Campaigning
At
Shiloh

Circular No. 3 February 4, 2007

Reconnaissance Report: A scouting party of 7 men led by Tom Doss and this officer, reconnoitered the Shiloh Campaign Territory on Saturday January 27. Those seeing the property for the first time were in full agreement on its merit. Here are a few of their comments; Terry Crowder, Federal Cavalry "Far and away better ground than Red River (but not near as long) no hard roads, less steep hills and no gravelcampaign camp is on level ground and on top of the hillbest camp sites I have seen in years, no modern conveyances to contend with, only one or two big hillsgreat open fields about every 200 yards or soONE night in the field and the other two in the comfort of your tent, best parking EVER, within feet of the hard road on high ground and level." Mike Zimmer, Chief-of-Staff Federal Army "The site is being well prepared for us to have a great event and will indeed be good ground to fight upon. I took a tour of the Federal campsite and it is going to be a good place to camp and will offer a bit of every type of camping for all of us. Our event hosts have been hard at work removing hindering fences, clearing the grounds, and building period fences to make the event more realist." Kent Crutchfield, AAG Huckabee's Brigade "As re-enactors we are constantly striving to find those areas that are devoid of modern sites as possible. I believe that the area at the Shiloh site to be one of those areas. With its pristine woods and open fields this is one that just has to experienced." Ed Welch, Confederate Cavalry "Gentlemen, I cannot fully express in this brief statement the superb terrain that lies between the two Armiesthe wooded areas are clear of underbrush, no poison vegetation growingthe gentle slopes of the land is perfect for quick movement of all branchesthe wooded terrain opens many times into active cotton fields that sometimes cover half mile across with no fences to contend withthe clear running streams have gravel bottomsfallen timber is plentiful for firewood." In fewer words, you don't want to miss this.

Campaign or Camp : Each command (CS & US) will set up a standard camp on the event site, to work from as a base and to return to on Saturday. If there are individuals in your unit who do not wish to go on the tactical, they may remain in camp and join their respective commands Saturday for the big battle. However, they will need to register with and camp with their unit, but will not be required to participate in the offsite tactical. Please remember that those wishing to go on the campaign will need to be in camp by Thursday evening. Once the columns leave camp Friday morning, no one will be able to join either command in the field

Registration : As announced by the Shiloh event, the fee is set at $10.00. No additional funds will be collected to participate in "Campaigning at Shiloh." Each person will however, be required to complete a slightly different registration form. The proper form can be found as an attachment to this declaration. All check are to be made payable to Historical Productions and mailed to 2323 The Strand, Galveston, Texas 77550. All funds and registration data will be forwarded to the Shiloh event registrar. This procedure is sanctioned by the Shiloh event and has full approval of Tom Doss. Do Not register on the Shiloh web site unless you want to be in the other wing of either Army. Registration for "Campaigning at Shiloh" will close February 20, all registration must be postmarked by that date.

Circular No. 2 December 10, 2006

Directive : The overnight off-site tactical "Campaigning at Shiloh" has been created specifically for King's Second Division our Confederate guests and Federal friends. There is another tactical planned as advertised on the Shiloh web site and in their flyers. Do not confuse those activities with our off-site movements and fight. Unit leaders having received a telephone call of e-mail directly from Second Division Headquarters can consider the same as an invitation for your unit to join with us in this extraordinary opportunity. Any unit, Confederate or Federal wishing to participate in "Campaigning at Shiloh" must follow the special instructions for registration, outlined within this circular. We (CS & US) are registering together for several reasons. We intend to keep the sides balanced and commanders need to know the makeup of their command in order to make assignments accordingly. It is important that both organizations are recognized as making a positive and major contribution to the event. Tom Doss, the event sponsor, has leased additional land for our use and is willing to make available reimbursements for horse drawn artillery, wagons and other related expenses. These funds will come from our registration money.

