150th Shiloh FEDERAL Paddle Wheeler Adjunct

[J. Donaldson]

Re: 150th Shiloh FEDERAL Paddle Wheeler Adjunct

Belknap's history of the 15th is, to be honest, a tad self-serving. Look into the diaries of Cyrus Boyd. There may or may not be a very good idea presented on how the 15th look when they disembarked at Pittsburgh Landing.

[Tom Craig]

Re: 150th Shiloh FEDERAL Paddle Wheeler Adjunct

Matt,

I have to ask, I see you mentioned a cavalry escort. Is there any place in this effort for authentic federal cavalry? If so, is there a limit on numbers, or someone to look to who is going to head that portion up?

Thanks in advance!
Take care,
Tom Craig
1st Maine Cavalry

[Thomas Alleman]

Re: 150th Shiloh FEDERAL Paddle Wheeler Adjunct

I know this might not be accurate but the card game Dixie Shiloh, which I have, has drawings done of units and one of them is the 15th IA. Also there is a Shiloh blog site, http://battleshiloh.blogspot.com/2008/11/15th-iowa.html, someone might have info on uniforms and such. Shiloh was my first big reenactment in 1997, the mud event and I would like to go back. Did the living history there in like 2002 with the WIG. Never went as a Federal though. Only wish we did the 12th MI.

[Thomas Alleman]

Re: 150th Shiloh FEDERAL Paddle Wheeler Adjunct

Cyrus Boyd was only 24 when he volunteered for the 15th Iowa Infantry in 1861. He "escaped the uncertain fates of War" and was mustered out of the service in 1864. Some time after the war, Boyd used the daily notes he'd kept to write about his wartime experience, in the form of a journal. Though he never published it, Boyd sent a copy of his journal to an old friend, whose family passed it down through several generations. In 1951, 90 years after Boyd's enlistment, his journal was presented to the Iowa State Historical Society.

Boyd first saw action at Shiloh, and recalled the battle vividly:

At ten o'clock we are ordered ashore with all our equipments including forty rounds of ammunition. With our knapsacks, haversacks, canteen (and almost everyone had an extra suit of clothes) and our overcoats -- haversacks filled to the top with hard tack and last but not least each of us had a big high hat with a large brass "eagle" on the side. If we were not a choice looking lot of fighting cocks as we stood in line that morning then I am no guesser. We formed in line on the Bluff overlooking the river. We were in great confusion as Col. Reid and Dewey galloped back and forth without seeming to know exactly what they were doing. Col. Dewey did a considerable amount of hardswearing and I had time to notice him wheel his horse around and take someconsolation through the neck of a pint bottle. This seemed to give him a stronger flow of swear language than before. When we had got into something like a line we were presented with several boxes of ammunition and each man ordered to fill up to the extent of a hundred rounds...

The wounded men were by this time coming in freely and were being carried right through our ranks. And we could see hundreds of soldiers running through the woods. Col. Reid got us started. Who gave the order I know not. Who our guide was I knew not. We started on the double quick in the direction of the heavy firing, which was mostly of musketry... Thus we kept on for at least three miles meeting hundreds -- yes thousands of men on the retreat who had thrown away their arms and were rushing toward the Landing -- most of these were hatless and had nothing on them except their clothes. Some of them were wounded and covered with blood from head to foot. Some of the wounded were being carried on stretchers. The woods were full of Infantry, cavalry, Artillery and all arms of the service were flying toward the river in countless numbers. Men yelled as they passed us: "Don't go out there!" "You'll catch hell!" "We are all cut to pieces!" "We are whipped!" Some declared they were the only ones left out of a whole Regiment or a Battery as the case may be...

Here we were a new Regiment which had never until this morning heard an enemy's gun fire thrown into this hell of battle -- without warning... The enemy opened on us with artillery at close range using grape, canister and shell and all manner of deadly missiles. Above the roar of the guns could be heard the cheers of our men as they gained new ground. At last we could see the enemy and they were advancing around our left flank and the woods seemed alive with gray coats and their victorious cheer and unearthly yellsand the concentrated fire which they had upon us caused somebody to give the order for retreat. The word was passed along -- and we went off that bloody ground in great confusion and had to fall back over the same open ground by which we came.

As we started down the Ravine a wounded rebel caught me by the leg as I was passing and looking up at me said, "My friend for God's sake give me adrink of water." He had been shot about the head and was covered with blood to his feet. I at once thought of that command "If thine enemy thirst give him drink" and I halted and tried to get my canteen from under my accouterments -- but I could not and pulled away from him and said "I have not time to help you..."

We were massed upon the surrounding bluffs about the [Pittsburg] Landing. General Grant and General Buell rode along the line and urged every man to stand firm as we should have thousands of reenforcements in a short time and pointed to the opposite side of the river where we could see a long line of blue coats as far as the eye could reach -- and that was Buell's army. This sight was all that saved Grant's Army. No promises or words could have inspired men on this desperate occasion. Every man who stood in that crumbling wall felt the great responsibility. To give way then would bedestruction to the whole Army...

