Greetings All;
Below, please find my Engineer's Report for the NEB Green Hill Park
Event.
Respectfully;
Ian McKay, BG, CE, CS (acting) for Lt. Gen. U. S. Grant:
Chief Engineer, 25th Corps;
CDR. Northeast Topographical Engineers
============================================
Lt. Gen. U. S. Grant
Commander ;
All Union Armies
Col. Paul Kenworthy
Commander (acting)
New England Brigade
Major D. Erickson
Commandant (Acting)
U. S. Corps of Topographical Engineers
Mallory Grant, Gus Gallagher, and Scott Fair
Event Coordinators
Engineers In Attendance:
Lt. Gen. U. S. Grant
Brig. Gen. of Engrs, (By brevet) Ian McKay;
Capt N. Reicke (detached to Artillery);
Capt. G. Webster (by brevet);
Corporal Grossman (pioneer -- detached to the Infantry);
Lady Grant (Historian)
Lady Mathews (Teamster - Treasurer);
Lady Webster (Artist).
Engineers On Leave:
Lt. Col. (by brevet) J. Duarte (Medical);
Major (by brevet) R. Germain - (Medical);
Capt. W. Lafleur (Logistics) - (Family);
2nd Lt. J. Proctor (Construction) -(Fortification);
Corp. N. Carl - (instruction);
Lady M. Germain (Sr. Artist) - (Family).
Honored and Esteemed Sirs:
I beg your kind indulgence to receive my Engineering Report for the
subject event. My schooner arrived at the port of Boston from the
port city of New London. Then we boarded the train from Boston to
Worcester and then by carriage to Green Hill Park and the site of the
NEB encampment. We were met by Capt. Reicke, who was acting on the
NEB Staff for the citing of units coming into the area. We settled on
a site for the Engineers including a site for Capt. and Lady Webster
who would be arriving later that evening and then a further site under
the trees for Gen. Grant if he would bring his horses. Capt. Reicke
got w soldiers from the 12th Mass. V. Reg. to help with the set-up of
the Engineering Field Office. By six o-clock l\that evening the
Office fly was up and the equipment for the engineering displays were
set up and covered for the evening. The weather was cold and a heavy
breeze of the large pond on the beach of which we were camped added to
the lower temperature. It had rained earlier but the weather signs
promised to get better on Saturday.
Capt. Webster and Lady Webster had arrived as we were putting the last
touches on the field office and immediately set up their camp in the
spot that we had selected.
The following maps were then provided to the staff for there use:
#697 - Green Hill Park and Environs -IM;
#698 - Green Hill Park, NEB location - IM;
#699 - Green Hill Park and roads leading to it - IM;
#700 - Topographical Sketch; Green Hill Pond, Green Hill, and
Millstone Hill - IM;
Two maps of the Worcester area, and Green Hill Park by Captain Webster
(Note: These maps will be added to the Topog. Portfolio and assigned
a number upon return to Fort Trumbull's Engineering HQ.)
Cap. Webster and Lady WEbster took supper at their camp and stayed the
night at the Park. Lady Mathews and I spent the night at a local inn.
Saturday morning dawn bright but a bit cold. We spent the early part
of the morning removing the table covers and getting the proper flags
in place. Finally, we used a few minutes to lay out the displays in a
reasonable way and then the rest of the morning explaining the
displays to the attending spectators. I was asked by the Event
Coordinator to join General Lee and his Staff Officer in narrating the
battle to the crowd and at about a half hour before the skirmish was
scheduled I was delivered to the battle field and began my narration.
We had the use of a loudspeaker system set up by the National Guard
personnel which was a unique privilege to use. As always I began my
narration with s description of the hand and artillery weapons in use
during the Civil War with an emphasis on their use and the difficulty
in reloading and firing as compared to the modern day. Lady Webster
was kind enough to hold down both displays and stayed on to narrate to
the few spectators who were not at the skirmish sight. Gen. and Lady
Grant arrived on site for the day and we had a few moments to talk.
before the skirmish. He walked the battlefield during the skirmish
with his staff (Capt. Webster) ell behind the Federal Forces. He had
decided not the camp on site or bring the horses as he had other
commitments elsewhere. After the battle, which was excellently set up
and executed, we returned to camp and spent the remainder of the day
Talking with spectators as they moved through both the Union and
Confederate camps.
