Outpost III - AAR Thread

[Mike Nickerson]

Re: Outpost III - AAR Thread

Yes Bradford and it was my fine P/C "Rope Smiths" picket rope that paid the price for your lolligagging! :cry_smile

Mike Nickerson

[TKlas]

Re: Outpost III - AAR Thread

And Tom Klas, you guys were superb....always a pleasure to work with the ONV (back 10 years ago I started out with the 2nd WVI and met Tom back in the day....).....my 'career' has changed in the last 7 months for the good, and I may be able to get away for more cph events.

Hi RJ,

Glad to see you enjoyed the event and your efforts were very appreciated:). Thanks for the compliments and like I have been saying, don't be a stranger and come out to some better events.

Feel free to drop me a PM - ONV meeting on December 8th in Madison.

Take care,

Tom

[BenjaminLDavis]

Re: Outpost III - AAR Thread

As promised, more pictures, and apologies for the time lapse ~ real life in the way again.
Looking at these makes me want to get out in the field again. Jim

[Rmhisteach]

Re: Outpost III - AAR Thread

What is Abe looking for in his pipe? I've smelt your tobbacco , nothing in there is worth picking at and trying to salvage. :confused_

Herr Schumann thanks for posting and taking the pics :D

RM

[csasoldier_61]

Re: Outpost III - AAR Thread

First off I would like to apologize for the time delay and the length of this but as many know real life likes to get in the way of the hobby.



After Action Report of the 89th Illinois Infantry Regiment
For Actions in and around the area of the Rippavilla Plantation-Spring Hill, Tennessee
October 26 thru October 28, 1862

October 26th 1862
Once the battalion was able to assemble after our forced march, the battalion was issued three days rations and forty rounds of ammunition, and was then ordered to rest for several hours. Around 1030 p.m. we received orders to march for an area known locally as Brown’s Stand. With the battalion formed and checked for anything that might make noise during our night mach (we had been informed that the Rebs were nearby and had patrols in the area) we stepped off at 11:00 p.m. We marched for about an hour through the darkness stopping on the edge of a freshly harvested corn field so that the men could get a little bit of rest. The men were ordered to ground their arms and then to sleep on arms, which they did almost immediately. While the men were bedding down Colonel Sorchy, Captain Owens and myself held a council of war with the company commanders using the map that the Topographical Engineer drew up earlier that day. We determined where we were and where we wanted to get to in order to take any advantage that the land could provide. Once this was completed the staff attempted to get a few hours of rest.

October 27th 1862
I awoke at 2:30 and woke up the Colonel and began to check to see if the company sergeants were up when in the distance I heard the deep reports of two muskets firing, followed by the intense return fire of Spencer carbines from our cavalry that had moved ahead of the infantry column to take the land around Brown’s Stand. I quickly moved down the line and those men that had not already gotten up and began packing were quickly awakened. The whole battalion was ready to move inside of three minutes. The column was divided into columns of companies as we began to cross the cornfield. When we reached the wood line on the far side of the field we dispatched Company B to cover our left flank and rear while the rest of the battalion moved through Brown’s Stand and up the hill to a wide open clearing with command of the high ground. We dispatched Company A to the right and the consolidated Company C/D to the left and had them deploy skirmishers across the entire clearing.

The men took their positions and we were about to begin the process of sending out patrols to locate the enemy when Company A on the right flank was hit in force first by skirmishers and then once Co. A brought up its reserve the rest of the Confederate force moved on line. With the heavy assault on Co. A a platoon of Co. C/D was dispatched to aide in their fight. Unfortunately almost immediately Co. C/D was also attacked by another force. For a time it was a violent fight, which forced us to extend our lines to cover a large gap in between our two companies. The colonel determined that this was the majority of the Confederate force that was in the area so he ordered the bugler to blow the recall to Co. B, because we were in danger of being driven from the field back through Brown’s Stand. After about twenty minutes and Co. B had still not arrived the Colonel ordered me to find them. I ran off to their last known position and upon arrival, I found that they were not there. I continued the search through the adjoining fields and still finding no one, and hearing the sounds of an intense gunfight I hurried back to the battalion. When I arrived I found that the fighting had almost completely ceased. It was only now that I learned that only a few minutes after I left, Co. B had burst through the woods and smashed directly into the flank of the Confederate lines causing much confusion. When this happened the other two companies we had on line pressed the attack and forced the Confederates back into the woods. Company B’s arrival had perfect timing because as we reorganized after the fight we found that Co. A had only about three rounds per man and Co C/D had about five. With the wagons still not up we were in a bad situation and each company dispatched several men to go back along the road to where the wagons were to bring up some ammunition boxes so the men could be re-supplied.

