Gentlemen,
In June of 2007, some months after SCAR Living History at Shiloh, I approached the Battalion staff with the proposal to do an event on the site, since it had been since 2002 that the WIG hosted a Confederate Living History on the site. The event was passed at the meeting in December as the WIG Primary event of the year. To make things interesting, an adjunct was to be added with a march from Corinth to Shiloh following the route of the “Bloody” Sixth Mississippi. After 2 National Park Living Histories with low turnout, it is clear the men are voting their interest with their feet and not showing up. Based on this the WIG command candidates conducted a phone survey and email survey. The results indicated a majority of the Battalion members were just not willing to participate in a Battalion level living history at Shiloh. While this no doubt makes some mad, this chapter is not closed, however, we came to the conclusion based on the returns that this event should be canceled based on lack of interest. If anyone is disappointed it is me, this was my idea from the time I had the chance to put Colonel Thornton's headstone back in place after Katrina destroyed the cemetery, and it was my motion that killed the effort for the battalion.
Any other year I would saddle the responsibility and host a smaller event like we did with Fort Donelson, Fort Gaines or Vicksburg, but as I am getting married in June of next year, that was not possible. The voice of the battalion spoke in a majority that they were ready for something else. The battalion staff and Company commanders are aware of this and we hope that with this change everyone supports the next event on our radar. Gas may be dropping, but your time is valuable and we want you all to get “more bang for your buck.”
Keep checking back and emailing, we will return to Shiloh for that march one day, we just need full the full support of the Battalion in order to make it happen and do it right. The 6th Mississippi went from 400 men down to 125 by the end of the day, to do it right I feel we need that 125 represented, and that takes time. We owe you all a great event, and will settle for nothing less.
See you all in the field soon,
Patrick Landrum, Co D Commanding
In June of 2007, some months after SCAR Living History at Shiloh, I approached the Battalion staff with the proposal to do an event on the site, since it had been since 2002 that the WIG hosted a Confederate Living History on the site. The event was passed at the meeting in December as the WIG Primary event of the year. To make things interesting, an adjunct was to be added with a march from Corinth to Shiloh following the route of the “Bloody” Sixth Mississippi. After 2 National Park Living Histories with low turnout, it is clear the men are voting their interest with their feet and not showing up. Based on this the WIG command candidates conducted a phone survey and email survey. The results indicated a majority of the Battalion members were just not willing to participate in a Battalion level living history at Shiloh. While this no doubt makes some mad, this chapter is not closed, however, we came to the conclusion based on the returns that this event should be canceled based on lack of interest. If anyone is disappointed it is me, this was my idea from the time I had the chance to put Colonel Thornton's headstone back in place after Katrina destroyed the cemetery, and it was my motion that killed the effort for the battalion.
Any other year I would saddle the responsibility and host a smaller event like we did with Fort Donelson, Fort Gaines or Vicksburg, but as I am getting married in June of next year, that was not possible. The voice of the battalion spoke in a majority that they were ready for something else. The battalion staff and Company commanders are aware of this and we hope that with this change everyone supports the next event on our radar. Gas may be dropping, but your time is valuable and we want you all to get “more bang for your buck.”
Keep checking back and emailing, we will return to Shiloh for that march one day, we just need full the full support of the Battalion in order to make it happen and do it right. The 6th Mississippi went from 400 men down to 125 by the end of the day, to do it right I feel we need that 125 represented, and that takes time. We owe you all a great event, and will settle for nothing less.
See you all in the field soon,
Patrick Landrum, Co D Commanding
Comment