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Well, the long awaited mounted adjunct to the 150th Shiloh has come and gone and I must say that it was all that we had hoped it would be! How great was it for horsemen to come together from all over the country for a common goal and effort. Literally, we had cavalrymen who came from Alaska to Florida and all points in between and folks, ...... that spans a whole bunch of miles. All had a drive and desire to put forth their best impression and pay homage to those cavalrymen who have gone before.
On Wednesday, we arrived at Corinth, Mississippi to report in and then begin the task of moving our trucks/trailers to a secured parking area that our Col. Ronnie Fullwood had worked out which gave us a great location from which to leave when all was over. We were shuttled back to Corinth and eventually things settled down and we curled up under a blanket and slept under the stars.
Early Thursday morning we got up, had breakfast and formed up. After some appropriate remarks for the occasion, we cast off in a northeasterly direction following the path that Generals Hardee and Polk took 150 years earlier. Our first day covered about 13 miles. It was hotter than expected and some of the infantry fellas really suffered on those roads and a few went down. Thank goodness we had someone coming behind to help take care of them. Thursday night we were actually able to set up camp on the very ground that the original soldiers camped on. The owner of the property came out and gave us family history reports of when his great grandmother, as a small girl, saw the soldiers pass by their home.
The next morning we rose at 5:00 a.m., tacked up in the dark, formed up and left out. Just as we were leaving out, it began to rain and continued to do so until about noon. We arrived at the actual ground where Forrest engaged Sherman in the closing portions of Shiloh at what was called “Fallen Timbers.” The rain was coming down pretty good at this point but just to be working on that very ground was a moving experience. Afterwards, we rode to our wagons and re-supplied as well as changed out to portray the 11th Illinois Cav. We formed up and rode another 5 miles across the park and down Beauregard Rd., past Shiloh Church, Ruggles battery site, the Hornet's nest, the sunken road, etc, etc, until we arrived at the high ground next to Pittsburg landing. There we set up camp for the night and during the night, the men of the 15th Iowa arrived from the paddleboats and set up their camp. Early the next morning, we headed over to watch the last of the boats arrive, only to find out that the transfer took place earlier than expected and all of the men arrived while it was still dark. After conferring with Col. Woodburn, we posted our cavalry column at the top of the hill to receive the 400 plus men of the 15th Iowa. Now, I have seen some impressive groups form and move throughout the years, but to see the men of this unit march out with drum and fife playing a stirring tune and with their officers properly mounted and accoutered and to be fortunate to be at the forefront of that column while providing a mounted escort, was such a site of martial excellence that the very thought of it now stands the hair up on the back of my neck!! What an experience!
We moved out in the lead and traveled across the park, over roads and woods and eventually got to a point near the event site. There, the officers of the 15th Iowa said that they were going to stand down and do a weapons inspection and that we were relieved of our duties. We rode a little further and soon were ambushed by some CS cavalry and were greatly outnumbered. We formed and responded but rallied back to a safe point and proceeded on to change back to Forrest's Cavalry and concluded the remainder of the event.
So many highpoints and so much hard work but I must point out the hard work and planning of our own Col. Ronnie Fullwood, who worked with the people in Corinth and Shiloh and all points in between to put together the route and so much that we were able to enjoy and secondly I must commend and thank our own Ken Knopp for so much hard work behind the scenes to help with support, inspections, guidelines, and doing all of the stuff that usually doesn't get seen but is so very important for success. Also, regarding Ken, I was so happy to see that he was able to mount up and make the ride with us from the wagons to Pittsburg Landing! Some may not know that while a tremendous horseman in earlier years, injuries have prevented Ken from being able to practice and involve himself in his first love of riding. But due to hard work and exercise, he has worked out to the point that he was able to complete this ride. It meant more to me to see him back in the saddle than maybe everything else combined! Congrats, Ken!
So, in closing I want to thank each and every one of you who participated and came down to see this project through. I know so many of you made plans to make it and yet were not able to due to circumstances outside your control. I want to thank you also for making the efforts and plans.
Until the next time......................
Mark
On Wednesday, we arrived at Corinth, Mississippi to report in and then begin the task of moving our trucks/trailers to a secured parking area that our Col. Ronnie Fullwood had worked out which gave us a great location from which to leave when all was over. We were shuttled back to Corinth and eventually things settled down and we curled up under a blanket and slept under the stars.
Early Thursday morning we got up, had breakfast and formed up. After some appropriate remarks for the occasion, we cast off in a northeasterly direction following the path that Generals Hardee and Polk took 150 years earlier. Our first day covered about 13 miles. It was hotter than expected and some of the infantry fellas really suffered on those roads and a few went down. Thank goodness we had someone coming behind to help take care of them. Thursday night we were actually able to set up camp on the very ground that the original soldiers camped on. The owner of the property came out and gave us family history reports of when his great grandmother, as a small girl, saw the soldiers pass by their home.
The next morning we rose at 5:00 a.m., tacked up in the dark, formed up and left out. Just as we were leaving out, it began to rain and continued to do so until about noon. We arrived at the actual ground where Forrest engaged Sherman in the closing portions of Shiloh at what was called “Fallen Timbers.” The rain was coming down pretty good at this point but just to be working on that very ground was a moving experience. Afterwards, we rode to our wagons and re-supplied as well as changed out to portray the 11th Illinois Cav. We formed up and rode another 5 miles across the park and down Beauregard Rd., past Shiloh Church, Ruggles battery site, the Hornet's nest, the sunken road, etc, etc, until we arrived at the high ground next to Pittsburg landing. There we set up camp for the night and during the night, the men of the 15th Iowa arrived from the paddleboats and set up their camp. Early the next morning, we headed over to watch the last of the boats arrive, only to find out that the transfer took place earlier than expected and all of the men arrived while it was still dark. After conferring with Col. Woodburn, we posted our cavalry column at the top of the hill to receive the 400 plus men of the 15th Iowa. Now, I have seen some impressive groups form and move throughout the years, but to see the men of this unit march out with drum and fife playing a stirring tune and with their officers properly mounted and accoutered and to be fortunate to be at the forefront of that column while providing a mounted escort, was such a site of martial excellence that the very thought of it now stands the hair up on the back of my neck!! What an experience!
We moved out in the lead and traveled across the park, over roads and woods and eventually got to a point near the event site. There, the officers of the 15th Iowa said that they were going to stand down and do a weapons inspection and that we were relieved of our duties. We rode a little further and soon were ambushed by some CS cavalry and were greatly outnumbered. We formed and responded but rallied back to a safe point and proceeded on to change back to Forrest's Cavalry and concluded the remainder of the event.
So many highpoints and so much hard work but I must point out the hard work and planning of our own Col. Ronnie Fullwood, who worked with the people in Corinth and Shiloh and all points in between to put together the route and so much that we were able to enjoy and secondly I must commend and thank our own Ken Knopp for so much hard work behind the scenes to help with support, inspections, guidelines, and doing all of the stuff that usually doesn't get seen but is so very important for success. Also, regarding Ken, I was so happy to see that he was able to mount up and make the ride with us from the wagons to Pittsburg Landing! Some may not know that while a tremendous horseman in earlier years, injuries have prevented Ken from being able to practice and involve himself in his first love of riding. But due to hard work and exercise, he has worked out to the point that he was able to complete this ride. It meant more to me to see him back in the saddle than maybe everything else combined! Congrats, Ken!
So, in closing I want to thank each and every one of you who participated and came down to see this project through. I know so many of you made plans to make it and yet were not able to due to circumstances outside your control. I want to thank you also for making the efforts and plans.
Until the next time......................
Mark
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