Hey guys. I have found a website made by a person who has done some relic hunting in the area that Marmaduke and McNeill fought as well as camping areas. The unit we are portraying for Federal Cavalry at Marmadukes is the 1st Wisconsin Cavalry, which according to relics dug was camped at the same place as the 32nd Iowa. Scroll down to near the bottom of the page for the relics concerning Marmadukes Raid. Some interesting finds!!

www.missourirelics.com/MissouriRelics/images.asp?linkID=9

Dan

Great stuff Dan. Thanks for sharing.

Steve Acker

That would be Paul Arnold. He lives near Bloomfield, MO which changed hands about 13-14 times during the war. It served as a major base for the Federals throughout the war. Bloomfield is about 30 miles NW of me here in New Madrid. It is on Crowley's Ridge which, during the war, was the major North/South route through SE Missouri since it was high ground and avoided the low swamp land between there and the river. Marmaduke, as well as others, used the ridge for their excursions into Missouri from Arkansas. Conversely, Federal cavalry used the ridge quite a bit for patrols and quicker movement to places in this part of the state.

In short, while the Marmaduke raid Paul is talking about may or may not be the same one the event depicts, it is not the same area as where the event will be taking place in Sept. Still, it's pretty good stuff and gives one an idea of just how much was going on in this area.

By the way, Bloomfield is the birthplace of Stars and Stripes newspaper.

M. Comer