150th Shiloh FEDERAL Paddle Wheeler Adjunct

[Matt Woodburn]

Shiloh 150th Anniversary Event Adjunct, March 30-April 1, 2012 - WIG Maximum Effort


You may have heard that many authentic groups on our end of the hobby have decided to come together once a year during the 150th anniversaries to create a regiment. It's the same groups who are coming from all over the U.S. and are putting together the 2nd Mississippi Infantry effort at First Manassas this July. To keep as many guys interested from all over the U.S. it was decided last year that events should be held both east and west, and portrayals would be both Federal and Confederate. OK, seems fair enough. Since we are in the east doing Confederate this year, 2011, the 2012 event is going to be in the west as Federals.

The Grand Adventure (TGA)

Imagine being ten miles upriver from Pittsburg Landing in Savannah, TN. General Grant was headquartered in Savannah for a short time at the Cherry Mansion before he left for Pittsburg Landing. The private property you are camping on Friday night has a large white mansion atop a bluff that looks like the Cherry Mansion. Very early Saturday morning, you are awakend to proceed to the river's edge where you see against the dark night sky a paddle wheel steamer dimly lit by candle light. Your regiment, the 15th Iowa Infantry, is ordered to board and make it's way to Pittsburg Landing. The original 15th Iowa Infantry aboard the paddle wheeler Minnehaha did make a short stop in Savannah on their way to Pittsburg Landing. You walk up a gang plank on the dirt bank (no modern marina dock) and find a place on the steamer. For the next two hours you will travel down river, be fed breakfast, be issued rations, and anticipate what's ahead. The steamer will stop at a designated spot where it will swing out the gang plank onto the bank and you will disembark. Here you will be issued ammunition and will hold a dirt road to the landing. Once we receive word that we're needed at the front, we will make a five mile march on the original battlefield to the actual event site where we will fall in under the First Federal Division (FFD). Terry Crowder who is the current leader of the FFD has graciously offered to send us a cavalry escort and a wagon with water for our march. He is excited to have us fall in with the FFD and has also offered to find a seperate camping location away from the masses for our regiment. This will be a large national event with many modern intrusions that we'll have to overlook, but it will offer the experience of taking a paddle wheeler and marching into battle which is a once in a lifetime chance. Minimum age for this adjunct event is 16 years old. A great team has been assembled to make this event a memorable experience that all of us will talk about for many years.

Just to keep all of you in the loop, the paddle wheeler holds 140 passengers to adhere to modern maritime laws (can't pack you in like sardines like in the 1860s). We will likely have to make two trips by wing to transport everyone, so that's a limit of 280 men max for this adjunct. We've already got 240 men for Manassas and are just starting the last month push for registrations there. My point is you don't want to wait to register for this Shiloh adjunct or you will literally miss the boat. We will make an announcement when our registration will open and where the website is. The national event has not opened their registration yet, so I don't have cost details as of this post. Don't hold me to this, but I'm guessing about $45 for this adjunct which will cover Shiloh national event registration ($20), bus transportation from the event site to Friday night's camp site in Savannah, TN where we board the boat ($4), the paddle wheeler trip ($15), and weekend rations ($6). This will give you and your pards time to discuss this event and determine if it's for you. I tell you all of this now to consider so when registration opens, you and your pards can register early and not miss out on this great experience. Now how's that for some fun!

Identified unit impression: 15th Iowa Infantry
Impression guidlelines based on historic data: much of the impression comes from details in the histories written by the original soldiers of the 15th Iowa
Established Organization and Structure with reasonable goals for numbers: The WIG is the host organization and we are working with the same units from around the country that are currently putting together the 2nd Mississippi Infantry effort for the 150th anniversary of Manassas. This will be a continuation of the cooperative effort of these units as we create a regiment each year of the 150th Anniversaries. Number is limited to 280 which is about where we are for the 150th Manassas.
Activities outside the event standard schedule that add value to the event for the participant: trip on a paddle wheeler like the original 15th Iowa did arriving the first day of fighting, breakfast on the paddle wheeler like the original 15th Iowa, march to the event site on original battlefield like the original 15th Iowa, ration issue, guard mount, regimental wagon, mounted staff and many other fun and period activities that the fine units that make up this regiment are known for.

