Lance 

Driver of the Hearse 

Changing the guard. 

Camp Byrne 

MIB Guards 

On the front door. 

On the front door. 

On the way to the changing of the guard. 

Cpl of the Guard and the MIB Honor Guard 

Last Known GAR Burial and Funeral

Up at 4:00 a.m. today for the drive up to Memphis, Mo. for the Funeral of Cpl. Byrne. My friends and I made history today. We were not reenacting today, but rather, we were part of the closing chapter of the Civil War. The burial today could very well be the last GAR Burial and Funeral. The thought of it made the hair stand up on my neck.

During the drive my thoughts were with the assembled family. They came from all corners of the country. My thoughts also drifted to the two other brothers. A tear came to my eye when I thought of them, united again after 85 years. I could just see them embracing their brother and saying, 'Welcome home"!

This link is to a print media source in Quincy, Ill who covered Friday nights events.

A few pictures follow; Other pictures are located at moirishbrigade, a yahoo group.

Last Union Burial

Tomorrow I journey to Memphis, Missouri to attend the last burial of a Union soldier from the Civil War. This is not a reenactment but a real funeral.. More to follow and pictures.

Company Street 

Our friend in artillery. That Mountain Howlitzer barked today. 

A fine smoke for sure! 

Will 

Our Leprechan!! An excellent comrade in arms. 

Father and Son 

Pvt Lumpy. She was an excellent bugler! 

EWPOWERS 

Mike 

MIB Marching To Battle 

MIB in Action at Shoal Creek 

Margaret 

Cpl Keith and Capt. Crofutt 

Undercook Mallory preparing carrots, cabbage and potatoes for the Missouri Irish Brigade 

Shoal Creek Encampment Weekend

The truck was loaded and ready to go on Thursday except for a few things I did not wish to leave in it over night. I traded my 8th hour with another teacher on Friday so I could leave school at 12:00 noon on May 20th.

Finished loading the truck. Purchased more bungee straps so I could strap the cooler on top of there strawbale I carry on the front carrier of the truck. Left home at 12:45 p.m. after filling the cooler with bottled water and ice.

The truck was running fine until I crossed over I-70 on I-435. The top radiator hose exploded with a loud pop. I lost all coolant within 100 ft of the explosion. Pulled to the side of the road, called "AAA" for a tow. It was dangerous, to be on the shoulder of I-435. The tow arrived within 35 minutes, hooked the truck up and towed it home... Went to the auto parts store and purchased coolant, a top radiator hose and a new screwdriver. The replacement went well and I was loading coolant and water within 45 minutes. Margaret was home from work by then. Jumped into the shower, as I was covered with sweat and grime. Changed clothes and asked Margaret to drive the Explorer behind me with the cooler. I think the cooler blocked the airflow thro the radiator.

Arrived at the eventsite at 6:15 p.m. registered. Found the civilian camp and said "hello" Drove over the the campsite of the Irish Brigade. My camp was set within one hour with the help of my 'pards' and Margaret. Covered with sweat again. Margaret and I decided to go eat at Ryan's Steakhouse in Gladstone. We had a great dinner. I cooled off and rehydraded myself with water and lemonade.

We returned to the camp at 9:30 p.m. Margaret left for home. I took the meteorological readings for the evening and went to bed after Margaret called to say she had made it home safely.. It had been a long day by that time.

Slept well. The first call was at 6:00 a.m. by Pvt.. Lumpy of the 8th. Kansas. Jo can really bugle. Sick call followed morning report. The typical complaints were noted. The boys of the 7th. and 30th. went to drill after breakfast. It was very hot and humid. I took a canvas bucket of ice to them and encouraged the boys to drink water liberally. Maj.. Patty, the Brigade's Asst.. Surgeon, was in attendance and had made several gallons of lemonade from the lemonade powder packets he received from the supply train.

A 45 minute rest time followed the drill. Another drill session was held. Lunch was prepared by the Major and his nurses for the men. After lunch the calvary scouts found rebels with contraband rifles and munitions had taked over the hamlet of Shoal Creek Village. We were mustered and ordered to retake the town and the weapons. Capt.. Crofutt was overall commander of the Infantry.

