Event Information -
Hinchingbrooke Park
Co D 46th Illinois
“The 46th
Illinois encamped at the Mouth of White River Arkansas 3-5
October, 1864”
How to Get
There:
Take the A1 or M11/A14 to Huntingdon. Follow
signs to the town centre. Eventually you will get on the one-way
Huntingdon Ring-Road (if coming M11/A14) or will see a sign for
Hinchingbrooke Hospital. As you head for the town centre (if
coming A1). Either way, follow signs for Hinchingbrooke Hospital.
The Country Park is only one-quarter-mile from the Hospital.
Follow signs from the roundabout at the Hospital entrance. Park
in the main lot, head for the visitors centre and then angle
across the large open field for the ‘Romano-British Village’
– we will be encamped in the woods directly behind this
village. There are some great woods in the park (big enough to
get lost in) and some great open areas for drilling, as well as a
period stone bridge and many waterways.
Impression:
Late War Western Federal (46th
Illinois, Company D, October 1864) Black Hats and Sack Coats,
Illinois State/Federal Shell-jackets or cut-off Frock coats are
welcome. Dust off your late war Federal leatherwork! We are well-supplied
and ‘in-camp’. Shelter-Halves all around, and a wall
tent for the officer!
Rations:
PER MAN: 6”-8” wide slice of Salt
Pork Belly or Bacon or Salt Beef, hardtack (8 per man), 1 serving
white beans, goober peas and apples (Cox’s) are fine. Coffee
& sugar aplenty. Limited sutler-bought luxuries. Pipesmoking
& baccy chewing encouraged. Stogies OK.
Historical
Background:
After an active and distinguished service (including
such fights as Fort Donselson, Shiloh, Corinth and Vicksburg),
the 46th Illinois Infantry was transferred from the
Army of the Tennessee and 13th Corps to the Department
of the Gulf. There they became part of Reynolds 19th
Corps, Second Division (BG Dennis), 1st Brigade (BG
Dornblaser), their own regimental commander being Lt.Col. Jones.
1864 saw the regiment losing a good deal of its strength to
expiring enlistments. Those who chose to re-enlist got Veterans
Furloughs from 27 January to March 2nd. The last of
the non re-enlisting Veterans departed on 13 September, 1864. The
regiment was thus composed of roughly half Veterans and half
‘fresh-fish’ (well, about as fresh as you can be after
7 months of stomping around the backwoods of Mississippi &
Louisian!). Decide which one you will do an impression of
before you arrive and ‘be that’ during first person.
September 1864 saw the Yankee Trans-Mississippi
in a state of paranoia. Price’s Missourians and Kirby Smith’s
victorious Texans & Louisianans were both thought to be on
the offensive (and they were right about the former!). Troops
were called up from adjoining departments to reinforce Arkansas
and Missouri. One such organisation was the 2nd
Division, 19th Corps, some 5,000 men of which the 46th
Illinois formed a part. They were ordered by steamboat from
Morganza, Louisiana to the junction of the White River and the
Mississippi to act as a ‘strategic reserve’. The idea
was that they could move to Little Rock to join forces against
Kirby Smith or continue on up the White River to Missouri as
needed.
 |
Private John H. Whitemeyer,
46th
Illinois Infantry, Company D,
Enlisted 30 January, 1864
Mustered Out 20 January,
1866
Whitemeyer was one of more
than 100 recruits who joined this veteran regiment in
March, 1864. However, a combination of veteran returnees
and new recruits still left the effective strength of the
46th at only ca. 300 men in October 1864.
Whitemeyer wears a more-or-less
unmodified Hardee, cartridge belt without breastplate (like
so many westerners), late war cap pouch and a waist belt
worn VERY high. Notice also his riding boots. These
probably would not have been retained for long during
active service.
|
Orders:
“Embark the Second Division with 20
days rations for mouth of the White River where the troops will
go into camp.”
31st August, 1864 from General
Joseph Reynolds, New Orleans
The troops were then according to their
commander ‘encamped comfortably’ at the mouth of the
White River in Arkansas and supplied by river. They mounted a
screen of pickets in regimental rotation and awaited further
orders. Meanwhile, higher-ups like Canby and Steele dithered
about what to do with them. When it became clear late in
September that Price was heading into Missouri, they hesitated
not knowing what Smith might do. When Price was routed out of
Missouri they hesitated again not knowing if the troops might
eventually prove useful in heading off Price’s retreat.
Eventually, the White River dropped so low, that nothing but the
lightest of barges could move on it. As a result, the 2nd
Division spent most of September and part of October encamped in
‘deep reserve’, well away from any area of conflict.
Scenario
Details:
Hinchingbrooke makes a good White River area:
low-lying and swampy! We will be comfortably encamped awaiting
orders. We will have been in this camp for 26 days and freshly re-supplied
when the scenario begins. Talking points will include what is
going on up in Missouri (rumours abound), local gossip with
civilians, veterans & ‘fresh-fish’, departed
comrades, and just where it is we are going next.
Activities will include drill (surprise),
guard mounting, public displays, and a baseball game on
Saturday afternoon, or Sunday morning. I have a period ball. Does
anyone have something that will pass for a period bat? We can use
knapsacks for bases.
Inspirational
Quotes from the official Records:
‘Major Attkinson, Fiftieth Indiana, an
escaped prisoner, just in from Tyler, Tex., says that 2,500
Texans, infantry, with a train, were marching on Fort Smith…
My messengers sent to Fort Smith during the last three weeks have
not been heard from.’
From General Steele in Little Rock, and
conveyed via 2nd Division to 19th Corps HQ
in Louisiana
22 September, 1864
‘Preparations to cross the Mississippi
are still being made by the Rebels…’
From General Canby, 29th
September 1864
‘There is so little water in the White
River that even the lightest draught boats can scarcely navigate,
and it would take at least ten days or two weeks to collect
sufficient transportation [for any movement of the Division]’
BG Dennie, 2nd Division, to 19th
Corps HQ in Louisiana, 29 September, 1864.
Return
to Events Page