At last! At last!... the glad news came that the enemy was retreating. No shipwrecked sailors on a desert island, famished and ready to die, ever hailed a passing vessel with more delight and joy than every one on the Union side hailed that glad news. Men mortally wounded jumped upon their feet and shouted for Victory! Every coward who had slunk under the river bank was out of his hole. There had not been so many men wanting to go to the front since the battle began....

Two or three of us took a little ramble out on the field... We took a look at the ghastly sights.... I saw five dead Confederates all killed by one six pound solid shot -- no doubt from one of our cannon. They had been behind a log and all in a row. The ball had raked them as they crouched behind the log (no doubt firing at our men). One of them had his head taken off. One had been struck at the right shoulder and his chest lay open. One had been cut in two at the bowels and nothing held the carcass together but the spine. One had been hit at the thighs and the legs were torn from the body. The fifth and last one was piled up into a mass of skull, arms, some toes and the remains of a butternut suit....

Ambulances and men are hurrying over the field and gathering up the wounded. The surgeons are cutting off the arms and legs. Burying parties and details are out burying the dead this evening... The terrible rain of last night has filled the ground with water... The trees are just bursting into leaf and the little flowers are covering the ground -- but their fragrance is lost in the pall of death which has settled down on this bloody field.

"This is the valley and the shadow of death."

Excerpt from Throne, Mildred, ed. The Civil War Diary of Cyrus F. Boyd. Fifteenth Iowa Infantry, 1861-1863. The State Historical Society of Iowa, 1976. Reprint, Millwood, NY: Kraus Reprint Co., 1977.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/primary-resources/grant-boyd/

[jake.koch]

Re: 150th Shiloh FEDERAL Paddle Wheeler Adjunct

Mr. Welch,

I just sort of scanned through the book other then the section on Shiloh, but I definately gathered that about Belknap from the bit I read. Thanks for mentioning the Boyd book, it looks like good reading.

[Matt Woodburn]

Re: 150th Shiloh FEDERAL Paddle Wheeler Adjunct

David,

Thanks! I've posted where that info will be in my original post now, and to answer your question directly, you do not have to do the research, it will all be on the adjunct website very soon.

[Matt Woodburn]

Re: 150th Shiloh FEDERAL Paddle Wheeler Adjunct

Tom C.,

All of the cavalry is being coordinated under Terry Crowder, the commander of the First Federal Division. His email is colcav [at] charter [dot] net. He'll get you to the right people! Hope you can make that drive as I'm sure you'll win longest drive!

[dixieflyer]

Re: 150th Shiloh FEDERAL Paddle Wheeler Adjunct

OK, as a point I like to point something out that is bothering me:

In a couple of postings/e-mails/etc. regarding this event, I have noticed people saying we will leave Savannah and go down river. If we leave Savannah and head towards Pittsburg Landing, we will be going against the current, and therefore heading UPRIVER. not downriver. We may be heading south, but the direction is still UP the Tennessee River.

Sorry, it's just the geography teacher in me. ;)

Warren Dickinson

[dixieflyer]

Re: 150th Shiloh FEDERAL Paddle Wheeler Adjunct

At ten o'clock we are ordered ashore with all our equipments including forty rounds of ammunition. With our knapsacks, haversacks, canteen (and almost everyone had an extra suit of clothes) and our overcoats -- haversacks filled to the top with hard tack and last but not least each of us had a big high hat with a large brass "eagle" on the side. If we were not a choice looking lot of fighting cocks as we stood in line that morning then I am no guesser.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexpe...es/grant-boyd/

Well, shuckey-durn, and here I was hoping for forage caps and state shell jackets. :p

Oh well, guess, I'll have to buy a new Hardee hat. Ain't no way my old Don Rademacher Hardee will pass muster for this gig.

Warren Dickinson

[Jim of The SRR]

Re: 150th Shiloh FEDERAL Paddle Wheeler Adjunct

Matt,

Per our discussion, SCAR has already agreed to form a company to support your efforts. We are looking forward to it. Sounds like a unique opportunity!

Jim Butler

[Matt Woodburn]

Re: 150th Shiloh FEDERAL Paddle Wheeler Adjunct

Warren,

You are exactly correct! UPRIVER from Savannah to Pittsburg Landing. I was a little distracted when I posted today as I was buying a former whore house on Cinco de Mayo. Yes, you read that correctly. I've been a little over extended lately.

[dixieflyer]

Re: 150th Shiloh FEDERAL Paddle Wheeler Adjunct

No worries, a common mistake. I just wish I could get all of my kids to memorize WHERE the Tennessee River is!

Warren Dickinson

[Milliron]

Re: 150th Shiloh FEDERAL Paddle Wheeler Adjunct

I was a little distracted when I posted today as I was buying a former whore house on Cinco de Mayo. Yes, you read that correctly. I've been a little over extended lately.

