History Repeats, Weird connection!

[ScottCross]

OK, this was kind of creepy. I've done a great deal of genealogy on my family, 1/4 of which lived in Iowa during the Civil War. I knew for years that I had g-g-great grand uncles who served in the 2nd Iowa Infantry and also in the 33rd. While mending a few loose family threads together today, I found a half brother of one of my ancestors, George W. Haskell, who served in Company I, 15th Iowa infantry. He died of disease in the 4th Division Hospital in July 1865.

[dixieflyer]

Re: History Repeats, Weird connection!

Weird, but awesome nonetheless!

[Arch Campbell]

Re: History Repeats, Weird connection!

Speaking of history repeating itself, how about the repeating of history repeating itself: this will be the second time I will have been transported on an (ersatz) steamboat as part of a battle reenactment of an early war western theater battle.
In 1983 or '84 or so, someone arranged for the federal infantry present at the Village of East Davenport (Iowa) reenactment to take passage on a paddlewheel touring boat to begin a reenactment of the battle of Belmont. We marched down to the dock area and crammed onto the boat. We "steamed" upriver on the Big Muddy itself, in full view of the crowd and the rebels. Once past the designated "battlefield," the paddlewheeler maneuvered into the shoreline, and the crew threw out a couple planks. We disembarked, and made the short march to attack the rebel camp at "Belmont." (as the Mudsills used to regularly attend Davenport in those days, it is quite possible that you and Mr. McKee were there, Scott!)
Despite the farbyness of the overall scene (it was the early 80s, after all) the images are still with me to this day. It was a magical experience, which I will never forget- and its gonna be MUCH better this time around!

Here's where it gets a little weird: I was carrying the national colors that day, as I will be on our Grand Adventure.

Here's where it gets a little shameful: I was 13. :sarcastic

[Brian Baird]

Re: History Repeats, Weird connection!

Arch,
Scott was in the wheelhouse with the pilot! Now that is scary!
Brian Baird

[CompanyWag]

Re: History Repeats, Weird connection!

Arch,

Yes, I do believe Mr. Cross and I were indeed there. In fact, Scott took a turn at the wheel of that boat yelling "Get off my river, you pimple-faced, pumpkin-headed pukes!"
(Scott had ancestors who worked as rapids pilots on the Mississippi before the war)

Paul McKee

[CompanyWag]

Re: History Repeats, Weird connection!

Hi Bri,

Simultaneous posts!
Let's keep Scott out of the pilothouse on this trip.

Paul McKee

[Arch Campbell]

Re: History Repeats, Weird connection!

That's awesome!

I remember within a year or so after that you guys started attending Davenport ironically: one year you all (15-20 or so) came as officers, another in your SpanAm kits. Us mainstreamers were incensed! (Little did I know that practically as soon as I was an adult, I would BE a Mudsill! I belonged for about 4 or 5 years in the early 90s.)

Best Mudsill memory for me: making Sherman's Neckties at Janesville, Wisconsin. One guy got burned pretty bad but it was a great time.