Shiloh~~ A Time To Remember

Creed of the Living Historian

We are the people to whom the past is forever speaking.  We listen to it because we cannot help ourselves, for the past speaks to us in many voices.  Far out of that dark nowhere, which is the time before we were born, men who were flesh of our flesh and bone of our bone, went through fire and storm to break a path to the future.

We are part of the future they died for.  They are part of the past that brought the future.  What they did, the lives they lived, the sacrifice they made, the stories they told and songs they sung and finally, the deaths they

died,  make up a part of our own experience.  We cannot cut ourselves off from it.  It is as real to us as something that happened last week.
                                         By Bruce Catton                                               Armies of Tennessee

 
A moment of reflection,
 lest we shall never forget our ancestors
who by the highest standards paved their way into history books.

Beliefs ran deep in their soul,

courage flowed in their veins.

Determination swarmed their mind,

love of country pierced their hearts.

Farmers, ranchers, tradesmen,

brothers, fathers, sons and foreigners.

Such were the men bent on a cause

the cause - Freedom For All
                                      
Shiloh, 
in Hebrew means, place of peace,
not so on this spring date of April 6 & 7, 1862
 violence and the slaughter of war
took place on this fateful day.

For two days the Union and the Confederate armies clashed in fields and wooded areas near a meeting house called Shiloh in southwest Tennessee, becoming the first massive casualty battle of the civil war.  100,000 soldiers fought at Shiloh, when it was over the wounded, missing and dead  numbered more than 24,000.

Monument Shiloh Military Park

Union Pacific Steam Locomotive No, 844
150th Anniversary Commemoration
Civil War Troop Train

Just as it did 150 years ago, transporting Unions soldiers
from their posts in Central Missouri to Counce Tennessee,
today this massive steam locomotive transports over 300
civil war re-enactors in transit to the Shiloh Battlefield
to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the infamous battle.
Watchers gathered near the historic tracks in
Jefferson City, Missouri Tuesday March 27
to pay their respect and to pay tribute
to the men and women who keep our history alive.

Last August 2011, I had the awesome experience
of attending the 150th Anniversary
of the Battle at Wilsons Creek in Republic, Missouri.
I so wanted to attend Shiloh this year but it was not meant to be.
If we can not be there in body let our Spirit fill our hearts.
On these momentous days in April
please take a brief moment to reflect on the past.
Just as Bruce Catton states,
"we are part of the future they died for!"

Let us never forget their sacrifice
                                       Connie

Stepping Back In Time

August 1861

Battle of Wilson's Creek

150th Anniversary Reenactment

As I sit here reflecting on the days activities

a sense of tremendous pride swells in my soul.

To witness this remarkable event 

was a chilling experience that will never be forgotten.

Like their brothers 150 years prior,

these brave reenactor's  not only fought each other,

but also the stifling heat of August.

Dressed  in  authentic attire, carrying pounds of equipment,

loading and shooting their black powder rifles, 

(one soldier told of shooting over 100 rounds)

 to honor our country's history.

A testament of love and remembrance for all  lives lost that day.

We shall never forget...............

 The heat did not detour the thousands of spectators

who traveled from various States to either watch
or partake in this great event.

Visiting and meeting  wonderful
people was a delight. 

We visited with this family from Illinois.
Supporting their Dutch heritage, they were here
to honor their Civil War ancestors.

These gracious ladies let me stand with them for a photo.

Note their period clothing, their camp site
and the camps in the background.
So authentic, period correct.
Mom wore a work day dress with apron, while the daughter
was dressed in a better day or tea dress for visiting..lovely.

 Another campfire site...
ladies finishing morning chores
They too let me snap a photo, thank you.

This fellow was part of the above campsite.
His gun was leaning against his leg.
The men were attending to their weapons.

Later in the day....smells mighty appealing.

Another family campsite

You can see the smoke from their campfire.

Greeting two young girls in their day dresses and cool straw hats.

The girl in green was wearing a watch fob and carrying a vintage hanky.

They wanted to take my picture but I said only if I can take yours....

Soldiers Quarters

 

A piece of canvas stretched between poles offers primitive shelter

from the blazing sun.

Note the bed covered with a vintage coverlet.

Tent outfitted for two soldiers.

A wood box used to store their gear. also used as a table

separated the cots

Note the rug in front of the entrance.

Transportation

Horses, Mules and Wagons

 Mr B. posing with the mules  

Period wagons were used to carry supplies to the camps.

Marching Soldier's Unit

Note the soldier in the foreground carrying the black bag

He is a Doctor who attended the wounded on the battlefield.

The Sultry (vendors) 

Civil War Lady

A sultry for the ladies.

Dresses, hoop skirts, gloves, shoes, fans, 

fancy hats, plain bonnets,

such were the necessities found here.  

So much fun browsing,

I purchased a pair of brown leather lace up boots.

 Oh how I loved these gowns

Lots of drooling ....

The Photographer

Another popular tent were your photo was taken

and then made into a tin type. 

Fashion Show

The fashion show drew a large crowd.  

Many of the ladies modeled simple days dresses to fancy ball gowns

young and old alike participated.

Lovely brown dress with muted wine flowers.

Fabric was that of a  homespun texture.

The lady in the gray dress was the director.

Her knowledge of vintage clothing was amazing,

she looked our dresses over and gave a detailed

description of what style, fabric and trims were used.

Young girl in light blue with tiny white vine pattern.

Pagoda sleeves, straw hat. 

Skirt and blouse of different colors was the new look

for the younger women.

