Occupation of New Madrid AAR

[Abrams]

Re: Occupation of New Madrid AAR

Ron,

That's the key word - secesh. I heard tell they were spitting in the food.

I did not need to know that...











:D:wink_smil

[Rmhisteach]

Re: Occupation of New Madrid AAR

Secesh Women cooks.

[Rmhisteach]

Re: Occupation of New Madrid AAR

Secesh Women in the big house.
They we not happy with the Occuaption.

[Rmhisteach]

Re: Occupation of New Madrid AAR

More New Madrid Pics

RM

[Michael Comer]

Re: Occupation of New Madrid AAR

The "secesh" ladies took such good care of us, I wrote them a song to thank them for all they did for us.

Ron,

That's the key word - secesh. I heard tell they were spitting in the food.

[Marser]

Re: Occupation of New Madrid AAR

I enjoyed myself immensely at ONM. Thank you Michael, Warren, Rick and all of the other folks for creating a wonderful event. It was well worth the hundreds of miles of travel to get there. I hope to see you this summer, perhaps for Pickett's Mill.

[Rmhisteach]

Re: Occupation of New Madrid AAR

More pics from new Madrid

[Rmhisteach]

Re: Occupation of New Madrid AAR

more pics (a few at a time)

[Rmhisteach]

Re: Occupation of New Madrid AAR

here are a couple of pictures.

[BrownBlanketMess]

Re: Occupation of New Madrid AAR

Mike,

I want to say thanks for putting together a great event. I also enjoyed the Friday tour you provided of New Madrid and the Hunter-Dawson House for me it was my first visit to the area. As for the event I was that cpl. of the guard that would not let you through the lines. All the boys need to be commended they did an excellent job all weekend! I enjoyed meeting many new friends and seeing my comrades over the weekend.

Steve LaBarre
CornFed Comrades

[Rmhisteach]

Re: Occupation of New Madrid AAR

Yep you had two spoons full.

Rm

[MarkTK36thIL]

Re: Occupation of New Madrid AAR

The elixir was grand.

Rm

I'll agree with that.

[Rmhisteach]

Re: Occupation of New Madrid AAR

besides the cheese. The elixir was grand.

Rm

[Abrams]

Re: Occupation of New Madrid AAR

This was my first living history event ever, as a participant. So please forgive my enthusiasm and long post.







(Letter sent home from Private Marion Romine to his mom and dad)



Friday the 14th

While the day started off nice, it quickly clouded up, and looked ominous. We set up camp. The secesh lady of the house was away, so Col. Butler showed us through the mansion. It’s a very nice mansion, and larger than any house I ever saw, even bigger than the courthouse in Peoria. Very fancy furniture, and the grounds were well kept.

Thunderstorms raced through overnight. The flashes of lightning illuminated the tent, and the sounds of the rain on the tent made sleeping good. Private Kenner drew the short straw and got me as a tent mate. I am told I snore like a cross between a bear and a locomotive, so I appreciate the fact that Kenner did not bayonet me in my sleep. It was cold, but I burrowed into my blanket, and managed to stay warm enough. We managed to procure a small amount of a fine sour-mash to take the edge off the cold..



Saturday the 15th

The secesh ladies from town cook for us here, which is nice. I hear they get fourty cents a day for cooking for us. Breakfast this morning was hot oatmeal, sweetened with molasses, good apples, fresh bread and good strong coffee, and in large quantities. Then it was drilling, marching, and standing guard over the rebel prisoner we captured. He seemed a decent sort, and was one of those left behind on picket duty when the rest of the rebels skee-daddled to Island #10. He had not eaten for a while, so I gave him a piece of deer sausage from my haversack. Later, after he had been paroled, he remembered my kindness and shared some corn liquor around the fire after the officers had bedded down. He was a real good sort of feller. Firing from the gun boats at Island #10 sure got our pickets excited, and some had to quickly form up and check out whose cannon they were. Lunch was a fine tasting soup made with cabbage, onions, taters, and some kind of meat. Some thought it pork, some thought it beef, we finally decided it was mule, but it was very good. Supper was beans, with some nice chunks of ham on the side, and I got one of the last pieces of cornbread. Very good chow. After standing my guard duty at night, I went to bed sore and tired.



Sunday the 16th

Our easy duty guarding General Pope has come to an end. We had a full inspection, and the captain complimented my housewife. I told him it was made for me by my Aunt Kathy*. I got in trouble for losing my greatcoat while at the sinks, I think a secesh from town got it while I was occupied. One guy had discarded several items, and each time when asked why he did not have them, his response was always “dirty as hell sir, I threw it out”. It was all I could do to not bust out laughing, which likely would have landed me additional fatigue duty, but the whole line was shaking with barely concealed mirth. Had a mail call, and I got a letter. I was surprised, as I have no wife or kids. It was from a company in Chicago, wanting to see if I wanted to by a bullet proof breastplate. No price, but bet its hot and expensive.

Finally, we completed the day with a little more drilling, skirmish practice and then started the long march back to the real war. But I will say we enjoyed the duty of guarding General Pope. Stiff and sore, we marched off.

I remain yours,

Marion Romine

(End of letter home)

*Aunt Kathy was in reality Kathy Bradford, who in truth made the housewife, and I bought from her through these boards here.



The "secesh" ladies took such good care of us, I wrote them a song to thank them for all they did for us. (I know they got paid fourty cents a day and all, but they took good care of us beyond what they had to, heh.) I will share it here with you, and wish I could have thought it up sooner than the ride home, and had sang it to them before leaving. So ladies, if you read this, please picture private Romine on bended knee singing this for all of you.

It goes with the tune from 'Aura Lee'.

Ladies who have cooked for us, we say this from the heart.
Feeding all these hungry men, you truly played your part.
Ladies True, Ladies True, you fed us good and well
So now we sing to you the praise, that words can never tell.


Ham and beans, fried pies of peach, and apples tart and crisp.
Cabbage soup with mystery meat, fresh bread that will be missed.
Ladies True, Ladies True, your presence made our day
And did so with such dignity, for fourty cents a day.


Prim with bonnets on your head, we knew you wished all Yankees dead
Still you filled our plates with food, for that you have our gratitude
Ladies True, Ladies True, you showed your grace and style,
I’m glad I got to meet you-all, If only for a while


Oatmeal hot and coffee black, I never touched my haversack.
Things I brought I did not use, because your food was love infused.
Ladies True, Ladies True, Your food was such a treat
How you managed to do that, was really quite a feat.


Memories from this event, like freezing in a cotton tent
Drilling, marching, standing guard, in rain and wind was sometimes hard.
But Ladies True, Ladies True, you fed us good and well
The memories of your loving care, helped us forget the hell.

The men of the 47th Illinois Infantry cannot express enough gratitude for the Ladies of New Madrid for their care and service.

[Michael Comer]

Re: Occupation of New Madrid AAR

Warren,

I think your nephew will see a nickname develop from this episode.