Why I took my grandson to 150th Shiloh

[50th VA Corporal]

My eldest grandson is now 16. I started taking him to reenactments when, as he described himself" was an irresponsible 14 year old boy. His first Confederate uniform was a mixture of sutler row gear and a fine jacket I had made for him by Andrew Kasmar. Since he was a large 14 year old he was able to handle a musket well and he was bright enough to quickly learn the manual of arms and battalion evolutions.

Along with the small local battles he was able to participate in many of our battalion events here in Indiana and many times carrying the colors. Right off the bat he insisted on sleeping on the ground in a dog tent and was gaining a growing appreciation for "grandpa's authentic uniforms and defarbed musket". And then he began reading soldier accounts on his own and at times hits me up with barrages of questions that sends me back to the books.

Having done a few of the national events myself I always told him that if he ever was able to join me on the battlefield at a national event all other events, including battalion events, would be pale in comparision. Of course he saw photos of the nationals I went to but I cautioned him that photos just do not, and cannot, capture the scope, the spectical, the awe, and the sounds of thousands on the battlefield.

And so he turned 16 this year and I took him to the 150th Shiloh. We formed the company and in the battalion we were the color company, We were in Huckabee's Division, Third Battalion, and Third Company. We marched in behind the 47 cannons which began their cannonade and when finished our battalion did the by right of companies to the front between the cannons.

The photo attached was taken by the Surgeon in our company, Joel Pond of the 2nd Virginia from Wisconson. The last four national events I attended the 2nd Virginia consolodated into the company I captain, the 50th Virginia.

As we passed through the cannons and crested the hill that was the first sight my grandson saw. And his reply was "Grandpa, you were right. Nothing can compare with a sight like this!". It appears that the Yanks in the photo were the 15th and 6th Ohio boys. He noted on how fluent they moved on the field of battle and even from a distance he could see they took their impressions quite seriously. And the sight of those boys took his aim quite a bit higher towards the "I want to learn to portray a more authentic impression".

A photo is worth more than a thousand words, but the subject matter is by far more important. What you did, and how you did it, can make all of the difference in the world educating the public - and someone's grandson.

[MMurphy]

James....
If I could get my son to even show interest in it, (or anything else other than sleeping all day, video games, "his band", and facebook drama at night), I'd use your examples as the textbook...

Good going compadre...

See ya at CP...

[50th VA Corporal]

Hey Mike,

Looking forward to seeing you at Conner Prairie. Last time I saw you I believe you were proposing to your sweetie at Hartford?

By the way, the boys in the photo were the Iowa boys from the members of the AC Forum.

[S.D.Swart]

Yep, them is the WIG boys representing the Iowa regiments. I was there too. With Huckabee also. Part of the Tennessee boys.

S.D.Swart

[42ndMissCoIPvtHenson]

I'm a sophomore at Penn State- Harrisburg and I am new this year to the hobby. I have always been an American history nut and I've wanted to do this for as long as I can remember, my problem was that none of my family was interested enough for me to be able to get started while I was "at home" but fortunately now that I am "on my own" for the most part and I found friends at school who were attached to Co. I 42nd Miss. who I might add were extremely helpful in getting me started and all too excited for me to fall in with them for my first battle (I had done a few Living Histories). Well, I could not have found a better group of men to fall in with and our civilian ladies are great, I really feel like these guys are an extention of my family and we always have a great time no matter what! My first battle was a local affair at our battalion's spring muster, a couple hundred guys at most and us Johnnies were outnumbered at least 2 to 1 but we ended up taking the field three times that weekend including a dusk tactical in the woods. I was living it up! Man that first volley and I was beyond hooked...my first national size event will be New Market, Va. May 19-20th (This is were I will end up being "Fished")...Needless to say I can not wait, a couple thousand guys forming up with us and against us, oh boy! A little long winded, I apologize for that but I felt like this was the appropriate thread to share my own first experiences within the hobby and how excited I am to see my first large scale action in Virginia!

[reddcorp]

I'm a sophomore at Penn State- Harrisburg and I am new this year to the hobby. I have always been an American history nut and I've wanted to do this for as long as I can remember, my problem was that none of my family was interested enough for me to be able to get started while I was "at home" but fortunately now that I am "on my own" for the most part and I found friends at school who were attached to Co. I 42nd Miss. who I might add were extremely helpful in getting me started and all too excited for me to fall in with them for my first battle (I had done a few Living Histories). Well, I could not have found a better group of men to fall in with and our civilian ladies are great, I really feel like these guys are an extention of my family and we always have a great time no matter what! My first battle was a local affair at our battalion's spring muster, a couple hundred guys at most and us Johnnies were outnumbered at least 2 to 1 but we ended up taking the field three times that weekend including a dusk tactical in the woods. I was living it up! Man that first volley and I was beyond hooked...my first national size event will be New Market, Va. May 19-20th (This is were I will end up being "Fished")...Needless to say I can not wait, a couple thousand guys forming up with us and against us, oh boy! A little long winded, I apologize for that but I felt like this was the appropriate thread to share my own first experiences within the hobby and how excited I am to see my first large scale action in Virginia!

Bully for you, Private Henson, and don't apologize for your enthusiasm for the hobby. We need more of your excitement and youth in the hobby. I've been involved for a number of years now. I enjoy Living Histories and the close interaction with the public, but for a pure adrenalin rush, there's nothing like being in a battle line with several thousand others and letting loose a volley that sounds like a sheet ripping. And at the BG Shiloh, the 50+ cannonade was incredible...I truly believe that it caused the clouds to rain.
So, my young friend, keep up the enthusiasm. We need more of your kind to keep the hobby alive and well.

Bon chance,

Andy Redd

[PetePaolillo]

Yep, them is the WIG boys representing the Iowa regiments. I was there too. With Huckabee also. Part of the Tennessee boys.

S.D.Swart

The photo Mr. Lemon posted is not of the 15th Iowa. Just FYI

[50th VA Corporal]

Ok, any idea who it really is then? Truth be known, when ya'll are all in blue you all look alike!

[PetePaolillo]

Dont know? We were not brigaded with them.

[MMurphy]

James...
Yeps...still hard to believe she said yes....Who would wanna marry me???
Haven't set a weddin' date yet...still working on that...
Will send you an invite when we get it sorted out...