2005 Events - Which Might You Attend?

[Eric Tipton]

Phil Campbell posted a question earlier about how far you might travel to attend a quality event next year. In the interest of gauging interest for potential events on next year's schedule, which of these event might you plan to attend in 2005? A nod to Phil and the other members of the OTB for putting together this preliminary list.

If you wish, please respond with other quality events you know about and explain your reasoning for attending specific events - i.e. organization running the event, location, scenario, etc. If you are involved in the planning of an event or have some information about it, it might be useful for others to determine their interest.

The poll option is set up so that may select more than one event if you plan to attend more than one.

[Eric Tipton]

I received a message from Keith Bartsch that these three events were either cancelled or never got past the discussion stage:

Woodlands, Immortal 600, and Port Gibson March

It doesn't appear I can edit the poll, so keep this in mind when voting. If the moderators could take these out, it would certainly help the validity of the results.

Thanks to Keith for the update.

[James Masson]

Ft. Sumter anyone? Sounds like it could make for an interesting event and something I would like to do.

[Eric Tipton]

Moderators:

Can you add one to the poll:

The Reoccupation of Ft. Sumter - Feb. 18, 19, 20, 2005 - Charleston, South Carolina

Thanks!

[Dale Beasley]

Of the Events, that are listed.....Corinth is in, I guess that Port Gibson will not be until 2006?......Really dont know what all events that I will attend....but it darn sure will not be OIF3..............

[K Bartsch]

Ft. Sumter anyone? Sounds like it could make for an interesting event and something I would like to do.

Thanks James. :wink_smil Plenty of Ft Sumter Re-Occupation info/images here.
http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=56

There are two facets to this event. After a tour of the island and extant works, the overnight on Morris Island is immersive. The two days on Sumter are semi-immersive based on three boatloads of site visitors per day.

Registration to begin concurrently w/website stand-up around 1 Sep 04.

event administrator,

[Kate Vogel]

Shouldn't Order #11 be on that list? Or has this been killed a la BK55? (Say it ain't so, Frank!) If it's not dead yet it'll be an excellent opportunity for valid military/civilian interaction, a mass exodus of civilians, and a sizeable march for us as well. Perhaps Phil Campbell will grace us as a crotchety, wagon driving old man.

Katie Vogel
taking a four year leave of absence from dressing up in funny clothing

[LibertyHallVols]

Based on the number of votes for each, are Sailors Creek and Shiloh going to detract from each other?
:confused:

Just an observation,

[dusty27]

John,

Good question. Would it be helpful to have what side(s) will be portrayed for each event listed?

If so, I can change the poll to reflect such. Let me know.

[Eric Tipton]

John,

Good question. Would it be helpful to have what side(s) will be portrayed for each event listed?

If so, I can change the poll to reflect such. Let me know.
Dusty:

SHILOH NAT’L MILITARY PARK
AUTHENTIC FEDERAL INFANTRY PROGRAM

PORTRAYAL:

8<SUP>th</SUP> Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Co. I
Colonel Ogelsby
Colonel Hare’s Brigade
McClernand’s Division

This Shiloh link to the Salt River Rifles web site is also in the Events folder, but it would probably be helpful for this discussion:

http://www.geocities.com/saltriverrifles/SHILOHNAT.htm (http://www.geocities.com/saltriverrifles/SHILOHNAT.htm)

Any links to web sites that are already in existence would probably help as well.

[DougCooper]

Shiloh is actually one week later according the above link (we need to fix that Eric). Too bad they are so close as for those of us way out west it is machs nichts once the competing events are both more than 2000 miles away - travel about the same. Two completely difference types of events - LH vs a strenous 140th.

I wonder though if the Shiloh program could not attract many more participants than the 40-50 called for, especially with there apparently being no Port Gibson event :cry_smile

[Campjacksonboy]

2005 Shiloh, Athens, and General Order #11

Getting back to Athens, MO (August 5, 1861) there is a technicality that I wish to clarify. On the survey it's listed as "US" and "CS". Get rid of the "CS" Missouri had not seceded yet and when they did (in late October 1861)...whether it was a "legal" secession continues to be a subject of debate. Any way its "US" vs. "Missouri State Guard." There were some pro-southern elements in the MSG but for the most part some men in Missouri at that point still had pro-Union sympathies. They seemed to be fighting what they saw as a northern invasion of their state (Illinois and Iowa men) and illegal interference on the part of the Federal Government. There wasn't one "Confederate" at Athens and Ben McCulloch was adamant in not taking his Confederates north of Wilson's Creek (August 10, 1861). Pillow and Hardee crossed the river at New Madrid, MO but left about as fast as they came. The men of the Missouri State Guard were not Confederate troops and by August of 1861 they had not joined the Confederate Army. They were still state troops fighing for Missouri.

