Shiloh AAR

[McLane's Avenger]

Re: Shiloh AAR

I would like to thank everyone who made this event and adjunct possible.

The only cons to the event were the water and toilet situations, but the good far outweighs this problem.
Now for the pros:
The boat ride
Disembarking at Pittsburg Landing to "The Girl I Left Behind Me"
Waking up to see men from the other boats filing past my bed
Getting the ammo and seeing some guys get really great packs and others getting ones that appeared to come from shoddy contractors
Shortly after we stepped off, I turned around and saw the column stretch on
The singing and talking in the column on the march
The silence of the column as we were tiring before the first stop
I fell out just before the battle Saturday because my shoulder was hurting from the strap of my pack, so I heard the battle rather than saw it, and it did sound like a continuous roll
Since I fell out, I got to the camp about 15-20 minutes before the regiment, and it was eerie to see such a large camp nearly deserted
I would like to thank the people that made the chicken broth and beans and rice for Co. F on Saturday, it was great to get to camp, and have dinner waiting
Emptying the sutler tent. I didn't get any personal goods, but I did enjoy some apple butter and mushroom ketchup and condensed milk in some coffee
Watching a camp that big operate
When we marched out Sunday, everyone watched us and cheered us

I would like to thank the command staff, everyone who did things before and during the event to this adjunct run smoothly, Brandon Jolly for painting the flags, the civilians who made dinner for Co. F on Saturday, everyone who was a part of the adjunct, the members of Co. F and finally Matt Woodburn. Besides all the work he did for this, I had contacted him about finding a home early on, and had pointed my pards and me to Co. F. I would like to thank you for that, because every officer, NCO, and private in Company F made this event truly memorable.

It was an honor to be a part of Co. F of the 15th Iowa, and I can't thank the people that made this event possible enough.

[HOG.EYE.MAN]

Re: Shiloh AAR

shiloh2012aaron.jpgshiloh2012aaron2.jpg

Company B bringing up the flank is in the house.....


Bravo to my old WIG battalion and staff who put on an outstanding event! Now that's how I remember the WIG!

Glad to be back.....

[Pious Jeems]

Re: Shiloh AAR

Would not trade this past weekend for anything! To see those colors in the breeze, yep I am a flag nut, always have and always will be. Marching with my good friends and new friends. Proud to be a part of the 15th Iowa Inf.

Highlights,

1. Boat ride and viewing the river without any lights from shore, thought of those men of 62 coming up river.
2. Being the one to meet the 2nd boatload and being hailed from the paddlewheeler with an Ahoy, and answering Ahoy, come ashore.
3. Getting to sleep a few hours to be awaken with the foot fall of men marching past upon the arrival of the 3rd load.
4. Marching with the best looking regiment/battalion of men excellently kitted and dressed.
5. Being able to experience this due to excellent leadership and planning. Three cheers and a tiger to the 15th Iowa Vol. Infantry!

[Tejano]

Re: Shiloh AAR

You boys did look great from across the field. It was to bad that you had to take a knee and were not able to fight on Sunday.:cry_smile

[Cameron]

Re: Shiloh AAR

I will jump in.

From start to finish this event lived up to the hype. Simply one of the best events I have ever been associated with. I could go on and on about the moments but I would rather extend my compliments to the men of the regiment and especially to Co B. I am very happy to served with each of you and I hope we can continue to take the field through out the 150's. Our roster was literally a "Who's, who" of research and knowledge, great to meet you guys and great to see old friends.

Like most on this board, I don't attend these type events for the "battles" as the "battles" are always folly as far as I am concerned. That being said, you boys who took the field as skirmishers on Sunday were damned impressive.

I will close with this, it is Sunday 4pm, the event is over...myself, Eric Martin, and Dean Burchfield are picking up the oven bricks as they can't be left behind. All the tents are struck and gone. Nothing is left except a large pile of barrels, commissary supplies, and quartermaster inventory. No one else is about, suddenly, out of the north, comes this huge cloud of dust, emerging out this cloud is a U-Haul truck. Driving this mud covered monstrosity is none other than Colonel Woodburn. Still clad in period attire, he is literally the last man on the field, tending to the unenvyable tasks of loading 200 lb barrels of left-over pickled bologna, tables, chairs, commissary impedimentia of all types, removing trash and debris so that some farmer's field can be returned to normalcy. After the work is done, he then turns to us and says, "It'd be my honor to buy you guys supper"....we assured him this wasn't necessary but he was adamant and we eventually capitulated. I have felt bad since. He wanted to buy us supper, it was us, all of us who should have bought your supper.
I am sharing this because it speaks volumes of Matt's character and his selfless approach in getting the job done. Even when the job is the unglamorous, behind the scenes things.

So, publicly, thank you Matt for your diligence and effectiveness in orchestrating this massive effort.

[PetePaolillo]

Re: Shiloh AAR

Very well said Cameron! :) Bully for the Colonel.

[TommyK]

Re: Shiloh AAR

It was my first campaigner event, and will never be forgotten. Seeing the distant lanterns, which guided our paddle wheeler to shore, was something else. Thanks to WIG for helping me follow the footsteps of my ancestor in the 49th O.V.I.
Thomas Kessler

[Pious Jeems]

Re: Shiloh AAR

Cam, you are so correct in saying this. That is how a leader leads his men, by example! I will follow Col. Woodburn again!

[Eric Fair]

Re: Shiloh AAR

I've been doing this hobby for a long time, and frankly, there have been times of late that I've felt a bit burned out by it.

This event brought back what this hobby has been for me in the past - fun.

That's a testament to everyone involved, from the leadership on down.

So, I can only say this - thank you.

[dirtyshirt]

Re: Shiloh AAR

Eric, I'll echo that. I haven't felt this way about an event since Raymond in '98.

[Canton Zouave]

Re: Shiloh AAR

Eric,

I agree....this was going to be my last event as a soldier. I may have to re-assess that now.

[GWagner]

Re: Shiloh AAR

Good video of 15 Iowa at 1:21.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6v0SLosPAdM

[Mtn.Guerilla]

Re: Shiloh AAR

15th Iowa uphill.jpg 15th Iowa Downhill.jpg

These are a couple of my favorite shots. I believe these were taken by Brian Hicks brother ( ? )

[robwall1861]

Re: Shiloh AAR

Good video of 15 Iowa at 1:21.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6v0SLosPAdM

GREAT shot of the 15th Iowa...especially when they were firing by battalion, very impressive sight!

[J. Donaldson]

Re: Shiloh AAR

Favorite part of that video is everyone in that battalion stopped and watching us.