160th Shiloh reenactment anyone?

[Rusk County Avengers]

I'm planning on trying to go, provided work doesn't torpedo my plans like literally ALL my reenactment plans for 2021.

http://160thbattleofshiloh.com/?fbclid=IwAR3OofZ5toa3W2IfymJsy8lao7lrIb682pJtnR5XKkLIdZtBaxraphVpZoo

Anyone else going? I've never been to a reenactment at Shiloh, but have heard many, many stories of frigid and wet Shiloh events. Along with stolen foodstuffs from Federal camps to get in the spirit of things.

 

[captaindrew]

Never been to Shiloh, been on my bucket list so maybe that would be a good reason to go. Have to see how the East Coast shapes up first.

 

[grognard]

The battlefield is well worth a visit, especially if you've never been there. Take in Fort Donelson while you're in the area.

As to the event - you're in the Tennessee valley in the spring. Pack light - you may have to carry everything several miles to dry ground...

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

The battlefield is well worth a visit, especially if you've never been there. Take in Fort Donelson while you're in the area.

As to the event - you're in the Tennessee valley in the spring. Pack light - you may have to carry everything several miles to dry ground...

Oh I know it all too well, besides uniform musket and accoutrements, I'm planning on everything else fitting in a knapsack. After I order one, kind of tired of blanket rolls. I've seen the places, and heard enough "war stories" around the camp fire to know the more stuff, the more heartache.

As to the actual Shiloh battlefield and Fort Donelson, I can't recommend them enough myself:

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

While I've heard many stories of the infamous "Mudlo" in relation to the Tennessee Valley in the Spring, James N. tells it best! I hope the 160th is as good as the 150th was from all I've heard. Besides, rainy Spring weather over there is just more authentic!

With the Frontier Brigade at the 135th Shiloh ("Mudlo"), April 4 -5, 1997. | Reenactors Forum - Join, Drill, See the Elephant

Part I Major General Ulysses S. Grant surveys the battle from the fallback position in the Hornet's Nest. I've by now frequently observed that Civil War reenacting is old enough to have a long and distinguished history of its own and have posted my experiences at several impressive events of...

civilwartalk.com

 

[James N.]

While I've heard many stories of the infamous "Mudlo" in relation to the Tennessee Valley in the Spring, James N. tells it best! I hope the 160th is as good as the 150th was from all I've heard. Besides, rainy Spring weather over there is just more authentic!

With the Frontier Brigade at the 135th Shiloh ("Mudlo"), April 4 -5, 1997. | Reenactors Forum - Join, Drill, See the Elephant

Part I Major General Ulysses S. Grant surveys the battle from the fallback position in the Hornet's Nest. I've by now frequently observed that Civil War reenacting is old enough to have a long and distinguished history of its own and have posted my experiences at several impressive events of...

civilwartalk.com

Mudlo was indeed awful - conversely probably the nicest Shiloh event I ever attended weather-wise was the 145th in 2007:

145th Anniversary Reenactment of Shiloh, March 16-18, 2007 | Reenactors Forum - Join, Drill, See the Elephant

With Doug Garnett (@1863surgeon ) in our camp at the 145th Anniversary Reenactment of the Battle of Shiloh, photographed by Betsy Mills. Other photos in this thread were taken by Larry Mink, James (Jim) Langley, and myself. Probably because the actual Shiloh anniversary weekend in 2007 also...

civilwartalk.com

The 150th was pretty nice too, that is IF you were attending the larger of the two held that same weekend by rival host groups - A terrific thunderstorm with lightning, heavy rain, and strong winds demolished the camps in the smaller one on Saturday night!

 

[archieclement]

What percent of reenactors stay in period regardless of weather?

Would assume with lightning, hail or cold some avail themselves of modern cover, vehicles, or motels.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

What percent of reenactors stay in period regardless of weather?

Would assume with lightning, hail or cold some avail themselves of modern cover, vehicles, or motels.

Once upon a time? Maybe 95%, nowadays?