Its a technicality with a fine line but it would do you all well to observe it. Missouri politics at this time were very interesting. If you would like to read up on it sources are listed below.

*Gottschalk, Phil. In Deadly Earnest: The History of the First Missouri
Bridage, CSA. Columbia, MO.: Missouri River Press, Inc, 1991.

*Read Chapter 1 "The War Comes to Missouri."

Dixon, Ben. "Farthest North: 1861. Don Diego's Liberia, 1969.

This is the best and perhaps only book on the Battle of Athens. There are no records or reports in the O.R. Unfortuately it's out of print but an Inter-Library loan might work.

This was copied from the park brochure that borrows heavily from Dixon's book all you have to do is click and paste:
http://www.hometown.aol.com/campjacksonboy/HistoryofAthens.html

Sincerely,
Frank Aufmuth

[MoFed]

"Any way its "US" vs. "Missouri State Guard." There were some pro-southern elements in the MSG but for the most part some men in Missouri at that point still had pro-Union sympathies. They seemed to be fighting what they saw as a northern invasion of their state (Illinois and Iowa men)..."

Wow, David Moore and the rest of the 1st Northeast Missouri Home Guard that was raised in Lewis, Clark, Knox and Scotland Co., Missouri would be very interested to learn that they were invading their own state.

Charles D. Hoskins

[Campjacksonboy]

Charles
I was specifically referring to that time When...

"a Union force from Illinois crossed into Missouri to quell a Fourth of July secession riot in the Lewis County town of Canton..."
(From the park brochure)

...And what about Major Callahan the fighting minister who got his hat shot off at the corn field and immediately turned tail and retreated across the Des Moines River (Dixon, Ben Boomerang 56) , Was he from Iowa or am I mistaken I can't find where he was from.

Also from the writings of Ben Dixon: "The Iowa Infantry and already taken over the Hannibaland St. Joe Railroad and was stationed at Macon...(Dixon, Farthest North: 1861 111)

Now you know, of course, all men in northern Missouri were not in the Missouri State Guard. Not all men in the MSG were Unionists but many set out to protect Missouri's neutrality (Dixon 101). Finally not all men operating in northern Missouri in 1861 were from Missouri.
Col. Moore and the rest of the strong Union men...um...they had nice muskets and bayonets.

I guess it all depends on how you look at it but thank you Charles for your Northern view to balance it out a little. I guess Frank Friel caught me when I was young and impressionable...I was brain washed and the medication hasn't kicked in yet. :wink_smil
Frank Aufmuth

[DougCooper]

Guys - the info on Sayler's Creek in the above poll is competely wrong:

The Sayler's Creek event "Lee's Last Retreat" is a 2 day campaigner tactical featuring a running fight of 4 miles per day - just like the event used to be conducted back in the 80's.

It is not a "Preservation march" though there are plans to donate a gift to the state park. The event takes place April 15-17, NOT Easter weekend 1-3 April as it says in the poll and is one week later than the anniversary weekend mainstream battle reenactment that will take place on April 8-10 at Sayler's Creek SHP.

There will be two major actions per day with rear guard skirmishing throughout. The event will culminate Sunday on the park in the final assault of the 6th Corps vs Ewell at Sayler's Creek. The website will go up Oct 1, 2004 and there will be beaucoup internet and hard copy information and publicity.

From talking to Mike Hendricks, James Owens and others, this is going to be a good one. Dom dal Bello has been asked to command the federals. Sayler's Creek used to be the highlight of the year due to the unspoiled rural area of the retreat route and the near constant contact between the retreating rebs and pursuing yanks.

it's back and should be better than ever. Look for more info from the organizers in the next few weeks.