Shiloh AAR

[Texyank]

What a great time!

Hats off to the event planners/staff. The boat ride, the 5 miler (exhaustion thrown in gratis I presume), the ration issue (hey hands off my sausage), and the camaraderie in camp made this a memorable one. What's gonna happen to clear the extremely high bar? Amputations in "'63?"

Biggest regret was being too tired to make the rounds and meet more of the boys of the 15th.

Thank you Co F, Capt Berezuk, Lt Beadle, Lt Dapper, Sergeants (sorry I can't remember all your names, except you Sergeant Bah-ba-Q).

POCR boys (reconstituted), thank you for the camaraderie, laughs, relatively smell free ride back in the Mennonite Limo.

Bully time all around.

As someone once said, "I had fun, how 'bout you?"

[yankeecav]

Amazing event! Being one of the middle companies made it hard to get the full impact of the full battalion but it was truly awe inspiring to see that many men look and act like a unit rather than disjointed companies thrown together.

Moments: Bosun's whistle and naval commands in the dark as the boat pulled in and out; rising Saturday morning to a misty view of the tombstones in the National Cemetery; hearing the sound of the guns from the morning tactical in the distance; seeing the column with escort on the march; filing by the Iowa monument; realizing (and on other rare occasions) the importance of music on a "long", hot march to the morale of the men (anyone else notice that regardless of how hot and tired we were how quickly shoulders rose and we all fell in step automatically when the music started?); camp and all its impedimentia; comradeship with friends old and new; seeing the look on the faces of the other units as we marched past.

Hats off to Matt Woodburn, the WIG, and everyone else that put so much of themselves in making this a reality!

Finally, to my carpool mates that made the trip an absolute hoot! What a group that was! Jordan Ricketts, Brian White, Scott House, Mark Mason and Matt Rector, you boys are welcome company and made the long trip short and hilarious.

[Strawfoot]

I'm probably not qualified to offer a bona fide AAR, as physical problems led me to bail on the battalion early Sunday morning. This was a first for me at an authentic event, but does little to lessen the regret I have for missing the second day of a fantastic adventure, or letting down my mates in Company C.

The most lasting impression I had, and really the most important as well, is one of Matt Woodburn enjoying himself and having fun. With all of the effort and energy he had put into this, I was hoping he woudln't get overwhelmed in the little details once the weekend started. Observing him standing before C Company, addressing the regiment before we shoved off Saturday morning, one could tell that was not the case. He had some difficulties, and I'm not sure if he was choking up, or just trying to choose his words to 400 souls wisely.

Until now, the grandest Federal unit I'd ever been a part of was the AoP at Perryville in 2002. But the Federal regiment at Shiloh last weekend easily dwarfed it in size, demeanor, presentation, and organization. No matter where you turned your head Saturday morning, there was a Federal company going about its business. Cooking breakfast, marching off to get rounds, standing at roll call, it was an awesome feeling to be part of a unit that large. What's more, the regimental staff handled all the logistics very smoothly, from ration issue (albiet Saturday PM), to ammunition, to moving a unit that size amongst several different locations, to the various "surprises" Matt had promised. Well played sir.

High points:

-It was a little macabre to enter the Saturday camp, at the point of exhaustion no less, and see the scattered debris of another regiment left behind. Gear, food, personal letters, all from an Illinois regiment who had fled the field.

-Regimental music as we marched through the Shiloh battlefield. The few spectators who were priviledged to see us march by to a steady drumbeat and fifes got the show of a lifetime. The band also serenaded us that night before lights out.

-Leadership and professionalism. With some missing exceptions, the regiment probably contained the most serious and talented living historians in the hobby. That, in and of itself, was worth the trip as you felt very challenged to be at the top of your game.

-Floating the Tennessee at night and landing at the original Pittsburg Landing, then sleeping next to the rock wall lining the cliff.

-The rations were top notch, as was the whiskey ration.


The Bad:

-Very, very little other than perhaps leaving the road on the march and taking that single file road through the woods to get into the battle. I personally think that may have taken a little out of some of the guys, including myself. It sure couldn't have been fun for the guys toting the colors.

-The three sheet rock crackers they issued to us for chow on Saturday before the march and battle.


The Funny:

-Standing with about 50 other guys at the water distribution point before the Saturday battle, shaking the containers to get the last drops into half empty canteens, while a 1st Sgt from another battalion sauntered up and asked if the organizors could deliver water to his unit on the line...

Lastly, I owe my comrades in Company C a heartfelt apology. Sometimes arrogance can be your own worst enemy, as it was with me when I did not enter this event physically prepared. Hitting the battle line Saturday I was done, my body had shut down. I couldn't hold my rifle at the ready, I couldn't hold my feet steady on the firing line, I was a wreck, and rightfully got called out for doing so by the Comapny C Orderly Sgt. It's ironic that after 12 years of doing this I'm still learning lessons the hard way. But it was grand while it lasted.

Thanks Matt.

[Eric Tipton]

Another great moment, although not exactly period, was when one of the Confederate units came through our camp during parade on Sunday. They were making a racket, yelling, hooting and hollering and not one man in the 15th Iowa responded. Without any orders from the officers, all of us watched them without saying a word. I don't think I have ever been a part of a more professional group of soldiers in the field.

[Johnny Lloyd]

Gentlemen:

BIG THANKS to all that made this event special. Brother Matt's vision and his support team were OUT-FRIGGIN-STANDING in getting this together! As a prior-military logistician, I was impressed how the cats got herded and how much care was taken to bring all details to life within the realm of historical knowledge, time and money. THANK YOU for the education, friends and fun!