Check back for adjunct website with registration and uniform guideline details coming soon!

[pvt_jb]

If I could register now I would.

[desotobob]

Actually registration is now available at the below link. It is $20 per person. I would love to join you guys, but I am mayor of Purdy TN at this event, which comprises a Progressive Civilian Adjunct. The cost is $20 for the registration itself. Hurrah for Col. Crowder and the FFD!

http://www.cleburnes-division.com/re...aspx?EventID=7

[BrianHicks]

Actually registration is now available at the below link. It is $20 per person. I would love to join you guys, but I am mayor of Purdy TN at this event, which comprises a Progressive Civilian Adjunct. The cost is $20 for the registration itself. Hurrah for Col. Crowder and the FFD!

http://www.cleburnes-division.com/re...aspx?EventID=7

Robert,

Appreciate the effort, but the registration link/info you provided is simply for the basic registration for the Mainstream event, but Not For The WIG Adjunct as the WIG effort will cost more due to the expense of transportation to, and the ride aboard the Paddle Wheel boat. If anyone is wanting to participate with the WIG effort, wait until the WIG opens it's registration up. The WIG registration will include the cost for the big event, as well as the Adjunct effort. Please pay attention to the info posted by Matt Woodburn (in the first post above).

[J. Donaldson]

I know where I'll be during the last weekend of March next year.

[dirtyshirt]

Bravo, Bravo, Bravo. I could almost end my career with this scenario...so long as it doesn't rain out like in '97.

[Milliron]

Ha! We're so in.

[KPavia]

I'm think I'm going to stalk this thread until registration opens to be sure to get in.

[M.T. Moses]

Shiloh 150th Anniversary Event Adjunct, March 30-April 1, 2012 - WIG Maximum Effort

The Grand Adventure (TGA)

Imagine being ten miles upriver from Pittsburg Landing in Savannah, TN. General Grant was headquartered in Savannah for a short time at the Cherry Mansion before he left for Pittsburg Landing. The private property you are camping on Friday night has a large white mansion atop a bluff that looks like the Cherry Mansion. Very early Saturday morning, you are awakend to proceed to the river's edge where you see against the dark night sky a paddle wheel steamer dimly lit by candle light. Your regiment, the 15th Iowa Infantry, is ordered to board and make it's way to Pittsburg Landing. The original 15th Iowa Infantry aboard the paddle wheeler Minnehaha did make a short stop in Savannah on their way to Pittsburg Landing. You walk up a gang plank on the dirt bank (no modern marina dock) and find a place on the steamer. For the next two hours you will travel down river, be fed breakfast, be issued rations, and anticipate what's ahead. The steamer will stop at a designated spot where it will swing out the gang plank onto the bank and you will disembark. Here you will be issued ammunition and will hold a dirt road to the landing. Once we receive word that we're needed at the front, we will make a five mile march on the original battlefield to the actual event site where we will fall in under the First Federal Division (FFD).

Just to tie into this, I wanted to provide an excerpt of First Lieutenant Philip H. Goode's diary which covers, in detail, the above described happenings enroute to and at Pittsburg Landing. Lt. Goode joined with Company F, 15th Regiment Iowa Infantry on October 10, 1861 and was elected Second Lieutenant. He was wounded at the battle of Shiloh, Sunday April 6, 1862.



For your reading pleasure,

page 23

Saturday
March 29th

We learned this morning that we will start Tuesday morning. Our destination said to be Tennessee River to join General Grant's Command. All is excitement in the Regiment. The Iowa 16th and the Missouri 23rd are also under marching orders and will start about the same time. It is said that five batteries of artillery go with us.