After the men were seen to I retired down the hill to where the battalion established its head quarters next to the small cabin at Brown’s Stand. I arrived and found that there were about four to five secesh women that had been roused out of the cabin and were engaged in making coffee for the battalion staff and the cavalry. I sat down and ate some rations and dozed off for a few minutes. When I woke up I found the Colonel interrogating the women as to the identities of the people that were buried nearby. Their explanation was that it was several soldiers that came there to recover from wounds received at Ft. Donelson. Unfortunately for the women we could see that the dirt was freshly turned, so along with a few cavalrymen we dug up the graves. In the first grave we found two boxes, both full of canned goods (peaches, tomatoes, pears, condensed milk, etc.) and one box was also filled with a large sum of Confederate currency. Unfortunately the other grave did have the bones of some unfortunate Confederate soldier. After this the Colonel confined the women to their cabin for a while during which time we conducted another search of the cabin, out buildings and surrounding area, but found nothing.

We began sending out patrols to locate the enemy and soon I began to hear the reports of musket fire in front of Co. A. I returned up to the frontline and found that the Confederates were again attacking in force. As soon as we noticed that this was a major commitment by the Confederates we recalled Co. B from their position to reinforce us on the field. For some reason the Confederates were using the same attack plan that they had used in the earlier fight. We were able to check every advance that they attempted. The Confederates retreated back into the wood line and used the woods to screen their movements as they attempted to move and attack our left. It was as this point that Co. B arrived on the field, and were deployed to the left flank. We moved Co. B to the edge of a point on the field we referred to as the “finger” which was an outcropping of trees, and Co C/D to cover the extreme left. As Co. B slowly began moving down the finger, I heard what sounded like a whistle being blown and heard a loud Rebel Yell as Confederates began pouring out of the woods across the opening and up into the trees of the finger. Co. B poured in a heavy murderous fire into the Confederates crossing our front, and then we charged forward. I found that the Confederates that had made it into the finger were now trapped between Co. B and Co. C/D. several Confederates surrendered, those who attempted to make a stand were quickly cut down by the men of Co. B. I moved back up the hill out of the finger and was moving back toward the Colonel when on our extreme left another group of Confederates came up the hill out of the woods and attacked Co B. Co. B fell back in some disorder, I rallied the men and formed a line at the same time Co A who had been heavily engaged on the right moved up and reinforced the flank, forcing the Confederates back into the woods in disorder.

After this engagement a cease fire was called for and agreed to so that both sides could collect their wounded and dead. During this time two Confederate officers came through our lines under a flag of truce and delivered the uniform and some other personal effects of the husband of one of the Secesh women, whose husband was killed around New Orleans. During this time the men who were not out on picket duty were resting under arms. When the cease fire ended not too much occurred with the enemy probably because both sides were too tired from the day’s fighting. The only action to note occurred right about sunset when some of our pickets were fired upon and it looked like they were going to be engaged in force. The Colonel decided to deploy the battalion on line in preparation for the enemy. I believed that the Confederates were not going to come but it was just a ploy to rouse all our men and to waste time and energy deploying our men. Once deployed the enemy disappeared back into the woods and darkness.

After everything seemed to quiet down for the day, the Colonel called the company officers together for an officers mess and then after the meal, we gathered around the Colonel’s field desk to go over the map and devise a strategy for the next day. Our goal was to draw the Confederates out into the open so that we could engage them in a general engagement on ground of our choosing with all three of our companies and our cavalry to engage them. For most of the day Co. A and Co. C/D were able to hold off the three Confederate companies and Co. B had been the hammer. Our plan for the next day was to try and draw them out of their works with Co. C/D attacking and then retreating through a path in the woods that would lead into a large open field that we would have our remaining forces gathered in preparation for the pitched battle. If this plan failed we were going to concentrate Co. A and Co. C/D along with our cavalry concentrated on the right flank, with a skirmish line extended across our front to conceal our movements. At the same time we were to send Co. B far around the left flank to come in on the flank and the rear of the Confederates. We sent one of the battalion buglers with Co. B and when they were in position they would blow the general advance.