I was, during the day, pleased to write two letters of commendation
for for the two young men who helped to set up the field office. I
had both commendations entered into the Topog. Logs, as well as a
message to the acting NEB Commander notifying him of this action. I
had the commendations delivered to the Sgt. of the unit for him to
present at is leisure. Capt. and Lady Webster attended the service to
the Veterans, and I was pleased to stay in the office and speak with a
few spectators.
At about 6:00 P.M. Lady Mathews arrived in the carriage and we
returned to the Inn for a nice meal and some rest. Sunday morning
dawned cold and rainy which continued through the morning as a rainy
mist with some rain showers. Capt. WEbster undertook to draw out a
pontoon bridge project across the Green Hill Pond as an exercise for
the Pontoon train engineers. I was engaged in redrawing a diagram of
one of the major Federal fortifications facing the "Dimmock Line" of
forts around Petersburg, VA. Neither of these drawings was finished
in time to provide copies to the NEB Staff prior to the camp break-
down and move out. Both projects will be placed in the Topog. Map /
Plan portfolio and given a number. The Pontoon Plan will be provided
to the NEB as a courtesy at the next event.
At 3:00 P.M. the camp was to be removed and sent to winter quarters,
even though some of the NEB units may participate in events later in
the season. We broke camp and had the extreme pleasure of the company
of Capt. and Lady Webster for dinner that night in celebration of a
personal day of importance.
Considering that this event was the first such event at Green Hill
Park in Worcester, MA. I was very surprised and pleased at the
excellent planning and arrangements for various entertainments and
provisions set up by the Event Coordinators. For my part, I thought
the event was very well conducted and arranged. I also have to say
that I appreciate greatly the coming together of the Brigade at this
end of the season event. Again for my part it went very well and as
far as I was aware everything worked smoothly in spite of a few minor
bumps along the way. I must say to the Acting NEB Commander and his
staff Well Done!! A notice of this success will be made in my further
Staff Report to Lt. Gen. Grant.
Your Most Impressed and Diligent Servant
Very Respectfully;
Ian McKay, Brig. Gen. of Engineers (by brevet);
Chief Engineer and Chief of Staff (acting);
Lt. Gen. U. S. Grant's Personal and Military Staffs;
Chief Engineer, 25th Corps
CDR. -- Northeast Topographical Engineers (NETE)
Below, please find my Engineer's Report for the NEB Green Hill Park
Event.
Respectfully;
Ian McKay, BG, CE, CS (acting) for Lt. Gen. U. S. Grant:
Chief Engineer, 25th Corps;
CDR. Northeast Topographical Engineers
============================================
Lt. Gen. U. S. Grant
Commander ;
All Union Armies
Col. Paul Kenworthy
Commander (acting)
New England Brigade
Major D. Erickson
Commandant (Acting)
U. S. Corps of Topographical Engineers
Mallory Grant, Gus Gallagher, and Scott Fair
Event Coordinators
Engineers In Attendance:
Lt. Gen. U. S. Grant
Brig. Gen. of Engrs, (By brevet) Ian McKay;
Capt N. Reicke (detached to Artillery);
Capt. G. Webster (by brevet);
Corporal Grossman (pioneer -- detached to the Infantry);
Lady Grant (Historian)
Lady Mathews (Teamster - Treasurer);
Lady Webster (Artist).
Engineers On Leave:
Lt. Col. (by brevet) J. Duarte (Medical);
Major (by brevet) R. Germain - (Medical);
Capt. W. Lafleur (Logistics) - (Family);
2nd Lt. J. Proctor (Construction) -(Fortification);
Corp. N. Carl - (instruction);
Lady M. Germain (Sr. Artist) - (Family).
Honored and Esteemed Sirs:
I beg your kind indulgence to receive my Engineering Report for the
subject event. My schooner arrived at the port of Boston from the
port city of New London. Then we boarded the train from Boston to
Worcester and then by carriage to Green Hill Park and the site of the
NEB encampment. We were met by Capt. Reicke, who was acting on the
NEB Staff for the citing of units coming into the area. We settled on
a site for the Engineers including a site for Capt. and Lady Webster
who would be arriving later that evening and then a further site under
the trees for Gen. Grant if he would bring his horses. Capt. Reicke
got w soldiers from the 12th Mass. V. Reg. to help with the set-up of
the Engineering Field Office. By six o-clock l\that evening the
Office fly was up and the equipment for the engineering displays were
set up and covered for the evening. The weather was cold and a heavy
breeze of the large pond on the beach of which we were camped added to
the lower temperature. It had rained earlier but the weather signs
promised to get better on Saturday.