In the afternoon I got a pass and went down to Saint Louis. Saw some of Freemont's fortications and other sights. Put us for the night at the Monroe House.

Sunday
March 30th

Got up early and started for the barracks as our pass only extended until 9 a.m. Found the boys busy cooking up four days rations in advance. Received a letter from my wife at last dated March 14th, 15 days on the road. I hope I may not always have to wait so long for letters. Well it is some satisfaction to know that my family were well 15 days ago but it leaves a large margin for anxiety and suspense. Captain Blackmar and myself were busy a very late hour at night making up payroll reports and getting the Company books in order.

Monday
March 31st

Our last day at Benton Barracks in all probability the next place we stop will be in the enemy's country. Everything is boxed up, marked and loaded in the wagons and on the way to the river. I had to see to doing all this as Captain Blackmar was busy writing. He has now gone down to the city and I am left in command of the Company. Not much to do however but wait til morning when we expect to go down to the river and all of us embark. Tis a tiresome business this waiting for orders to move but it is part of a soldiers duty.

page 24



Steamer Minnehaha
Mississippi River
Tuesday, April 1st

At the early hour this morning we were ready to start for the river. Captain Blackmar and Sergeant Throckmorton were both unwell and went down on the car to the landing so I was the only commissioned officer left with the Company.

We had to wait for a long time before the call beat to fall into line which was at 11:25 a.m. Three other regiments, the Iowa 16th, the Missouri 23rd, and a Wisconsin Regiment also fell into line with us and marched down. Also five batteries of artillery. In all there was a column considerably over a mile long. We did not get on board til 2 p.m. and the boat did not start til 5 p.m. Four other boats go down the river with us to take the other regiments and battery. We left landing first. Our boat the Minehaha is a large boat and runs tolerably well but she is very heavily loaded and quite old. We are crowded together on board like so many hogs. It was with greatest difficulty that the officers could get state rooms. Shortly after dark while the boat was going at full speed we she struck a sandbar with so much force as to nearly throw down all who were standing in the cabin.

I was somewhat apprehensive that she might be injured but she backed off and went ahead all right. About 9 p.m. one of her tiller ropes gave out and she had to run into shore to get it fixed. This could not have been more than 40 miles below

St. Louis. While lying there the other boats passed. When the boys went to bed the boat was literally covered with sleeping men. You could not walk through the cabin or around on the deck without stepping on them. We could hardly get to our room for the crowd at the door. I went to bed about 10 o'clock. Boat still tied up at shore.

Steamer Minnehaha
Mississippi River
Wednesday, April 2nd

When I waked this morning the boat was under way but I learned had not been long. Nothing of note occurred during the early part of the day. As I walk about over the boat I cannot help reflecting on the uncertainty of our fate as soldiers. I look round at the boys vigorous with health, young, full of hope and eager to meet the foe. How many of the boys will return, certainly not all. Then who will be the missing ones? Perhaps some of my best friends, perhaps myself. I feel sad when I think of the strong probability that ere a month many of us will sleep the sleep that knows no waking but so we will die gloriously and fill a soldiers

page 25

grave. It is comparatively easy when prostrated by disease and suffering intense physical pain to look on death with resignations as a relief from present ills but when the man healthy and vigorous with many ties to bind him to life thinks seriously of the subject he cannot but feel a strong desire to live if not incompatible with the interests of his country.

About 3 p.m. our tiller rope broke again. The boat attempted to land but found the water too shallow so she had to lie out in stream until the tiller rope was fixed. About 7 p.m. we passed Cape Girardeau, Mo. where several battles were fought between Jeff Thompson and our forces. The place is still fortified and from the boat we could distinctly see the heavy earthworks and the cannon peeping over the embrasures. A gun was fired for us to round to which of course we did without delay as the 2nd gun would have carried a shot.