I'm guessing around 90% to 92%

The dedicated, mainstream and hardcore authentic is a 98%. Of course this is me talking from the point of view of the Trans-Mississippi reenactors, east of the Mississippi I don't know as I ain't seen them in bad weather, but I would think the percentage would be near identical.

 

[truyle]

I am seriously thinking about going especially since my pard, Randy Jackson passed away last summer. He was obsessed with the Battle of Shiloh and in particular the 41st Illinois' participation in the battle. We were at the 125th; were it snowed Thursday or Friday night and was pretty chilly the whole weekend. We were also also at the 150th and at least a couple of other Shiloh anniversary events in between. We missed out on the Battle of Shiloh reenactment when it rained so badly. I know I'll go as an Illinois infantryman but have absolutely no idea who I'll fall in with.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

I am seriously thinking about going especially since my pard, Randy Jackson passed away last summer. He was obsessed with the Battle of Shiloh and in particular the 41st Illinois' participation in the battle. We were at the 125th; were it snowed Thursday or Friday night and was pretty chilly the whole weekend. We were also also at the 150th and at least a couple of other Shiloh anniversary events in between. We missed out on the Battle of Shiloh reenactment when it rained so badly. I know I'll go as an Illinois infantryman but have absolutely no idea who I'll fall in with.

Funny how one's impression normally, (not counting time and place one time authentic events), doesn't work worth a darn at big events. I'm Texan, my stuff's Texan and Arkansawyer, my main unit is Texan, but we'll probably end up being Tennessean, Mississippian, Alabamian, or who knows what else. Just whatever the organizers decide. At 2016's Perryville, on Saturday the battery I'd fallen in with was made Alabamian, Sunday Georgian!

Though considering how much I've come to love and appreciate the folks in that part of the country, plus having family that was from the area during the war, (though I'm not sure any fought...) I may have to put together an impression before then that looks right for most Confederates there.

I'm already waiting on a new musket in the mail as Mississippi Rifles are banned in reenacting, and my Enfield not really proper for Shiloh.

 

[thomas aagaard]

Enfield not really proper for Shiloh.

A number of csa units was armed with enfields and british made cartriges.
After the battle Sherman noticed how the battlefield in some areas was strewn with powder cylinders marked
E&A. Ludlow. Birmingham.
(page 198, The English cartridge, by Brett Gibbons)

So depending on if you are portraying a specific unit, enfields are proper for Shiloh.

 

[archieclement]

Funny how one's impression normally, (not counting time and place one time authentic events), doesn't work worth a darn at big events. I'm Texan, my stuff's Texan and Arkansawyer, my main unit is Texan, but we'll probably end up being Tennessean, Mississippian, Alabamian, or who knows what else. Just whatever the organizers decide. At 2016's Perryville, on Saturday the battery I'd fallen in with was made Alabamian, Sunday Georgian!

Though considering how much I've come to love and appreciate the folks in that part of the country, plus having family that was from the area during the war, (though I'm not sure any fought...) I may have to put together an impression before then that looks right for most Confederates there.

I'm already waiting on a new musket in the mail as Mississippi Rifles are banned in reenacting, and my Enfield not really proper for Shiloh.

Why would Mississippi Rifles be banned in reenacting?

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

A number of csa units was armed with enfields and british made cartriges.
After the battle Sherman noticed how the battlefield in some areas was strewn with powder cylinders marked
E&A. Ludlow. Birmingham.
(page 198, The English cartridge, by Brett Gibbons)

So depending on if you are portraying a specific unit, enfields are proper for Shiloh.

Oh I know there were a lot of Enfields, but I decided to grab an underrepresented arm because in reenacting Enfields are everywhere. I doubt there will be any specific unit portrayed, (typical mainstream National event), but I figured it was a good excuse for grabbing an extra musket.

I ordered a M1855, which I expect to do a lot of work on to make it a bit more historically accurate. Also a fair chance I'll grab a rifled M1842 kit before then as well. (The labor shortages over here, and pandemic madness may be working me to death, but my savings are better than ever.)