Capt. Webster and Lady Webster had arrived as we were putting the last
touches on the field office and immediately set up their camp in the
spot that we had selected.
The following maps were then provided to the staff for there use:
#697 - Green Hill Park and Environs -IM;
#698 - Green Hill Park, NEB location - IM;
#699 - Green Hill Park and roads leading to it - IM;
#700 - Topographical Sketch; Green Hill Pond, Green Hill, and
Millstone Hill - IM;
Two maps of the Worcester area, and Green Hill Park by Captain Webster
(Note: These maps will be added to the Topog. Portfolio and assigned
a number upon return to Fort Trumbull's Engineering HQ.)
Cap. Webster and Lady WEbster took supper at their camp and stayed the
night at the Park. Lady Mathews and I spent the night at a local inn.
Saturday morning dawn bright but a bit cold. We spent the early part
of the morning removing the table covers and getting the proper flags
in place. Finally, we used a few minutes to lay out the displays in a
reasonable way and then the rest of the morning explaining the
displays to the attending spectators. I was asked by the Event
Coordinator to join General Lee and his Staff Officer in narrating the
battle to the crowd and at about a half hour before the skirmish was
scheduled I was delivered to the battle field and began my narration.
We had the use of a loudspeaker system set up by the National Guard
personnel which was a unique privilege to use. As always I began my
narration with s description of the hand and artillery weapons in use
during the Civil War with an emphasis on their use and the difficulty
in reloading and firing as compared to the modern day. Lady Webster
was kind enough to hold down both displays and stayed on to narrate to
the few spectators who were not at the skirmish sight. Gen. and Lady
Grant arrived on site for the day and we had a few moments to talk.
before the skirmish. He walked the battlefield during the skirmish
with his staff (Capt. Webster) ell behind the Federal Forces. He had
decided not the camp on site or bring the horses as he had other
commitments elsewhere. After the battle, which was excellently set up
and executed, we returned to camp and spent the remainder of the day
Talking with spectators as they moved through both the Union and
Confederate camps.
I was, during the day, pleased to write two letters of commendation
for for the two young men who helped to set up the field office. I
had both commendations entered into the Topog. Logs, as well as a
message to the acting NEB Commander notifying him of this action. I
had the commendations delivered to the Sgt. of the unit for him to
present at is leisure. Capt. and Lady Webster attended the service to
the Veterans, and I was pleased to stay in the office and speak with a
few spectators.
At about 6:00 P.M. Lady Mathews arrived in the carriage and we
returned to the Inn for a nice meal and some rest. Sunday morning
dawned cold and rainy which continued through the morning as a rainy
mist with some rain showers. Capt. WEbster undertook to draw out a
pontoon bridge project across the Green Hill Pond as an exercise for
the Pontoon train engineers. I was engaged in redrawing a diagram of
one of the major Federal fortifications facing the "Dimmock Line" of
forts around Petersburg, VA. Neither of these drawings was finished
in time to provide copies to the NEB Staff prior to the camp break-
down and move out. Both projects will be placed in the Topog. Map /
Plan portfolio and given a number. The Pontoon Plan will be provided
to the NEB as a courtesy at the next event.
At 3:00 P.M. the camp was to be removed and sent to winter quarters,
even though some of the NEB units may participate in events later in
the season. We broke camp and had the extreme pleasure of the company
of Capt. and Lady Webster for dinner that night in celebration of a
personal day of importance.
Considering that this event was the first such event at Green Hill
Park in Worcester, MA. I was very surprised and pleased at the
excellent planning and arrangements for various entertainments and
provisions set up by the Event Coordinators. For my part, I thought
the event was very well conducted and arranged. I also have to say
that I appreciate greatly the coming together of the Brigade at this
end of the season event. Again for my part it went very well and as
far as I was aware everything worked smoothly in spite of a few minor
bumps along the way. I must say to the Acting NEB Commander and his
staff Well Done!! A notice of this success will be made in my further
Staff Report to Lt. Gen. Grant.
Your Most Impressed and Diligent Servant
Very Respectfully;
Ian McKay, Brig. Gen. of Engineers (by brevet);
Chief Engineer and Chief of Staff (acting);
Lt. Gen. U. S. Grant's Personal and Military Staffs;
Chief Engineer, 25th Corps
CDR. -- Northeast Topographical Engineers (NETE)
__._,_.___
.
No comments:
Post a Comment