Gray/blue skirt with soft cream blouse with cuff, belt, brooch

over the shoulder flat haversak bag.

The blouse had rows of tucks down the front for a very soft feminine look.

Mother in fancy red dress with black lace trim.

Older daughter wore an off the shoulder ball gown 

but was too young to wear a hoop skirt.

The younger daughter was dressed in a cream cotton dress with

pink floral pinafore and cream pantaloons with tucks at the bottom

so they could be let down as the little girl grew.

Southern Belle in her "red" ball gown

trimmed with black ribbon .

Another fact:

The color red was a risque color prior to the Civil War,

was now acceptable for  younger ladies ball gowns.

Lovely blue/white plaid tea dress with gloves, fancy hat and parasol.

The comment made about this gown was the hoop skirt was correct

for her height and for the width of her skirt.

A fact I did not know,  the hoop width should compliment

your height and the width of your skirt

making for a clean straight line of appeal.  "wow"...

This lady was modeling a makeover dress.  

Ladies would take a dress and change it up a bit 

so as to be in style with the latest fashions.

The black under slip was added 

while the red over skirt was gathered in flounces.

The long sleeves were shortened, black trim was added.

This lady now has a fancy ball gown.

Her headpiece was small black lace veil with ribbon roses,

 black lace gloves and a matching cape completed the outfit.

I thought this lady was too "old" to be wearing the color red.

The Wounded Soldier

This is my favorite photo.

It chills my soul every time I view it.

After the battle, as we were walking thru the camps,

I saw this soldier sitting on this grassy embankment,

 his head tipped low clutching his leg.

Turning my head over my shoulder for another peak

I noticed the blood soaked rag wrapped around his leg.

At that moment my heart skipped a beat, 

I immediately  turned around and approached the soldier.

"Are you injured soldier?"

"Yes Mame"

"That was a fierce battle!"

"Yes Mame"

"Can I get you anything?"

"No Mame"

Can I take your picture"

"Yes Mame"

I whispered "Thank you"

"Thank You Mame"

Awesome, tender moment!

I slowly walked back up the hill, Mr B asked, what were you doing?

"Taking a memory home with me"

Thank you for visiting with me today. 

This honorable event exceeded all my expectations.

Standing On Hallowed Ground

A Civil War Tribute

Click on Wilson's Creek at the top of this page.

                                              Connie

1860's Here We Come

Yesterday I gave you all a sneak preview

of the 1860's Civil War Era Dress I made.

Tonight I will share close up pics

Final Fitting and Photo Shoot

Before we begin I have something dear to share.

As I sat and sewed, countless memories would fog my mind.
Flash backs, over and over of previous sewing projects.

A lot of time was spent wiping away the tears

Memories Of
Sewing doll clothes using Mom's Singer treadle machine
My sisters High School skort so she would get a passing grade
All the costumes for the drama club

Baby gowns for my first born...
they were never used, packed away in a special place,
a piece of my heart was lost the day he died.

My daughters First Communion dress
and later her Prom dress
Sister in law's wedding dress, so many tucks.

Daisy Kingdom dresses for the grand girls
 Vintage style clothing for the cabin.

My ambition to be a clothes designer...
Not an Accountant

 Years of precious memories stitched into this

1860's Commemorative Dress 

I will wear it proudly.

*************************************************************

Handsome Mr B

Mr B has been so supportive of my latest project,
he loves history as much as I do,
I thank him for being a good sport and for putting up with me.

He looks so dashing in his duds.
I made his trousers, no zippers, button fly
black military stripes on the side.
He wanted to be neutral but I think he looks rather Northern
that is ok,  since we are from Wisconsin.

His shirt was a white linen flea market find for 1.50
took the buttons off, sewed up the front
to make it a pull over and left 3 buttons at the top.
Sewed down the collar inside the neckline to make it collarless.
Final process was to coffee dye it, looks quite vintage.
His Accessories:
Leather covered canteen
Leather Officers Haversack Map Bag
Both handmade by Mr B

***********************************************************
Yards and Yards of Fabric

What style of dress should I make?
Working day dress or camp dress
Better day dress
Tea dress
Ball gown
Carriage dress (traveling)
Black mourning dress (not)

I would categorize my dress as a better day dress for
receiving company or maybe even a tea dress
for afternoons sipping tea with fine ladies. 
Since it is cotton and not taffeta or silk, probably a
Better Day Dress.....


Since I am a matron lady I chose a subdued color, chocolate brown
and added fancy trims to enhance it.

Baby blue cotton fabric trim was sewn into a tube then hand gathered
and stitched to the bodice front and outline of the pagoda sleeves.
Many dresses were trimmed with just plan fabric using decorative techniques.
Lace was not a luxury, it was quite expensive.
Pleated trim as well as ruffles or flat trim  were common.

Since I was a lady with funds I chose to ad some lace.
Flat crochet lace (coffee dyed to age)
was sewn around the outside of the blue trim
and burgundy braid trim was added on the inside.

3 inch flat crochet lace (coffee dyed)
was added to the bottom of the dress along with  burgundy braid trim.
The circumference of the hemline is almost 15 feet....
10 yards of fabric.....
 The bodice is darted for a fitted look
skirt has been hand pleated.

Handmade crochet collar
black scarf (belt) with vintage brown buckle
light blue and brown under sleeves completes the dress.

 By now you should know how muck I like to play dress up
the little girl in me.....will last forever.

We are ready to step back in time.
 150th Anniversary
Wilson's Creek Battle
Southern Missouri

History
May we always  Remember.... The Sacrifice

                  Connie