Campaign or Camp : Each command (CS & US) will set up a standard camp on the event site, to work from as a base and to return to on Saturday evening. We would like for units to register as a group if possible. If there are individuals in your unit who do not wish to go on the tactical, they may remain in camp and join their respective commands Saturday afternoon for the big battle. However, they will need to register with and camp with their unit, but will not be required to participate in the offsite tactical. The registration form will have a blank to signify your choice to go campaigning or remain in camp. Please remember that those wishing to go on the campaign will need to be in camp by Thursday evening. Once the columns leave camp Friday morning, no one will be allowed to join either command in the field

Registration : As announced by the Shiloh event, the fee is set at $10.00. No additional funds will be collected to participate in "Campaigning at Shiloh." Each person will however, be required to complete a slightly different registration form. The proper form can be found as an attachment to this directive. It is preferred that one check be sent for each unit if possible. All check are to be made payable to Historical Productions and mailed to 2323 The Strand, Galveston, Texas 77550. All funds and registration data will be forwarded to the Shiloh event registrar. This procedure is sanctioned by the Shiloh event and has full approval of Tom Doss.

Rations, Feed, Forage & Etc.: Each soldier must be prepared to carry food to last from Friday noon through Saturday noon. Arrangements will be made for replenishment of drinking water. Those men with livestock will need to provide for their animals. There will be adequate natural water sources for the animals. It will be necessary to dig and use sinks. There will be no portacans with accompanying paper for those on campaign.

Circular No.1 November 25, 2006

I am pleased to report my trip to Tennessee to reconnoiter the Shiloh site proved to be very fruitful. Tom Doss gave me a thorough tour of the event site and the adjacent area we could use for the Friday and Saturday tactical. I was impressed. It rained all night the evening I arrived and until mid morning the next day. The property handles rain well and we were able to drive around on most of the battlefield with little difficulty. Registration and parking areas are immediately accessible to hard service roads and are well drained. Both camps have a combination of woods for protection and open fields for those wanting to set up company streets.
The area we can use for the off-site over night tactical is ideal. The property is 2 to 3 miles below the south boundary of the National Park and the topography is the same. There will be no need to transport anyone or anything to a starting place. We will simply march out of our camps and when the routes merge, we will engage. We will have winding dirt roads traversing heavy woods, creek crossings, bluffs and large and small fields. There will be great positions to defend as well as maneuvering room in the cotton fields where the stalks are still standing. The entire route is about 4 miles and encompasses about 1000 acres. We will not cross or be on one public road. There won't be much marching, mostly fighting from position to position for two days. This campaign is doable by anyone who has the desire to make the effort. Our final fight on Saturday will end with the Federals being in position on the right flank of the Hornets Nest ready for the big battle. Fellows, it can't get much better than this.
It will be necessary to arrive on Thursday March 15. Everyone who intends to participate in the tactical will march out Friday morning with your command, no exceptions. Each army will have a static or base camp. Those men who do not wish to venture the overnight tactical can stay in the camp and join their respective commands Saturday afternoon for the main battle. Everyone will return to the base camps after the Saturday battle. On Sunday the Federals will roll the Confederates back on several lines for over a half mile. There is a lot of room to deploy.
I have worked hard to gain the opportunity to create a tactical for the Second Division, our Confederate Guests and Federal Friends, at the Shiloh National Event. Tom Doss has given me carte blanche in respect to the off-site tactical. I intend to do all in my power to generate an exciting opportunity for the Federals, as well as the Confederates. All of this is happening with full cooperation from Tom Doss. We are deeply indebted to him for working to obtain the necessary property for our use and the logistics to make it happen.
Stand by for registration. Circular No.2 will have specific instructions as to registration for all the Confederate and Federal units wishing to participate in "Campaigning at Shiloh"
In my opinion this has the potential to be the finest extended weekend we have had in years and the best campaign opportunity since the Red River Events. Make your plans for March 15th through March 18. "It's gonna be a stem winder."

J.H. King, Cmdg. Endorsement:
Second Division Gen. T.W. Doss