement applicable to the event (AG's report from Boozie and Silas' links):

On March 5th, the regiment
was conveyed by rail to Berwick Bay, La. From there all camp equipage that could possibly be dispensed
with and all extra baggage was sent back to New Orleans, and the troops prepared for rapid marching as
reinforcements to the army under General Banks, then engaged in his unfortunate Red River Expedition. The
troops consisted of the Third Division of the Thirteenth Army Corps, which included the brigade to which
the Twenty-fourth Iowa belonged. The division marched rapidly to Washington, La., where it overtook the
Nineteenth Army Corps, under General Franklin. The march was continued, with occasional halts for rest,
when, on the 31st of March, the troops arrived at Natchitoches, La., having marched 290 miles. The march
was resumed on the 6th of April and, on the evening of the 7th, the troops arrived at Pleasant Hill, La.,
and found the cavalry engaged in a skirmish with the enemy at the front. The brigade was ordered to move
forward and support the cavalry, but, after marching about one mile, found that the enemy had retired. At
daylight the next morning the march was renewed, with the Fourth Division in advance. Five companies of
the Twenty-fourth Iowa were detailed as escort for the train in the rear. About 8 o'clock A. M. the
advance encountered the enemy, who, after a short skirmish, retreated. The Third Division halted to await
the arrival of the Nineteenth Corps, as the enemy was reported in strong force. At 2 P.M., the next day,
the march was resumed (April 9, the Battle of Mansfield).

Commander Terry Sorchy and staff (me as second in command, Silas as Adj and Brian Hicks as Sgt Maj) will be working out the details of the event organization based on this info and the detailed personnel info Silas has dug out. Note that two days before the Battle of Mansfield, companies B, E, F, G and K undner Maj Wright were moved to the front while companies A, C, D, H and I, commanded by a Capt Martin, stayed behind to guard the division train.

Stay tuned for more info on the 24th Iowa, recruiting for the event, etc.

[Old Reb]

Real fellows from Iowa will be well treated by the Bayou Yeti while traveling through his Kisatchie home. Those pretending to be from Iowa will be treated as trespasers and travel at their own peril and are advised to tie up any lose ends in their lives before entering the Howling Wilderness.

[FlatLandFed]

"Real Iowans" Hmmmm -- I was born a Hoosier but lived in Cedar Rapids for a year (Bully for long-lost Jackson Elementary) while my father completed his Creighton medical school residency, lived in Ames for two years while in grad school myself and ran newspapers in Guthrie Center and Missouri Valley until I figgered out what to do with my life.

Tom, it that enough "Iowan" in me to keep away the Yeti?

Oh, and I've ingested two weekend's worth of Misser Heef's fine vittles -- that should count for somethin.'

Cheers,
Paul Hadley

[Old Reb]

Paul,
I will defer what constitues an Iowan to the Harry Nation Boys since they are honorary Louisians whether they like it or not. As for Hoosiers, I like 'em and will speak a word in their defense to the Bayou Yeti. In truth, any folks pretending to be rebs from Louisiana will be equally at risk of the Yeti for it is very difficult to pretend to be from Louisiana though folks from east Texas do a good job of it when they try.

[huntdaw]

Don't know where that puts me as a Missourian. Like Popeye would say - "I yam what I yam and that's all I yam". Guess I'll have to leave it at that and take my chances with that Yeti.

[biddler165]

Tom,
How do you think the Yeti will feel about a Pensylvanian living in Texas?:confused: When I retire from my indentured servitude to Uncle Sam, I plan on staying in Texas.:D

[Silas]

Mike, some of the Missouri regiments involved in the campaign subsequently surrendered with Kirby Smith at Shreveport. This includes one of my GG grandfathers.

[Alamo Guard]

Those Yeti's are nothing to fear, us Texans can bulldog the Mississippi, rope the howling blue northern wind, and herd all the the stars in the western sky...all before breakfast.
If you wanna see tough look for a Texan :)

[Old Reb]

Rick,
You have nothing to fear from the Yeti for he thinks you fit in whether it be as a Texan or a Louisiana man. As for Dusty's comment, I remind him that Jim Bowie was from Louisiana and only ended up at the Alamo because they ran him out of the bayous and that it was the fellows from Fort Jesup, Louisiana that "went awol" and showed up at San Jacinto that saved the day. Me, I am a hybrid and can easily move between Texas and Louisiana and though I respect the Bayou Yeti, I do not fear him either. Seriously folks, it don't matter what state you come from, live in, have been run out of, but that you show up for Into the Piney Woods knowing if you missed BGR, this is your chance to redeem your honor. If you made BGR, well expect even a better event.

[Silas]

If you made BGR, well expect even a better event.

Tom, does this mean we get dancing girls and whiskey this time? These two ingredients have a particular way of spicing up events and increasing soldier participation. Consistent talk about bayou yetis and failure to provide rations of medicinal whiskey tend to decrease participation.

Just sayin'.

Silas Tackitt

[Old Reb]

My Dear Silas,
I have long been an advocate of increasing participation by furnishing whiskey and dancing girls as one of the perks. As for this occuring at Into the Pineywoods, I am sending Fred to Seattle in late September to discuss the matter with you. He will be staying at your house and expects to be entertained well. And Silas, though you are neither from Iowa, Indiana, Texas or Louisiana, you certainly are authentic in your impression no matter what it calls for. I still remember Rich Mountain and your impression of a monkey grinder and the love we expressed atop the fair mountain by moon light. Actually it was I who expressed the love and in truth it was lubricated by Mr. Baker's canteen of whiskey, and I know it meant much to you for you brought your entire company up that mountain for a second time just so you could surrender and be around your Texas friends.

[Gallo de Cielo]

Similar lubrication was applied in the woods at At High Tide as five Ground Hornets kept dry in the rain. We toasted the Yeti and Silas and dedicated our efforts to Tom.

And yes Silas, I will be in Seattle in Sept and will come knocking.

I hope a great many of you boys will come knocking this March for Into the Piney Woods.

Regards,

[Silas]

Hopefully it's not when I'm in Jaw-ga for Chickamauga or when my mother is visiting from SoCal. September is a good month here. You can feel the seasons changing in September as we finally reach the end of our few, warm, dry, days and commence our way into the long night of the wet season. What's a Texican like you coming to a place like this? Somehow I doubt you'll be here for the Sooners at Husky Stadium on the 13th. Possibly looking for Yeti's cousin Sasquatch?

[DougCooper]

Those Yeti's are nothing to fear, us Texans can bulldog the Mississippi, rope the howling blue northern wind, and herd all the the stars in the western sky...all before breakfast.
If you wanna see tough look for a Texan :)

when hungover...

Some of the CHAPs will be on the 2009 "Tour de Trans Miss" and will join our comrades from across the pond, across Texas, as well as north/south/east and west. Personally, my tentativ plan is to fly into Little Rock for the NSA Pea Ridge event, drive down in a big rental to Piney Woods in Louisiana, sampling the best BBQ on the way and then head into the lair of Bayou Yeti. Once escaped, I am flying back to Idaho out of Dallas, for the rediculously low total airfare of $350 (two one way flights). A round trip to Little Rock is $450. Go figure.