JANUARY 05, 2009
Now that the New Year is upon us, I know that many units are starting to have meetings to determine a 2009 Schedule. I would like to let you know about the Re-enactment event to be held in St. Joseph Missouri this coming April.
It is a generic Civil War Encampment, but will follow a historical spring of 1863 setting. The attempt is going to be made to recreate a typical mid war scenario, that is authentic for the war here in Northwest Missouri. So that means that there is not going to be a recreation of Pickets Charge or large famous battle or anything. However, we do want to educate the public, and show them that the majority of the war in this region was a lot of small scale skirmishes and actions.
We also want to try something new. To create a realistic and believable scenario. Far too often, we see one side march out to an open field, and then the enemy attacks and each side blast away for no real apparent reason. It just doesn’t make much sense unless doing a large scale historical battle.
For the men serving in the Frontier, engagements would pretty much result from a legit reason. Such as trying to protect or capture Supply trains. We want to do just that, and are working on securing a small wagon train to utilize in the battle scenarios. The Union Troops will be escorting a supply train to another union garrison, and will be attacked by the Confederate forces operating in the area. This was unable to be done last year, due to the flooding, and we are going to try to do it this year instead.
Would you please, while working on your 2009 schedule, consider the St. Joseph event. We are eager to host a quality event and can not do it without your support. Please find below, some additional event information, and also attached an event poster. This will help provide some more details for your unit.
Thank You and Huzzah
Col. James Crofutt
U.S. Muddy River Battalion
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St. Joseph – Days of Civil WarSpring of 1863 Attacks on army Wagon Supply trains – a frequent problem for most Civil War General’s, will be recreated this spring along the Missouri River in St. Joseph Missouri. The St. Joseph Civil War Sesquicentennial Committee plans to stage the bogus attacks on the weekend of April 18-19, 2009 with hopes of reviving the encampment, annually through 2011 – the wars Sesquicentennial.
The Missouri Civil War Re-enactors Association has agreed to sponsor the weekend encampment, as an official MCWRA event. Buchanan County, the St. Joseph Convention & Visitors Bureau and Terribles St. Joseph Frontier Casino are also sponsoring the event.
Fort Smith, an earthen Military fort that was built by the 16th Illinois Infantry, has overlooked St. Joseph since 1861, and will play a key role in the events historical setting, said Bob Ford of the local Border War Society. Union forces kept 12 cannons at the fort to protect the area, and its vital railroad. It also kept watch on the river ferries and roads he said. The long forgotten facility was rediscovered a few years ago, and is currently under renovation. “There’s no better view”, of the city and of the Missouri river, he said of Fort Smiths vantage
Mr. Ford received congressional support for the restoration last year, and he believes the fort could serve as a destination for Civil War enthusiast. Local finances will be fully redeveloping Fort Smith in time for the Sesquicentennial, he added. “We’ve put together a proposal for the St. Joseph City council and Buchanan County Commission to study, Mr. Ford said.
The event is working on securing several authentic, horse drawn army Supply wagons, which will form a supply train. They will leave the Fort, and will head along the river front, toward the nature center and Casino, where hungry Confederates will attack and the battle will rage. The union is scheduled to win on Saturday, while the Confederates will be victorious the following day, according to Jim Conlon of the Sesquicentennial Committee. Each battle will last less then an hour.
The event host has indicated that they have secured a crop duster and several trucks and will spray for bugs. Normal amenities of Wood, Water, port a johns will be supplied. Straw for Infantry, and Hay for horses has also been secured. This will be a feed yourself event.
HISTORICAL SETTING Although this will be a generic Civil War Encampment, the event has chosen a spring of 1863 scenario. The Union troops will be portraying the 25th Missouri Infantry, which historically was serving in and around St. Joseph at this time. They were a veteran regiment, having seen service at Lexington in 1861, and Shiloh in 1862.
Having returned to Northwest Missouri in 1863 to recruit and fight against local bands of confederate Guerillas, the 25th Missouri was a typical western regiment, and the home town regiment of St. Joseph.
The union troops will be camped in and around Fort Peabody, an authentic Lewis and Clark era Log Fort. This fort will represent a forward outpost to that of Fort Smith, which is less then a mile away. The local Brigadier General, commanding at Fort Smith, has been ordered to send a supply train north to the garrison in Andrew County. But reports of Confederate activity, in the area, have made this a risky venture and a gamble if the train would be able to make it north safely. But the Andrew County garrison has to be re-supplied, and the orders are issued for the 25th Missouri and its support units to escort the train north.
REENACTORS NOTEOK, so as you can see, this event is going to try to put on a battle scenario that is both realistic and believable. Far too often we go to these events, where the battle’s just don’t make much sense. The two sides come out onto a field and just bang away at each other for no apperent reason. We have secured 3 to 5 horse drawn wagons, and will at least give the impression of an authentic situation that occurred many times during the war. Were not looking to re-create a Gettysburg, or give a false impression to the visiting public. We want them to see a typical small scale action as it may have occurred in Northwest Missouri in the summer of 1863. Defending a small Army wagon supply train fits the need perfectly, and is very authentic.
Union Infantry – We are looking to field a good 3 companies. If your unit can field 12 Rifles plus your Officer and Sergeant (14 soldiers total), then you will be able to march as a stand alone company. The Log fort will be occupied by the Infantry, and we can get 35 to 40 men inside. The first 40 Infantry Registered, will be guaranteed a space inside of the fort. Overflow will have to camp outside of the fort in tents. Ideally, we are thinking that if we could come up with 3 companies of Union Infantry that it would work out fairly well. Right about 50 Rifles. We will also try to assign each company a historical company letter of the original 25th Missouri for them to portray while at the event. Only 25th Missouri Impression will be allowed, so no specilty impressions.
Union Cavalry and Artillery - Union Cavalry will be camped outside of the Fort in fixed camps. We would like to have, if possible right about a dozen mounted cavalry and at least a platoon of dismounted Cavalry. Union Artillery should be horse drawn if possible, or at least small cannon that can be pulled by its men and look the part of escorting a wagon supply train. We are looking for at least 2 or 3 guns.
Confederate Infantry – We are looking for the Confederate Infantry to have at least 5 to 6 companies, and field a small Battalion. Just as it is for the Union Infantry, If your Confederate Infantry unit can field 12 Rifles plus your Officer and Sergeant (14 soldiers total), then you will be able to march as a stand alone company. Confederate Infantry will largely portray a generic Confederate Volunteers Regiment that is in the process of forming, but has yet been able to completely organize and join the main confederate army to the south in Arkansas. This means that Yes, you will be able to wear your Grey uniforms and do a standard Confederate Impression. However, we do ask that impressions are that of a Western Confederate impression, and kept with-in reason. Mid to late War Missouri State Guard impression is also acceptable.
Confederate Cavalry and Artillery - We would like to have, if possible right about a dozen mounted cavalry and at least a platoon of dismounted Cavalry. Confederate Artillery should be horse drawn if possible; we are looking for at least 2 or 3 guns.
REGISTRATION Go to the Web site at
www.stjomo.com/civil_war.aspx for registration forms, or Contact Jim Conlon at (816) 261-00704 and/or email at jimconlon@kq2.com
You can also contact Col. James Crofutt at
Mib730usv@hotmail.com for additional information or questions or also sign up through him if nothing else.
