Shiloh National Military Park

                                                    Where in the world are we??? 

Sometimes today we weren't even sure where we were because we are near the junction of three states, AL, TN, and MS. Grand Harbor Marina is in MS, but as we drove north to Shiloh we were in TN. The Tenn-Tom waterway which we will be taking next 
week to Mobile, AL, divides MS and AL in the north.  
If you go under the T in Tennessee on the map, you come to the top corners of MS and AL. That's where we are today!

Before heading south to Mobile on the Gulf, we will follow the TN River eastward to attend a Great Loop rendezvous in Rogersville, AL. You can see the TN River in northern AL. It eventually goes north, back into TN near the city of Chattanooga.
We left Jacksonville, on the east coast of FL in April....we've come a LONG way!

Now, back to Shiloh, one of America's best-preserved battlefields. April 6 and 7, 1862, marked the bloodiest days to date in American history at the Civil War Battle of Shiloh, with 24,000 casualties from both sides. The movie at the Visitor's Center was excellent, and gave us the background to travel the 10 mile-long driving tour and understand the different areas of combat. General Grant was positioning his troops in the area to commandeer the Confederate's railroads and supply routes when Confederate General Johnston launched a surprise attack, after being slowed down by terribly rainy weather. The Confederates were successful the first day, pushing the Union forces back and victory seemed imminent. However, Grant refused to give up, and General Buell arrived with fresh Union troops in time to claim the victory. General Johnston's death caused by a stray bullet on April 6 left the Confederates unorganized, and their reinforcements never arrived. 

This monument, one of 156 in the park, honors the Union soldiers from Minnesota.

 The Confederacy Monument is full of symbolism. Take my word for it....

 General Johnston, CSA, a graduate of West Point

 Shiloh was first called the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, but later took the name Shiloh from the Methodist Meeting House on the grounds.

 After the Civil War was over, the hastily buried Union soldiers were exhumed and buried in the new National Cemetery. Soldiers from each state, with its individual regiments, are grouped together, but many soldiers remained unidentified. Confederate soldiers were buried in mass graves outside the cemetery.

 This monument marks the place of Gen. Grant's headquarters during the battle.

 It was a lovely fall day, with temps around 80, but a constant breeze kept us cool.
This battlefield has none of the commercialism that Gettysburg has...no tour buses, no shops. 
As we drove and walked the huge expanse of the park, we could really "see" the action that was explained in the movie. That, plus the monuments and historic tablets, made for a very informative and moving experience.  

The history buffs....with a courtesy van provided by Freddy T's, where some of us had dinner in the evening. Thanks Freddy.....