There was some excellent research online into Confederate weapons by regiment, probably worthy of a good book, but its no longer available.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

Why would Mississippi Rifles be banned in reenacting?

They are thought to pose a safety hazard because of the shorter barrel, especially used from the rear rank, thus are almost universally banned by infantry reenacting groups everywhere. You see them used by mega-farb, (super period incorrect) "Dismounted Cavalry" reenactors, and even some Cavalrymen, but in infantry ranks its rare.

I've also known many guys who did carry them in the infantry, myself included, who are given a hard time by officers and talked down to for using such a gun that "Was never used by the Infantry in the Civil War!" because "Enfields and Springfields were the standard arm for Infantry." which has always been nothing but a sign of someone's lack of knowledge on CW small arms to me.

Years ago when I jumped from artillery to infantry, when still in high school, I used a M1841 Mississippi gifted to me by my Mother for my I think 17th birthday, (Great Momma!) and I got a hard time from everyone for using it and told to save up for an Enfield, because that's what the regiment we portrayed used. I kind of ignored them, having already done research and found it to be a perfectly suitable arm, even discovering our unit historically carried Mississippi's! But I was a kid who didn't know what he was talking about, and eventually at events the Captain would take my Mississippi, (God rest his soul, great man), and hand me his Enfield to use. Thus I finally gave in and got a P1853 and kneeled before "King Enfield" of reenacting. (Not that I don't like them, great gun after all and great history behind them.)

I could go on for hours on this subject...

 

[captaindrew]

Why would Mississippi Rifles be banned in reenacting?

They aren't banned but most units and events would prefer everyone used 3 band guns for safety reasons when firing in two ranks. Same as the shorter 2 band Enfields are frowned on also. We've had people use them in the units I've been in and we just ask they fall in in the front rank.

 

[James N.]

I am seriously thinking about going especially since my pard, Randy Jackson passed away last summer. He was obsessed with the Battle of Shiloh and in particular the 41st Illinois' participation in the battle. We were at the 125th; were it snowed Thursday or Friday night and was pretty chilly the whole weekend. We were also also at the 150th and at least a couple of other Shiloh anniversary events in between. We missed out on the Battle of Shiloh reenactment when it rained so badly. I know I'll go as an Illinois infantryman but have absolutely no idea who I'll fall in with.

If you haven't seen them already, you might enjoy my reminiscences of these events too:

With U. S. Grant at Shiloh's 125th, April, 1987 | Reenactors Forum - Join, Drill, See the Elephant

Part I - In The Federal Camp Myself at left representing then-Captain John A. Rawlins with Marty Brazil as Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant in front of our headquarters tent at Shiloh. I was reminded recently what with this again being the anniversary of the Battle of Shiloh, Tenn., of one of the most...

civilwartalk.com

Shiloh 150th Anniversary Reenactment, April, 2012 | Event Wire: Reenactments, Walks, Shows, & More

Part I - In The Camp Above, camp of Union artillery Saturday morning during the first Confederate scripted attack. (The battle was occurring to the south but was very audible.) Below, another view just a little later - our medical camp/exhibit was between this camp and the huge sutler area...

civilwartalk.com

 

[truyle]

I remember you now and definitely remember Marty Brazil as Grant. I was a lowly private so I didn't interact with either of you. I remember

Sunday Hornet's nest scenario was a big letdown.​

At the 125th Vicksburg Brazil, as Grant, promoted me on the spot for providing him with a match for his cigar. We laughed about that for a long time.

 

[PrivateBrooke]

My unit is actually talking about maybe attending, since I shared this with them. We're all game, just the logistics.

 

[16thAL]

@Rusk County Avengers I'm hearing local talk already . This one is building up to be a good one . You know you got friends waiting when you get here .

 

[PrivateBrooke]

I'm already looking for a different jacket...even though I doubt many would care, something just doesn't feel right about attending in a Richmond Depot II jacket...lol