The boys pushed the sessionists back into town but were repelled and pushed back into the fields outside of the village. Our forces retired and regrouped. After a brief rest the units reformed and moved back into the village and took the town in street fighting. We held the town into the next afternoon (Sunday). The sessionsist regrouped and pushed into the town about 1:00 p.m. with the support of cannon fire. Our lads repulsed the attack and pushed the rebels out. The 7th held the bridge over Shoal Creek.

Saturday night was hot but the threat of rain was apparent with lightning in the east. Distant cannon fire was heard and seen from the general direction of the village of Birmingham, a small river town on the Missouri River.

After I wrote Margaret I was retiring when some of the lads ask the Steward if he would like to play poker. The Steward never refuses a game of poker. The Texas boys had taught us a game of poker called holdem. An interesting game.

The Steward won a total of 90 dollars from the lads. I fear I took all their money as 90 dollars would be almost right months pay combined. But they wanted to play...

Sunday morning dawned 16 degrees hotter than Saturday.. The Captain let the men rest, That was a good idea. Little did we know the rebels would try to retake the town that afternoon. Two photographers detailed from Brady's photography came and took pictures.

I treated camp cough, a scalding of the right arm and hand of a son of our Pioneer. A cut to the left thumb from a knife and a bayonet to the hand. One Pvt. was dizzy and was restricted to the hospital on Saturday. We needed him on Sunday and he rejoined the ranks Sunday afternoon.

Maj.. Patty removed several "ticks" from the lads. God, May is a bad month for ticks in this area. Last week one lad had ten removed at Mine Creek, KS..

Some of us have been ordered to the Town of Memphis, Missouri. It will be a long March as Memphis is 218 miles from our present location near Liberty, Missouri. We'll travel by rail the on foot and wagon arriving on Friday evening.

All pictures can be viewed in The Community Faces section of the electronic Kansas City Star.. Just open the section entitled Community Faces under the Entertainment Heading on the left side of the screen.

YOS Steward Bair

Missouri Irish Brigade Members Camp

Missouri Irish Brigade Members Camp: "Gentlemen and Officers of the MIB

Medical advisory:

Hydrate yourself well this weekend!

Bring plenty of bottled water and a small cooler you can hide in your tent to keep the water cold.

I will have a large cooler with me. to keep the bagged ice in. If you can, when you come in to set-up Friday, Saturday morning or afternoon. Bring a bag or two if ice with you. So the men of gthe MIB can have it.. If you go out of the event and come back, please bring ice back with you.

The humidity and the temperatures will be in the mid to high 80's. Prepare for it by being hydrated.

I will have ice on the field at the aid station during the battles. The Brigade Medical will probably do this as well.

Before you go on the field for the battles Saturday.
See me for ice for you hats, and ice for you mouth.
See me when you come off as well!
Be sure your canteens are full of cold water before each battle!!

PREPARE FOR THE HEAT!!!
WEAR SUNSCREEN!!!

Avail yourself of the shade afforded by the tent flys!


Steward Bair "

Shoal Creek Encampment is this weekend. Last Thursday after school I went to the Goodwill Thrift Store on N.Oak to look for a new chair. I found a nice captains chair for $3.98. since I need a new table I decided to purchase the wooden kitchen and table set that was there also. Got a nice period looking wooden table and three chairs for $14.95 the total bill including the captains chair was only$21.00 and change after tax.

Nick and Terry used two of kitchen set chairs at the College of the Surgeon last weekend. I used the captains chair. This was a good buy. The chairs are sturdy. The kitchen chairs need to be refinished to a more period look. After the funeral yesterday, Margaret and I went to James County in Liberty. I purchased a lice comb, some crepe for my mourning band, a new mourning tie and one dozen candles. While at Wal-Mart I picked up some paint and varnish remover which I will use tonight to remove the finish from the chairs. Tomorrow I will paint them with a clear epoxy. I will also stain my medical desk. If I can remove the legs from the table I will take it to the encampment this weekend.

I need to purchase some sticky rice to double as lice for sick call and some vegetable soup for a "low diet". A stop at A-Z Theatrical in need for more make-up.

Hospital Assistant Price 

Impailed wood splinter