Shiloh AAR

[Pvt Schnapps]

Posted here: http://www.thecommonground.proboards...ay&thread=2036

Enjoy!

[Phil McBride]

Excellent AAR, Mr. Schaffner. If I can figure out how to do it, I'm attaching a photo of your regiment, and perhaps even your company, marching by us on Sunday as we in Kings Division refilled canteens and waited for the artillery duel to cease.[IMG]Yank Reinforcements[/IMG]

Phil McBride
The Alamo Rifles

[Phil McBride]

OK, I'm trying again to put up a picture I took of those fine men from the paddlewheel regiment.

Phil McBride
The Alamo RiflesYank Reinforcements.jpg

[Pvt Schnapps]

Wow -- thank you! That actually is my company.

[RJSamp]

Superb AAR! You guys looked great......on the march, in battle, skirmishing, and in camp. What a wonderful Tattoo Saturday night. Truly wonderful to see the uniformly uniformed regiment led by mounted field grade officer's.....that's the ticket!

[E.Brown]

Nice shot ! That's myself ( 2nd Sgt.) behind Mr. Tackitt ( 1st Lt. ) in company A, furthermost to the right.

[Craig L Barry]

I was at the National Park Service event at Shiloh. From what I observed, some of the marchers
from the steamship landing detachment did not make it to the Michigan monument.

[Pvt Schnapps]

I was at the National Park Service event at Shiloh. From what I observed, some of the marchers
from the steamship landing detachment did not make it to the Michigan monument.

Just after you posted this, Craig, I learned that you're right. We did have fellows falling out from the start. The size of the unit was such that I didn't notice any till we got to the field and the casualties included people in my own company. Apparently there were no chase vehicles, either. This could have proved a serious oversight although, based on my observations at the last Cross Keys, the presence of chase vehicles may have encouraged even more folks to fall out. In any case, although everyone was told many times in advance to prepare for the march, perhaps not everyone did. Even those who did may not have been fully prepared for the exertion and the heat. On Saturday I was a bit disappointed in myself.

In addition to losses on the march, which I've heard might well have exceeded 40, we had people who left early for physical reasons. I don't know how many, nor do I know how many of those who registered actually attended to begin with. It would be more than interesting to know -- it might prove helpful for everyone in future planning.

If I have a negative criticism of this event, it's the same one I have for nearly every organization at nearly every event: for all the staff officers and all the morning reports, we very rarely get the most basic data about attendance and attrition. I understand that folks in general and organizers in particular might be sensitive about this, but I think we can all benefit from more precise numbers than are covered in the term "reenactor math." I know it can be done; I've participated in events where we did it. I have some hopes that in this case the organizers will produce their own AAR and include such data.

Sorry to go on, but I know you don't very often hear that you were right.

[RJSamp]

You woulda thunk that the 15th Iowa woulda had company rosters......and that roll calls taken prior to embarking, after each transport came in.....just before the march...at the rest stops.....would have documented by name who was straggling, AWOL, etc. How about passes for the stragglers, recorded into the company books? Sounds like we've got an area to improve upon......maybe we need to hold 3 roll calls a days, as they did?

[indguard]

I know my company (Co. C) had a roster and frequent roll calls.

WTH