Pilot Knob, MO: Brigade Spring Drill.
The Brigade Spring Drill was held April 20-21, 2024, at the Battle of Pilot Knob State Historic Site in Pilot Knob, MO. Companies of the Brigade met to practice their skills in preparation for the 2024 event season. A number of members participated in a School Day for local students on the Friday before Spring Drill.
During the event, the Site held a ceremony to debut the new authentic carriage for its replica Woodruff gun displayed in the museum. As part of the celebration, there were four Woodruff guns present, two replicas and two original tubes, three of the guns mounted on new authentic replica carriages. One of the original tubes was recently determined to be one of the Woodruff guns at Fort Davidson during the Battle of Pilot Knob, a true surviving veteran of the battle. This was the largest assemblage of Woodruff guns in one place since the Civil War.
Turners muster by companies Saturday morning during the Brigade Spring Drill April 20, 2024, at the Battle of Pilot Knob State Historic Site in Pilot Knob, MO.
Cpl. Todd Jacobs takes a turn leading Company G in maneuvers during the Brigade Spring Drill April 20, 2024, at the Battle of Pilot Knob State Historic Site in Pilot Knob, MO.
The three Woodruffs mounted on new authentic replica carriages in line during the Brigade Spring Drill April 20, 2024, at the Battle of Pilot Knob State Historic Site in Pilot Knob, MO. The closest gun is the site’s replica tube, the middle gun is Company M’s replica tube, and the farthest gun is an original Woodruff tube mounted on a restoration of the only known original Woodruff carriage. This original was the second to receive a new authentic carriage. The piece is owned by Charles and John Berry of southwest Missouri, who contributed greatly to the research that led to the new carriages.
A Company M crew practices artillery drill on its replica Woodruff gun during the Brigade Spring Drill April 20, 2024, at the Battle of Pilot Knob State Historic Site in Pilot Knob, MO. This gun was the first to be mounted on a new authentic replica carriage, the result of decades of research.
A Company M crew practices artillery drill on it replica Woodruff gun during the Brigade Spring Drill April 20, 2024, at the Battle of Pilot Knob State Historic Site in Pilot Knob, MO. The gun in the foreground is the site’s Woodruff replica originally built in 2009-2010. This gun is the third to be mounted on a new authentic replica carriage.
A Company K/H crew talks with a spectator during the Brigade Spring Drill April 20, 2024, at the Battle of Pilot Knob State Historic Site in Pilot Knob, MO.
Turner ladies prepare lunch for the troops Saturday morning during the Brigade Spring Drill April 20, 2024, at the Battle of Pilot Knob State Historic Site in Pilot Knob, MO.
Company C assembles before the Woodruff ceremony April 20, 2024, at the Battle of Pilot Knob State Historic Site in Pilot Knob, MO.
The gun line is positioned before the ceremony during the Brigade Spring Drill April 20, 2024, at the Battle of Pilot Knob State Historic Site in Pilot Knob, MO. From the right, the Berry original Woodruff, the original “George” Woodruff tube on the loaner Company M carriage, the Company M replica Woodruff, the site’s replica Woodruff, and Company K/H’s Parrott rifle.
Turners assemble on the gun line during the ceremony April 20, 2024, at the Battle of Pilot Knob State Historic Site in Pilot Knob, MO. Photo by Greg Brough.
Site manager Bryan Bethel opens the ceremony to debut the site’s new Woodruff carriage April 20, 2024, at the Battle of Pilot Knob State Historic Site in Pilot Knob, MO.
Site manager Bryan Bethel introduces Turner president Scott House during the ceremony to debut the site’s new Woodruff carriage April 20, 2024, at the Battle of Pilot Knob State Historic Site in Pilot Knob, MO. Scott related the history of “George”, the original Woodruff which was present during the September 1864 Battle of Pilot Knob.
Brian Stith, Deputy Director of State Parks, addressed the crowd and related some of the history of the Woodruff gun during the Woodruff ceremony April 20, 2024, at the Battle of Pilot Knob State Historic Site in Pilot Knob, MO.
Randy Baehr presented remarks on the research that led to the creation of the three authentic replica Woodruff carriages present at the Woodruff ceremony April 20, 2024, at the Battle of Pilot Knob State Historic Site in Pilot Knob, MO.
A Company E crew fires “George” during the ceremony April 20, 2024, at the Battle of Pilot Knob State Historic Site in Pilot Knob, MO. “George” is an original Woodruff tube documented as present at Fort Davidson during the Battle of Pilot Knob in September 1864. “George” was named for Col. George Thilenius of the 56th Enrolled Missouri Militia of Cape Girardeau, who brought the gun back to that city as part of his unit’s mission to recover the Union wounded and military stores from Pilot Knob after the battle.
A Company E crew fires “George” during the ceremony April 20, 2024, at the Battle of Pilot Knob State Historic Site in Pilot Knob, MO. “George” is mounted on a temporary carriage on loan from the Company M Woodruff until a new authentic replica carriage can be built.
A park volunteer crew prepares to fire the site’s Woodruff replica during the ceremony April 20, 2024, at the Battle of Pilot Knob State Historic Site in Pilot Knob, MO.
John Berry and his son at his original Woodruff gun on its restored original carriage during the Woodruff ceremony April 20, 2024, at the Battle of Pilot Knob State Historic Site in Pilot Knob, MO.
Turners assemble on the gun line after the Woodruff ceremony April 20, 2024, at the Battle of Pilot Knob State Historic Site in Pilot Knob, MO. Click the image to enlarge. Photo courtesy of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
Additional photos of this event can be found on the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Flicker album “Battle of Pilot Knob Cannon Dedication”.
Information about the Battle of Pilot Knob State Historic Site, including directions, can be found at http://www.mostateparks.com/park/battle-pilot-knob-state-historic-site.