Highlights:

1) Being honored to serve the men of Company A, 15th Iowa. Wow, Orderly is hard to do, but fulfilling to see men being taken care of as a team. I got run ragged, but had a blast. You men deserve a pat on the back. We had tired men that still took care of each other! Damn fine job!
2) Getting into the boat and going down below-deck to see everything lit by candleight. For a brief moment, the candles, officer's table, mess-line, men and the banners really recreated a feel of what it might have been like. WOW. Talk about a time-travel.
3) Seeing and hearing naval impressions... rarely done and rarely done well, but these guys knew what was up.
4) Singing on the boat amid tired and dreary men...
5) Seeing a national mainstream event get an influx of authenticity. Good job to everyone's impression of our unit!
6) Seeing my men enjoy the 'gift boxes' in Co A.
7) Seeing a mainstream event run so well. There were some issues with water supply, but that was the only thing I saw that didn't fit-the-bill in my book.
8) I didn't get a DARN thing of the sutler tent due to tending to my rank's duties, but I was happy the men were happy with it and provided for.
9) Mounted officers... good thing to see.
10) A kick-assed band! Love fife and drums!

As a side note... it is WONDERFUL to see my wife and in-laws in the field with me!


This weekend reminded me how much I love all of this country, this hobby, and most of all the people in it as brothers and sisters! We suffer together, sometimes trip-up, but ALWAYS in the end help one-another. Stand Tall! We are ONE.

15th Iowa, Company A: Lead, follow or get the hell out of the way!

[Huck]

I had fun..........more later.....

[Arch Campbell]

Boys, I feel intensely compelled to write something but I also know I won't be able to find the words, so I'll have to stumble through.

I want to thank Matt for affording the Hairy Nation the honor of serving as the color guard. As genuine Iowans who are very proud of our state's record in the war it was amazing for us to have the place of honor in the center of a 500-man Iowa regiment. For me, it was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream that I didn't even know I had.

Brandon's brilliant work on the colors added even so much more to the experience. Though I had seen them indoors a few weeks ago, when we stepped off from the visitor's center it was the first time they had been unfurled and hoisted. The music started, we stepped off toward the Iowa monument, a slight breeze shook out the folds- and 'm not ashamed to admit that I had tears in my eyes.

In addition to Matt and Brandon, I would like to thank the leadership of Company C for their consideration over the weekend.

And yes, maneuvering the colors through that narrow path in the woods was certainly a challenge. But nothing like the nightmare of getting them through that narrow thicket between the fields during the Saturday battle- that was a real b*tch!

[Johnny Lloyd]

http://tgdavison-photography.smugmug...2899&k=xh3JFgB

Pics of the 15th and 16th Iowa with a few others from the whole event... enjoy!

[Alexander Vasquez]

There are no words to describe or explain this experience. If I never participate in any event again, I will take to my grave the chills I had walking up the path from the Landing while the band played "The Girl I Left Behind Me". Feeling that national flag on my right side, eyes front, an ocean of blue ahead of me--the only ones who can understand it are the ones in our group.

Thanks to all who organized this effort; again, words can't describe the gratitude I have for being allowed to have this experience.

Sunday, when all was done, I went back to the battlefield to purchase a couple keepsakes for my children--settled on the small stuffed bison--and chatted up the checkout staff. When I asked how the regiment looked yesterday morning all of them lost the glassy-eyed look of helping too many impatient people and immediately got a gleam in their eyes and to a person they said that we were the absolute pinnacle moment of their weekend. The brunette woman said that watching us march by with the flags high and the band playing made the long hours she had that weekend worth it. The older gentleman said something to the effect that he'd been here a long time and had never seen anything like it before.

Best wishes and highest respect to you all,

Alexander Vasquez
Co. C, 15 IA

[Mtn.Guerilla]

Another great moment, although not exactly period, was when one of the Confederate units came through our camp during parade on Sunday. They were making a racket, yelling, hooting and hollering and not one man in the 15th Iowa responded. Without any orders from the officers, all of us watched them without saying a word. I don't think I have ever been a part of a more professional group of soldiers in the field.

Eric, I couldn't agree more. The discipline was more than commendable. Those Confederates looked like real idiots and I think their leadership quickly realized it as well.

Shiloh AAR: I had the immense privledge of acting as 2nd Sgt. for Company A, and don't believe I have ever felt as proud, of being a part of something bigger than myself, ever. From Private to Capatin, every man did his duty completely as a soldier and it was amazing to watch. It lifted my soul seeing many close old friends and making many new ones.You are all forever, my brothers in arms, thank you!

It seems that all of the 15th Iowa right off the bat, began to function as though we were all part of something bigger.I have to think that the spirits of the Federals lost at Shiloh, came down from the graveyard,crossed that rock wall, and stepped off with us on Saturday morning. It felt too much like 1862 ( as I imagined) for that to not be the case . I think you will be hard pressed to ever recreate that feeling, on that kind of scale, in CW reenacting again.

There are so many moments, that I don't think I can type fast enough to list them all. But I can tell you, I spent almost half of my life as a professional bass player, playing and working with some of the biggest names in the buisness. But don't think I ever felt more like a "rock star" than I did marching with the 15th Iowa!

Thank you to Mr. Woodburn and crew for your vision and hard work, your accomplishment will go down in reenacting lore !

The only bad: * That our good friend Kiev Thomason ( Capt. of Co. A ) was not able to finish it out with us. I trust you are well.

* The other bad thing is, that there is no way I can properly described what I just went thru, to my wife.
She just keeps saying "Jesus calm down and have beer, you sound like you just got back from your first date "

Hey Greg & Robert, "That's all that matters"

Cheers,