1st Illinois Battalion

Meet the Chief Bugler

RJ Samp - Born and raised in Madison, WI. Started reading about the ACW in 1961 when my Floridian Grandma took me to the Wisconsin State Historical Society Museum as part of the Centennial. Played trumpet throughout high school, almost majored in it. Slept out near the Copse of Trees, Gettysburg PA, July 1975. Lived near the Westport battlefields 1980-1983 and went to KC CWRT meetings to hear Herman Hattaway speak. Went to one reenactor’s drill and learned my facings. Lots of reading and Civil War battlefield tramping, always have been fascinated by it.

1997 my family took me to Wauconda IL reenactment for Father's Day. BIG MISTAKE for my spouse. Met some fun guys, including 8th IL troopers who explained how to load a carbine. Heard three bugle calls all day.... not enough to be authentic and they were the wrong calls. Figured I could do better and would rather enjoy educating the public. Learned the calls, joined the 2nd Wisconsin (Iron Brigade), became Chief Bugler for the Federal Army at Antietam 135, Gettysburg 135.

Began acquiring and contracting out a design for bugles and cavalry trumpets. Wrote ditties and preludes to help maneuver troops in the field through recognized calls. Served as Federal Chief Bugler at about 12 events per year and rode people hard on authentically using bugles. Became Chief Bugler, First Federal Division, published Call Recognition tapes and manuals, which have sold a couple thousand copies in total. By the time of the Chick-a-Dusty in September 1999 many reenactors knew who I was. Federal commanders definitely knew who I was. Bugle, Bugle, Bugle.

October 1999 attended Minooka IL event. Taught 8th IL Cavalry how to maneuver to the cavalry calls by singing the calls around a campfire as a way to maneuver a bottle of Oh Be Joyful to each thirsty trooper. Drilled by bugle the next day and wowed the infantry and spectators alike with the "A Hunting we well go" prelude call. Rick Keating grabbed me and had me teach three calls to the Infantry for the Afternoon battle: Forward, Halt, and In Retreat March. They worked! More of this on Sunday, and the men liked it (and Rick saved his voice). After the battle a formal 1st Illinois Battalion was announced as an amalgamation of the 10th, 36th, 64th, and 104th IL “companies.” Each would retain its company identity in camp and battle, but a full-fledged battalion staff would support the men before and during the event. I became a de facto member of the 8th Illinois Cavalry and the 10th Missouri Cavalry.

2000-now: My wife let's me out to reenact once a month.... and I do several school presentations, Legion or Round Table talks, and Memorial services a month as well. The tapes, bugle sales, and schools of instruction have paid off, and there are now dozens of qualified buglers world wide, and many reenacting units that can maneuver by bugle. Early 2000 I committed to Colonel Keating and Sgt. Major (now Major) Dellinger to support 4 MAX effort Illinois Battalion events, and help train musicians, run the field music, teach the companies the basic calls, and come up with a prelude for each company.

Well the boys of the 1st Illinois Battalion have taken me up on it. Invited me to drills, living histories (Lombard, Downer's Grove), and company meetings. Everyone has listened attentively while I've explained prelude calls and 5-15 different bugle calls. As the 1st IL Battalion has grown, so has the bugle call training and the preludes. We have several companies that can skirmish by the bugle. Rick and I successfully recruited Steve Smunt and his superb Mississippi Valley Fife and Drum Corps into the Battalion, and Steve committed to supporting us at all max effort events in the area. Brought in Neil Dickey from the 2nd WVI as Principal Fifer, and recruited a professional orchestral snare drummer, Hector Mancini, as Principal Drummer. I will put these musicians's up against anyone on Parade. Kevin McDonald, a fine trumpeter, was brought into the fold through a meeting at Lockport 2001. Someone said go talk to the bugler over there, and I pulled out an 1860's cornet and ripped off the Haydn Concerto in Eb...he said he was in.

Kevin and I, working with Rick, Dave, and the First Illinois Battalion, have advanced Civil War bugling to a new level. We are now teaching some of the tricks we are learning to others, most recently at Antietam 140 and Perryville 2002. Perryville was the battalion's first out of state trip and they did SUPERBLY according to Brigade Commander Dave Shackelford. Doubled bugle calls, relayed signals, duets, alternating passages, one bugler starts other finishes the call, bugler identifying calls, 'talking' back and forth between buglers using bugle signals, cross branch interpretation (infantry call given, translated into cavalry and acted upon), are just some of the bugle signal areas that we are exploring. We are one of the few infantry units in the country that can communicate by bugle with both artillery and cavalry units, which have helped us, win more than our fair share of tacticals. We are firmly entrenched in the Brigade structure of the Cumberland Guard/Black hats, and Colonel Shackelford has committed to using us fully at all events we attend, he loves not having to lose his voice and maneuvering the troops quickly and efficiently.

It's because of Rick and Dave's support that we won over the Captain's of most of the 1st IL Battalion, and the Sergeant Major, and now the men. We worked hard and earned the respect of the men and officer's of the 1st Illinois Battalion. They know that their musician's are the best out there, will work unceasingly for their benefit, and are a tribute to the entire unit. Trooping the Battalion in the Sunday downpour at Lockport 2001 after performing a "Battalion, On Right, By Files Into Line" was the quintessential moment for the battalion. We have arrived.

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