Sweet! When's it open?

[Tom Craig]

Re: 150th Shiloh FEDERAL Paddle Wheeler Adjunct

Matt,

Thanks for the info. I would hope that we AC types could all pull together for this, similar to what is being done at Manassas this summer. A five mile march, escorting you fine fella's seems like an ideal connection between authentic cavalry and infantry to me.

It would be a long haul, but I'd bet there is someone who'll come in from the left coast or Europe for the event who'll travel a lot further than me.

Take care,
Tom Craig
1st Maine Cavalry

[PetePaolillo]

Re: 150th Shiloh FEDERAL Paddle Wheeler Adjunct

A few decent links of interest for the 15th Iowa. I am excited about participating in this event. I look forward to hearing more.

In 1850 Colonel Dewey served as one of the commissioners,who were appointed from Iowa to settle the boundary line between Missouri and this State; after which he removed to Sidney, Fremont County. He practiced medicine in Sidney, till the summer of 1861,when,in connection with Colonel H.T. Reid, he assisted in recruiting and organizing the 15th Iowa Infantry. He was made lieutenant-colonel of that regiment,on the 6th of November, 1861, and, early in the following Spring, accompanied it to Pittsburg Landing. The 15th Iowa reached the Landing on Sunday morning, the 6th of April, Just as the battle was opening, and was ordered to report to General Prentiss. All order however was lost before it reached the front, and, really, the regiment fought on its own account and independently of the orders of General officers

.

The 15th Iowa left its rendezvous in Keokuk on the 17th ofMarch, 1862, and, after a stay of only ten days in St. Louis, proceeded to the front. At St. Louis the regiment received its arms and camp equipage. It arrived at Pittsburg Landing at six o'clock on Sunday morning, the first day of the battle. Its opening chapter was an eventful one. It fired its first gun at Shiloh.
General Grant's head-quarters were then at Savannah, eight miles below, on the river; and at that point Colonel Reid had, the night before, been assigned to the division of General Prentiss. On arriving at the Landing, on the morning of the sixth, his first business was to report to that general, and, mounting his horse, he rode out toward the front for that purpose; but for some reason, he did not reach the front till the battle had opened with great fierceness, and he was unable to effect his object. He therefore returned to the river, and, disembarking his regiment, drew it up in line on the high bluffs, and waited for orders. It was now hardly nine o'clock, and yet the frightful stampede had already begun. Long lines of fugitives, many of them hatless and coatless, and all of them frightened to desperation, came streaming to the river-bank, and nothing could stop them.
Golonel Reid first received orders to arrest these fugitives, and effect their re-organization; but it was utterly impossible, and he was therefore, after considerable delay, ordered to pro. ceed hastily to the front.I have already stated that the 15th Iowa received their arms at St. Louis, just before embarking for the front: it is therefore unnecessary to add that the regiment had never been instructed in the manual of arms. In the process of loading and firing, they were all novices; but it was fortunate that they were nearly all of them accustomed to a gun, and could handle it with efficiency.

Iowa colonels and regiments: being a history of Iowa regiments in the war of the rebellion; and containing a description of the battles in which they have fought Addison A. Stuart,Mills & co., 1865
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The 15th Iowa arrived at Shiloh, by steamer, on the morning of the first day of that battle, and as the men marched to the front with bright guns and new uniforms they were taken by the retreating Federals for regular troops. In an hour the 15th Iowa was also slowly retreating before the impetuous advance of the confederates.

Portrait and biographical album of Mahaska County, Iowa: By Chapman Brothers 1887

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On the 26th day of March, 1862, General Grant, by Special Order, No. 36, assigned General Prentiss to the command of unattached troops then arriving at Pittsburg Landing, with directions to organize these regiments as they arrived upon the field into brigades and the brigades into a division, to be designated the 6th Division.
Under this order one brigade of four regiments, commanded by Colonel Peabody, had been organized and was encamped on west side of the Eastern Corinth road four hundred yards south of the Barnes field. Another brigade, commanded by Colonel Miller, 18 th Missouri, was partially organized. Three regiments had reported and were in camp on the east side of the Eastern Corinth road. Other regiments on their way up the river had been ordered to report to General Prentiss, but had not arrived.
The 16th Iowa arrived on the field on the 5th and sent its morning report to General Prentiss in time to have it included in his report of present for duty that day—it was not fully equipped and did not disembark from the boat until morning of the 6th. The 15th Iowa and 23d Missouri arrived at the Landing Sunday morning, April 6, 1862. The 23d Missouri reported to General Prentiss at his third position about 9.30 a. m., and was placed in line at once as part of his command. The 15th and 16th Iowa were, by General Grant's order, sent to the right to reenforce McClernand. They reported to him at his fifth line in Jones field and were hotly engaged from about 1 p. m. to. 2.30 p. m

Ohio at Shiloh: report of the commission By Ohio. Shiloh Battlefield Commission, Thomas Jefferson 1903