Major P.D. Erickson, Chief of Engineers

First Federal Division, USA
Brigadier General T. Crowder, Commanding
U.S. Corps of Topographical Engineers
Major P. D. Erickson, Chief Topographer, USCTE

Date: November 28, 2010

To: Major P. D. Erickson, Chief Topographer, USCTE
From: Captain R. J. Mergel, USCTE
Subject: Twin Rivers Campaign – Fort Donelson , After Action Report

Capt. Mergel arrived at headquarters at 8:00 am; reported to Maj. Erickson; pitched tent and stowed gear. Met with Maj. Erickson and Captain Chappell, received a revised area map and was briefed on the day’s action. Maj. Erickson orders for the day included a warning that all officers were required to carry a loaded sidearm at all times. Complied with the order.

At 10:00 am participated in a reconnaissance in force on the Town of Dover with orders to confiscate all relevant maps and documents. Searched buildings and seized maps from the Town Hall. No maps were recovered from private residences. Searched civilian wagons for maps and contraband; none found.

Local residents were uncooperative.

Rebel forces rallied and the Union Army made an orderly withdrawal from the town.

Shortly after lunch Rebel Cavalry attempted a raid on the Union Headquarters. Capt. Mergel shouted a warning and took up position near the Provost’s Tent. He was immediately supported by Maj. Erickson and Capt. Chappell across the road near the Topog Tent – thus providing an overlapping field fire. The Topogs held off the raid with
sidearms until support from other staff officers and the infantry arrived.

At the request of the Commanding General; the topographical engineers scouted roads and trails southeast of the Union Encampment and immediately north of the “Bloody Pond” area. It was discovered that the area maps needed revision. Upon return to Headquarters Maj. Erickson updated the maps and reported to Gen. Crowder. Capts. Mergel and Chappell made a quick trip to the Sutler’s to acquire some needed items.

Friday, November 12, 2010

At 10:00 am the FFD proceeded to the recently scouted area near Bloody Pond where it encountered a large Rebel force. The FFD was successful in pushing the Rebel force thus occupying the area near Bloody Pond Road. Maj. Erickson and Capt. Mergel detached themselves from the main body to scout roads and trails that heretofore were not accessible. Upon their return the two Topogs discovered that the FFD had routed the
Rebel force and captured a large number of prisoners and materiel.
After a quick lunch, General Crowder dispatched the three Topogs with orders to scout the area northwest of the Union Encampment along Swamp Road. Several unmapped trails were discovered and Maj. Erickson reported back to General Crowder while Capts. Mergel and Chappell remained in the field. At approximately 2:00 pm the FFD arrived at the entrance to the Swamp Road area and immediately began pursuing a retreating Rebel
Force. The Topogs accompanied the main Union force. Heavy woods and undergrowth provided the inferior Rebel Force excellent opportunities to hinder the advance of the FFD. The retreating Rebel Force was able to lure the FFD into their massed artillery. Maj. Erickson and Capt. Mergel detached themselves to accompany the cavalry along a flanking road. The two Topogs arrived at the rear of the Rebel force upon cessation of hostilities. The Topogs returned to camp.

After supper the Rebels attempted another raid on the FFD Headquarters. The action was preceded by artillery fire; then a push on the northern flank of the encampment. As the sound of gunfire drew closer, the order was given for the staff to deploy into defensive positions. The Topogs deployed to the south flank of the encampment near the site of the previous day’s attempted raid. The Rebels attempted a push on this flank and Capt. Mergel was ordered to lay fire with his Henry repeating rifle in the direction of the approaching gun-flashes. Maj. Erickson followed quickly with fire from his sidearm.
Maj. Erickson encountered a Union sentry and was informed that the Rebels had retired from that flank. While distant gunshots were heard, there was no further action on the south flank the remainder of Friday evening.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

The Topogs were ordered by Genl. Crowder to meet with him and members of the General Staff at 10:00 a.m. near the approaches to Fort Donelson to scout artillery placements. Upon the conclusion of the meeting, the FFD made a second reconnaissance in force to free contraband slaves in the Town of Dover. Capts. Mergel and Chappell accompanied the occupying force to ascertain if any maps or documents might be discovered. The local residents were more aggressive than during the previous raid and two local women accosted Capt. Mergel with a rolling pin and a scrotum (hollowed out
gourd). Finding no documents, the Topogs retreated quickly as once again Rebel forces rallied to drive out the Union forces.