We reached Cairo about 5 p.m. and remained through the night discharging and receiving freight. Just as we were turning from the Mississippi to come into the Ohio we were very nearly run down by a steam tug. The tug was going up the river and signaled us to take to the left. The Minnehaha responded to the signal and took to the left. The tug took to the right and this threw us right together. The tug reversed her engines and we passed in front of her bow without a foots distance between us, Night before last there was a very heavy storm at and above Cairo. At Cairo nearly all the steam and wharf boats were blown across the river and several sunk. I saw one steamer being close to shore partly sunken. While we were there the Steamer Illinois came in without her chimneys having lost them overboard in the storm. Her decks were broken in and the cabin almost totally destroyed. Other boats showed symptoms of having suffered severely. There are a number of cannons at Cairo but no fortifications. There are at present two regiments of soldiers at Cairo and one at Bird's Point in Missouri. I saw a great number of large bomb shells, grape canister, and round shot on the wharf boat. I laid in some provisions such as crackers, cheese, and bologna sausage for the trip ahead of us.

Steamer Minnehaha
Ohio River
April 3rd

Started from Cairo about 8 a.m. The Ohio River is very high and quite muddy, is not the dear tranquil stream it generally is but I feel a strange attachment to it. It is the stream

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near which I was born and many of the happiest hours of my childhood were spent upon its banks. But my present troup it is a sad one sad because I can not help thinking of the very melancholy circumstances which occasions it. About 4 p.m. reached Paducah, Kentucky which is just at the mouth of the Tennessee River. The boat had considerable amount of freight for this place and remained over night. I took a stroll through the city. It is a place of 8,000 inhabitants and once fortified by the secessionist but it is now in the hands of the Union men. Nothing however but the presence of our troops keeps the Rebels in line. The place is full of them. The people generally look sulky and dissatisfied, very much as if they are under the influence of bayonets and would cut our throats if they could. I enjoyed it hugely for I have suffered from them when they had power, now their own mouths are closed and I must say their vexation is only half concealed. I like to hear them holler for the Union when they hate to but they are afraid to do anything else.

Saint Louis as well as Cairo is under martial law but one does not realize it as fully as at Paducah. In Paducah armed sentinels pass the streets day and night. Half the houses in the place have guards before the door. The churches are closed so far as the legitimate use is concerned and transformed into hospitals or arsenals. Business is entirely suspended and fine hotels and business blocks are used for hospitals or some other government purpose. There seems to be a reign of terror in the place. In the evening I had the pleasure of hearing an address from Honorable Ethridge of Tennessee. It was by no means distinguished for deep reasoning or solid argument but seems to be an effort on his part to serving himself for some injuries received at their hands.

His language was strong and forceable and I never heard such a skating as the Rebels got and the beauty of it all was there were many present to hear it and they had to submit for Uncle Sam's boys were there. Our pilots were not acquainted with the Tennessee River so we shipped a pilot at this place. I was introduced to Mr. Ethridge had the pleasure of grasping his hand and interchanging a few words with him. Steamer Minnehaha

Steamer Minnehaha
Tennessee River
Friday, April 4th

Did not leave Paducah til evening. I saw large stacks of guns, a great quantity of clothing and ammunition several pieces of artillery that were taken from the Rebels at Fort Donaldson. All were marked CSA. A report reached us morning that a fight is already going on between our forces.

Page 27

and the Rebels at or near Cornith.

Nothing worthy of note took place in the rest of the day and I retired to bed with the boat still running but she afterward lay til morning.