After the Council of War, Colonel Sorchy and I made our grand rounds of all the company outposts. All were well supplied and prepared for any eventuality, except for Co. B. As the Colonel and I made our way into the woods towards Co. B’s Post #2 we found it completely abandoned with only an overcoat and a tin cup as evidence that anyone was there. The Colonel and I were enraged and along with Co. B’s officer of the guard we headed back towards Co. B’s reserve. Along the way we encountered Captain Owens, and he and I headed back into the woods in search of the missing pickets. We found the two pickets (Pvt. Paul Calloway and another man who would not live to see the end of the next day) gallivanting off around the enemy’s line a good distance from their post. We reprimanded the men and sent them back to their posts just in time for Capt. Ewing of Co. B to arrive and give them a good thrashing. Capt. Owens and myself continued reconnoitering the enemy’s line to see if any weaknesses could be detected and this is when we discovered that they had put up some earthworks and fortifications.

October 28th 1862
We attempted our first plan of attack around 6:00 a.m. and after several attempts Co. C/D was not able to coerce the Confederates out of their works so we instantly launched into motions for the second plan. While waiting for Co. B to move into position we had Co. A launch several feint attacks to draw the attention of the Confederates to our right. Most of the Confederate cavalry also formed on the flank of the Confederate right, and our Cavalry mirrored them perfectly. During the heavy skirmishing and the slow advance of Co. A on the Confederates, I heard a bugle call and reported it to the Colonel, he then ordered a general advance of all our forces. As the infantry moved forward the cavalry charged across the field dispersing much of the Confederate cavalry force. Co. A pushed the Confederates back and ran them right into another company of Confederates, and Co. A rejoined with Co. C/D and as we rounded the corner of the trees we were able to make eye contact with Co. B. We instantly pressed our advantage and with the Confederates being hit from two sides they fell back in complete disorder and were routed from the field. It was at this point when Co B was able to rejoin us that we saw a white flag emerge from the Confederate lines and they yielded the field to us. We then received word that we were to be taken off the front lines and put into reserve.

Reported by:
Adam C. Johnson
Sergeant Major
89th Illinois Infantry Regiment

[SCTiger]

Re: Outpost III - AAR Thread

One last photo of the Ox Cart going away.

[BenjaminLDavis]

Re: Outpost III - AAR Thread

Hey all - we would be (hopefully) in winter quarters now, as there fell a half a foot of snow with
freezing rain to top it off last night here in the Old Northwest. Instead of darning socks or
leatherwork, I organized, scanned, reduced and tweaked these, that you might remember
warmer days in the field. I include all done to date, in the order that seems right.
Enjoy, see you all next season. Jim

[rkg]

Re: Outpost III - AAR Thread

Jim,
Thanks for those pics of warmer days in the field. Great event withmy ONV brothers! It's a shame that the fields we tramped on are in danger of passing into history as well.
Robert Gobtop
Ol' Sipley Mess
ONV

[Mark B]

Re: Outpost III - AAR Thread

All,

I spoke with a Rippavilla volunteer today who says they found a knife on the gravel road from Outpost. If you think this is yours let me know and I'll try and get it to you.

Mark Bridges

[Bushrod Carter]

Re: Outpost III - AAR Thread

Mark,

I know one of the Critters (US Cav) reported loosing a knife. Please PM me a discription and I will see if it is his.

Thanks.

[Terry Sorchy]

Re: Outpost III - AAR Thread

I'm still missing that Clever if anyone found it.
Terry Sorchy

[Mad Hatter]

Re: Outpost III - AAR Thread

Outpost III Billies and Jonnies,

Aticle request by Nicky Hughes at Civil War Historian. Tom Fugate, KYARNG Cultural Historial, and I were conference call earlier today with Nicky. I had asked Nicky which issue would contain an article on Outpost III. His reply was that he had not received any submissions from Outpost III.

Earlier posts through this thread indicated that there were to be individuals writing articles. Was Civil War Historian not one of the publications? Nicky said that he would like an article to publish.

I am not very proficient with the English language. I request that one to a few of you bards from the rank and file community send an article to Civil War Historian for publication.

CHRISTOPHER P. HETTINGER
1LT, CM, KYARNG
Environmental Specialist

Tar Water Mess Recruit

[Phil McBride]

Re: Outpost III - AAR Thread

I can't guarantee it, but don't be surprised to see an article about Outpost III in an upcoming issue of the Camp Chase Gazette. Craig Berry and I both attended Outpost as privates and have been working on articles from our respective perspectives.

Phil McBride
The Alamo Rifles

[Greg Barnett]

Re: Outpost III - AAR Thread

I think a collaboration of journal entries and a quick mind to tie it all together would be doable. I sent my entries over to Ben,at the Civil War Historian, in October. I know several folks posted their entries in this thread. I would be happy to assist some one in creating an article.

[Mike Nickerson]

Re: Outpost III - AAR Thread

Camp Chase What??? :sarcastic

Mike Nickerson