Capt. Mergel was detached at that point to travel to a rear area to attend a military ball with his wife who made the arduous journey to join him for the occasion. Prior to his departure Capt. Mergel instructed Capt. Chappell in the operation of the Henry Rifle in the event the Rebels attempted another raid that evening. Capt. Mergel spent the evening with Mrs. Mergel at a local hotel and returned to camp greatly refreshed the following morning.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Capt. Mergel returned to camp at 9:00 am to discover that the FFD had marched out of camp to attend a memorial ceremony. The army returned around 11:00 a.m. and made preparations for a final assault on Fort Donelson. At 1:30 p.m. the FFD marched out of camp and deployed for the assault. The engagement was preceded by and artillery duel.
After scouting the left flank the Topogs accompanied the main force in a push toward the fort’s center. Capt. Mergel received minor wound in the right arm; but, along with Maj. Erickson and Capt. Chappell continued to assist the infantry by laying down suppressing fire with his Henry Rifle until all ammunition was expended. The action concluded with the unconditional surrender of Fort Donelson.

At 5:00 pm camp was struck and the Topogs were dispatched to their next postings.

Respectfully submitted
R. J. Mergel
Captain, USCTE

Addendum to Capt Mergel’s report by Major Erickson:

Capt Chappell and I arrived in camp at 5 AM Wednesday morning and began setting up the topog camp at 6. Once the camp was set up, we began field-checking the map that had been prepared for the event. The first area to be checked was to be occupied by the Confederate forces. Lies and foolish grins elicited their help in locating and correcting the roads within their camp. The early afternoon was spent checking the roads north of
the CSA camps and those south and west of the Federal camps. The road corrections as well as name changes were then made to the master map at HQ and corrected copies were produced for the use of the Brigade commanders. That evening, informed that it was “Be Kind to R J Samp Day”, we took the bugler and his friend into town for dinner.

YOS,
Don Erickson, Major USA
Chief Engineer, First Federal Division

Additional thoughts on the Battle of Twin Rivers.

Captain Chappell:

Well, I don’t really have much in the way of comments in either direction. It was the best event I’ve been to. Corinth was excellent, because we got to do the real ‘engineering’ part of our function and the battles were entertaining, but Twin Rivers was more fully developed and varied.

Major positive: interaction w/ the civilian town. This gave us Topogs the chance to do some ‘intel’ work, for which I thank Terry or whom ever planned that vignette. Other civilian scenarios, such as the contraband event, really enriched the experience. I feel we should have more of that.

I observed that arrangements for water and wood delivery and port-o-potty servicing were excellent and the shuttle service seemed to work well, although i didn’t take advantage of it.

The food service for the officers’ mess was superlative. Meals were proper for the period, on time, plentiful and satisfying.

The tacticals were intense and worked well, do a reasonable job of reflecting real outcomes, although we all have a problem with ‘dying’ – i.e., understanding that the cannon that just fired at us riddled us and all around us with canister and we should just lay down.

The only negative I have concerns a problem which probably can’t be easily remedied: the earthworks were an improvement of Franklin, but were a poor representation of Ft. Donelson, or any other period earthwork (although the layout was excellent, reflecting the angles of a properly planned earthen fortification of the period). However, I understand that to do it right would require an expenditure of specie, time and labor out of proportion to other considerations in planning an event, so it’s something we have to live with.

In all, this event seemed to reflect more detailed planning and preparation than others that
I have attended. I hope that the good vibes from this will bring even more participation
next time around.

Major Erickson:

I agree with Capt Chappell that the event had much more depth than previous events. I was not pleased with the earthworks, but I understand the constraints the landowner placed on its construction.

Raid on Dover. I should have told the civilians that the maps that the topogs confiscated from the town were going to be used in a further scenario. Perhaps they could have told me before the raid that they had decided not to use all of them. Better communication is needed here.

I didn’t see that much of the contrabands, much less getting a proper servant after all these years. They seemed to appear and disappear as a group. I have no idea what they did in camp.

As usual, the meals were wonderful. Best French toast I’ve had and the blackberries were wonderful even if they did have Mr. Kornrumpf’s cooties on them.

We did not get to do any of the bridge burning or tree toppling mentioned in the run-up to the event and it would appear that the vast majority of the roads had been scoped out long before our arrival. On the other hand, I should have mowed down much of the woods south and west of HQ to prevent access by the CSA. We will be prepared with dirty tricks next time.

In summary, it was one of the better events we have participated in. I should hope that future events will be even better.

YOS
Don Erickson, Major USA
Chief Engineer, First Federal Division