DISPATCH
To Battalion Company Commanders and Battalion Staff,
Gentlemen, I have the following to report to you. Gen. Huckabee has returned from the Blue/Gray alliance meeting with the following information.
1.) There will be a 9:00pm cut-off for allowing vehicles into the camping area. If you arrive after this time you will not be allowed to take a vehicle into camp. The exceptions of course will be a family emergency or something similar in which you will need to pack up and leave quickly. There will be wagons available to haul gear to camp from parking if you do not arrive before 9:00pm. This policy is being implanted in an attempt to keep vehicles out of camp. It is imperative, I repeat imperative, that you make every effort to let your men know of this. There should be absolutely no one showing up at this event and being surprised by this. If you are sure you won’t make the cut-off time, then your troops will need to do a little pre-planning by having someone haul their stuff there for them, or plan on bringing only what you can pack in. I will be sending reminders out about this frequently. I do not want members of the 1st Missouri Battalion kicking up a stink over this at the event.
2.) There will be two wagons attached to the brigade for this event. One will carry water for us, the second will be for carrying ammunition crates. We will be away from camp for most of Saturday so it is important for each company to get thought out what they plan to do for ammunition. You will need more than 40 rounds for Saturday. I would personally recommend 100 rounds per man. The extra will be easily carried in the wagon. You are not required to have an ammunition crate, but it is a chance to experience something we seldom do, and that is having to draw ammunition. At this time I am considering designating a “Quartermaster Sgt.” For this event to help with the ammunition. We will discuss the ammunition crates more in upcoming dispatches. If anyone has any ideas pertaining to this, please pass them along.
3.) At this time our Brigade has been tasked with starting the fights on both Saturday and Sunday. We will do this by sending out skirmishers and seeking out the Federal forces. So, please start brushing up on your skirmish drill. I do not know if we will be a battalion picked to go on the skirmish line, but let us be prepared to strut our stuff.
4.) Sunday we will be opening the fight on the Hornet’s nest.
5.) On Saturday we will portray troops who served with General Woods. On Sunday we will portray troops who served with General Shaver. This may change as scenarios are tweaked.
6.) On Sunday General King will galvanize his command to attack us. This should provide us with a good fight, providing he doesn’t out-number us to an overly great extent.
7.) We will run the brigade as a division at this event. General Huckabee will be assigning two battalion commanders to this. He has not made his dispositions on this yet.
8.) Inspection forms will need to be filled out in a timely and orderly fashion. Adjt. Crutchfield is working on the necessary forms and will be getting with battalion adjutants on how to fill them out. We will not be allowed on the battle field until all forms are filled out and turned in. They are also needing them for insurance purposes in case of an accident we can prove an inspection did take place.
9.) Gen. Huckabee has told me our camping area will be in a wooded area. There is not much undergrowth of any kind. It is unlikely at this time we will set up company streets. However, company camps should be close in to where the battalion staff will be camping, so stay close.
That is all I have to pass on at this time. Please make sure that your troops are given this information, although you may want to condense it for them. And to date, we have a total of 17 registered for Shiloh. Gentlemen, we need to start getting you troops registered now. I would like to take as big of a command to this event as is possible. I realize some of you can only do 1 major event a year. But anyone in your company who is going to Shiloh needs to get registered. I will be registering next week myself. And by February 1st I would like each of you to submit a guesstimate to Major Looney of expected participation for Shiloh.
Also keep in mind Round Mountain is coming up in February for anyone wanting to get out and burn a little powder.
As always if there are any questions or concerns, please contact either myself or a member of the staff.
I remain most respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
B.W. Amend, Colonel
1st Missouri Battalion
