The Occupation of New Madrid

[toptimlrd]

Mike,

It's a long way but I am going to see if I can make the trip, you still have room for civilians?

[huntdaw]

We can use some civilians Robert. Let me know what kind of role you had in mind, i.e. civilian with the army or one of the locals that we might want to sent to Gratiot prison in St. Louis.

[toptimlrd]

Hmmmm, let me think about it and perhaps we can discuss offline. I have to get the boss' OK too.

[huntdaw]

Bump, bump folks. Don't forget to send in those registrations.

[huntdaw]

Another bump folks. For those interested in the action that went on around here, I will give you my deluxe tour of the area and what went on here. So, you get food, event, tour of a really neat historic house and tour of important Civil War action that many of you are probably not too terribly aware of. What an opportunity and its all free! Well, you do have to pay something to get yourself here and back home but it's still quite a bargain. Keep the registrations coming in folks.

[huntdaw]

Well Christmas is over and things begin to return to normal. Now to think of the New Year - so send in your registrations for this event and mark it down on your new 2012 calendar.

[Rmhisteach]

tour.jpgformation.jpgPrisoner.jpgInspection 2.JPGInspection.JPGKnapsack inspection.JPG

[huntdaw]

Bumpity-bump. I'm starting to get more registrations now that the new year has begun. Please send them in if you are planning on attending and don't wait until the last minute. I would like to be getting an accurate idea of attendance for rations especially.

[huntdaw]

Here are a few excerpts from Charles Wills who was in the 7th Illinois Cavalry at New Madrid. I thought folks might enjoy this.

"We were going slowly down on the town in line of battle, when a battery opened on us right smarly. We got out of that, but in good order. Only one shell touched us and that burst right under a horse's nose. One piece bruised the horse a little and knocked the rider off, but did not hurt the man at all, and the horse is now fit for duty again. Almost miraculous wasn't it? There were lots of shell and balls fell around us. On the 3d the whole army got here and we again marched on the burg. The gunboats opened on us and we had to draw back. That day three 64-pound shells burst within 30 yards of me....Today the cavalry have been out again to see if the gunboats have left, (that's all that keeps us from taking the town). The boats were still there and again shelled us, killing one man and a horse in the Michigan 3rd. They killed one man on the 3d in the 39th Ohio, and the same shell wounded several others....We have been scouting all afternoon and I'm blamed tired. I took four men and went it alone. Had a good time but got lost and didn't get back until 8 pm. Captured a lot of ginger snaps, and had a good talk with a handsome widow, while the boats were firing at the Michigan cavalry on our left. These shells don't scare a fellow half as much as the thoughts of them do. Whu you really don't mind it at all. I don't like the idea of those musket balls, but maybe that is also worse than the reality.

The enemy are separated from us by only a few cornfields, the country is perfectly plain; we can see from our tent door the smoke stacks of their gunboat, and the music of their band mingles with our own and yet 'tis confounded dull.

You'll see a vast amount of state pride here. The 7th Cavalry don't acknowledge the Michigander troopers to be more than the equal of Jeff Thompson's scalawags, and the Michigan boys really seem to think that the 7th regiment is not equal to one company of theirs...'Tis the same in the Southern army. Arkansas and Missouri troops have a mutual hatred for each other that has extended to the citizens of these states. This part of Missouri goes a great deal on old blood, the best variety I believe is Catholic French, and these people have a sovereign contempt for the barbarians of the "Arkansaw," while the Arkansawans accuse the Missourians of toe-kissing proclivities and cowardice.

"This morning the fort and town were found to be evacuated. I rode down through what is left of the town, for the Rebels burned many houses to give their guns a better chance at the approaches, and cut down nearly all of the shade trees. There was not an inhabitant left in town, they all moved out before we came here, and every door was open...Nearly every house in town has had one or more doses of heavy iron and several have been burned by shells.

I'd rather be in this down-the-river movement than any other part of the army. Have thought so ever since I joined the army. This cavalry business is bully. We have all the running around and fun and little skirmishing without much of the heavy work and tall fighting. The loss of the enemy we don't know but there are about 40 fresh graves at the fort and we found several dead bodies there this morning. Also found a half dozen men that were left by some means."

From Army Life of an Illinois Soldier

[huntdaw]

If you show up early enough, I will give you my deluxe tour of what happened here at New Madrid. I have also made arrangements for you to be able to see the New Madrid Museum CW stuff free. The highlight there is A.C. Riley's greatcoat and some personal items. He was commander of the New Madrid boys and moved up to command the 1st MO when Bowen was promoted. We'll also go visit his gravesite. So, we'll do this on Friday afternoon around 2pm. I am also willing to do the tour on Sunday after the event for those that have some time to stick around.