Steamer Minnehaha
Tennessee River
Saturday, April 5th

This morning our four day rations which the men prepared before leaving Benton Barracks were exhausted. They had enough for breakfast but have had nothing since but dry crackers and it is now 2 p.m. Quite early this morning passed Fort Henry the boat stopped a little while but long enough for us to get off. The place does not look like a strong one or capable of having being made strong. It is a low flat piece of ground with no defenses but earth works. The buildings are small log cabins and show the marks bomb shells. Our troops do not use them but are quart~ tents. I was anxious to get off and pick up some relics of the battle but had not time. A little above Fort Henry on the opposite side of the river is Fort Hymen on the line between Tennessee. It was commenced by the Rebels but fell into our hands before they had time to complete it never finished by us. It is a stronger point than Henry being higher ground. There are a number of men (I could not ascertain the number) stationed there. Our boat has stopped for the men to draw and cook rations. Captain Blackmar is officer of the day and I will have to go and see to it. Saw two men plowing in the field one with a mule the other with cattle. The man with the cattle runs for the brush, the boys got the cattle and went to plowing. The other man was scared too badly to run. The boat lay by for about two hours. At night a guard of 60 men was detailed and stationed on the hurricane deck to act in case we were fired i No disturbance.

Pittsburg Landing
Tennessee
Sunday, April 6, 1862

Reached this place about 430a.m. soon after daylight heavy cannonading was heard on our line and we were to take the field. We were drawn up in line, ammunition .served out and we started for the scene of action. led into an ambush and the Regiment suffered severly they held their ground gallantly under a galling fire from the front and right flank. Our Colonel, Major and Adjutant wounded. The Lieutenant Colonel had his horse shot Captain Blackmar was disabled by a shot from a cannon ball.

page 28

and taken off the field. I took command I received a shot in my right hand which shattered my one finger and otherwise disabled my hand. A Regiment over to the right of us broke and ran, then another, then our Regiment began to retreat Company at a time and at last all went, our Company being one of the last to leave the field. In our Company we lost three killed, 14 wounded, one mortally, two dangerously. The Regiment lost 32 commissioned officers in the fight 2 were killed15 wounded and 2 of the wounded taken prisoners.

At the river our Regiment rallied and went back and maintained their position during the fight. I was unable to go back. There were some dozen large steam boats at the landing. The ground was covered all around the landing with wounded and dying who had been brought in. I went on board the Minnehaha. Surgeons so busy I could not get my hand dressed. Ah, the sights on that boat. Men mangled in every conceivable way groaning and many of them yielding up their last breath. I sat on top of the boat and watched the progress of the battle. The gun boats Tylor and Lexington were just above us in the river and thru shells into the enemy. As night closed in the firing ceased and the report came in that we were gaining ground on the enemy. I suffered too much to sleep. Spent the night up in the pilot house of the boat. Rained hard all night. One of the gun boats occasionally thru a shell into the enemy to keep them uneasy and to soldiers from time to time fired random shots.

Pittsburg
Monday
April 7, 1862

Early in the morning the firing commenced again in earnest.Buell’s men had come in during the night and were largely reinforced. Our boys went back with a will and firing with telling effect on the enemy. I had one of my fingers amputated. The boat without my being aware of it left the landing and started for Savannah seven miles below to leave the sick so I was unintentionally taken along. The sick and the wounded were taken off at Savannah and placed in tents. As the boat would not return til morning I spent the night onshore in a tent. Rained all night.

Pittsburg Landing
April 8, 1862

This morning early I got aboard the boat to return to Pittsburg but the boat did not start until 10 a.m. When we reached Pittsburg we learned that the Rebels were defeated

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with great loss and were being hotly pursued by our cavalry.

I learned that our Regiment had moved about two miles from the river. Found some of our Company at the river sick. I got them a tent to sleep in. Rained all night.

Pittsburg, Tennesee
Wednesday
April 9, 1862

Got a place for some of our sick on the boat to be taken to the hospital. Sent the rest to camp. About noon went out to camp myself found our tents just arriving. The boys had been sleeping in the rain without blankets or tents. I had tents put up immediately but we had to sleep in the mud without blankets.

Lt Goode's complete diary can be found here

Other information regarding the 15th Iowa Regiment can be found on the Iowa in the Civil War website.

Respectfully,

[dixieflyer]

Actually, the receipt of this news in the last couple of weeks convinced me to participate in the 150ths. Shiloh has long held a fascination for me on a personal level, and as a historian. I am all over this.

Warren Dickinson