Battle for Jefferson City

A little research on the upcoming event in Jefferson City, Mo. on May 19, 20, 21 in Binder Park.

Collins Battery B, the Event sponsor.
This site gives event important information such as location and maps.
http://collins-battery.org/jcmainindex.html

Harpers Weekly July 6th, 1861 This site gives information from the July 6, 1861 issue of HARPERS.

MASS at Mahaffie Farmstead

Jim did a great job in conducting his first "reenactment Mass". I hope this becomes a part of the MIB on a permanent basis.

The Mass was well attended, "Father Jim" even sent the CROSS into the Rebel Camp to announce the 10:00 a.m. service.

Mahaffie Farmstead Report

This event was certainly one to remember. It had a little bit of
everything. Cool mornings, hot afternoons, rain and hail at night.
Two great battles. Brazed buffalo for one meal, and a 'Mass' from our
own "Father Jim" on Sunday. I almost forgot, a tasty, "MISSOURI
ELK' hash breakfast on Sunday morning.

Wasn't that 'ELK" tasty on Sunday lads. Sgt. Mandrake told me that
one of the army mules had gone missing Saturday nite and "he knew
nothing about the selling of a mule hide to a tannery".

Medically, it was an active weekend, with two heat related
problems, a cut finger and two bee stings from civilians. A wasp
sting, eye irritations and a cut finger from the men of the MIB.
The normal headaches, digestion problems and muscle strains were
treated as well.

Other supplies issued or used at the Steward's Fly:

30 pounds of ice to cool the 33 bottles of cold water drank by our
men. This was in addition to the 24 bottles of water I purchased
for the company's stores on Friday evening.

Twenty-four "Tylenol" tablets

Twelve "Alleve" tablets

Four "Sting Ease" applicators

Twelve adhesive bandages

One buttefly bandage.

Six blood sugars were taken.. Three from men from other units who
forgot their machines, and three for spectators who also forgot their
meters.

Six "triple ointment" packets were used for the various small cuts
and stings etc....

I will begin to carry "eye wash" in my medical kit! ... This comes
as a suggestion from Frontier Medical. It is quite common to have
residue of your unburned powder irritate your eyes. This makes sense
to me.

The provisioning of lemonade came from a suggestion at last
year's 'College of the Surgeon' my medical staff and I attended
at Mine Creek NHS. On an interesting note:

At the Mahaffie Farmstead event our men drank 36 gallons of lemonade and used 50
pounds of ice to cool it. During the war the Quartermaster corps
issued millions of pounds of dried lemaonade mix to the various
commands. Lemonade was a popular drink with the troops during the
war and remains so with our men.

I will also begin to provision "Gatorade" mix. This will help the men to
replace the electrolytes they loose during the battles.

My thanks goes out to Capt. of Surgeons Patty, of the Frontier
Brigade Medical, Capt. Patty issued our unit enough lemonade mix to make the
last nine gallons. I ran out of mix on Saturday evening.

I have 62 digitals from the event. Does anyone have any other
digitals?. If so, please email them to me.. I would like to
compile a complete photo record of the event and make it available
on CD so all can have every picture taken from Mahaffie Farm 06. Of
course, the CD will be of no charge. Just send me a blank one and
I'll return it with all of the digitals and or pictures from the
event.

Rumor has it that the Rebels, under Price, are planning an attack on the Capital in in May. It looks like the 7th and 30th will be moving down river and take up defensive positions in Jefferson City, Missouri in defense of the Capital.

YOS Steward Bair

Mahaffie Farmstead Impression

Chicken Pox, Small Pox, Measles and Mumps

In addition to the stock battle wounds I will do COMMON ILLNESSES of the VOLUNTEER.

Common childhood diseases, such as mumps, measles and chicken pox would become endemic in the ranks of the volunteers, due to the fact that few of these young men had never been exposed to any of these common ailments. In fact, there were times when training of the new recruits would be halted till the measles or mumps would run their course.

Historical medical records of the 7th Missouri also indicated that a form of smallpox claimed the life of one of the men. During the war, small pox would occur from time to time. The picture is of a small pox victim. One can see from the photo why 'the pox' would cause severe scaring, if the victim survived. The pustules were not only on the skin, but would occur internally as well.

Spring Muster or A Boy and His Goat

Spring Muster of the 7th and 30th Consolidated Companies along with the 23rd Ill. has come and gone again. The encampment on Shack Creek Road was a complete success. The boys turned out in good numbers for a great weekend after the long winter furlough. Most everyone arrived and set-up before 9:00 p.m. on Friday. Qtr. Master Sgt Mandrake and undercook Mallory prepared a large pot of tasty stew. Pvt. Price, prepared some secess shrimp, he captured on the river, from the crew of a Confederate gunboat, for the Catholic lads.

The night was cold. dogs barked, a mule brayed every hour on the hour, and a coyote yelped on the north hill throughout the night. Morning came early as the fire was up and our breakfast of eggs, grits, bacon, bread and chickory coffee was cooking by 6:00 a.m. Great coats were in order, as the temp had dropped to 30 degrees, but the wind was calm.

After breakfast the normal amount of paperwork was in hand. Heath records were prepared, Baltimore Bible Society Cards were issued and questions concerning the upcoming year were asked by the Captain. After the camp was defarbed, company drill followed, then Schools of Instruction, in such areas as: stack arms; and the manual of arms were conducted.

During the Schools of Instruction the Company's were formed by order of Cpt. Crofutt. It seems that Pvt. Garnish was gambling again and a local farmer was demanding payment from Pvt. Garnish for one goat! Yes a goat! The last five dollars from the companys money was paid to the farmer and Pvt. Garnish, forever to be referred to in the future as, GOAT BOY, took possession of the said goat. God and Garnish, (GOAT BOY), are the only ones who know why a GOAT became a gambling debt.

A lunch of bread, sausage, cheese, apples, grits and pickles was enjoyed by the men. A company meeting then followed. Pvt T. Price and Hospital Aid N. Price received their veterans status. Pvt. Pulliam was then bestowed his official nickname- forever to known, in the future as, Hollywood. Huzzah!!

Following lunch and the company meeting, the annual fastest shot of the Brigade contest was held. Pvt. Ellick won this year's honors with Qtr. Master Sgt. Mandrake as the runner-up.

After the contest I had to strike the hospital and retire to Kansas City for a religious program.

I will rejoin the Brigade at the Mahaffie Farmstead in Bloody Kansas during the third week of April.

YOS,
Hospital Steward Bair