October 2023
Bob Plays Grant
We visited Pittsburg Landing at the Shiloh National Battlefield. It is right alongside (west side) of the battlefield especially where the Union soldiers were stationed and near Grant's headquarters. The photo shows where the Union soldiers were ferried and unloaded from transport boats on the Tennessee River. Bob is walking alongside the river at the beachhead. We are just south of the Catfish Hotel Restaurant location, maybe 1/4th mile.
It is good that we were able to visit and have a decent weather day, slightly warm with a mix of clouds and sun. There was recently a cold snap with snow and rolling blackouts in central and eastern Tennessee.
It is good that we were able to visit and have a decent weather day, slightly warm with a mix of clouds and sun. There was recently a cold snap with snow and rolling blackouts in central and eastern Tennessee.
Comments
Catfish Hotel Restaurant
27/10/23 10:23 Filed in: Travel
Out in the countryside just down the road and river from the Shiloh Battlefield headquarters is the main restaurant in the area. It is called the Catfish Hotel Restaurant. Their specialty is catfish, of course. They also offer shrimp, hush puppies and other Southern cooking. They do seem to have a catfish fry all you can eat option plus BBQ ribs. The restaurant looks out over the Tennessee River. It seems tour buses also show up at the restaurant. It was good and basic food. My mother and grandmother were lovers of catfish due to their time living near the Missouri and Niobrara Rivers in Nebraska.
The Graves-Shiloh Battlefield Cemetery
One strikingly serene and beautiful spot at the Shiloh Battlefield National Park was the cemetery. The grass and trees on the rolling terrain evoked the sadness of the loss of soldiers on both sides of the fight. There is a larger memorial than in the accompanying photo that announces the location of General Grant's headquarters and tent in that location. Along this area was the Union Army's center which they needed to hold in the face of Confederate troops. The Union almost lost this battle though they came back when additional troops arrived from other parts of Tennessee. Both sides battled to a draw and lived to fight another day or 3 years.
General Albert Sydney Johnston At Shiloh
23/10/23 08:32 Filed in: History
One of the Shiloh Battlefield tour stops (#17) Bob and I visited during our trip to Shiloh was where General Albert Sydney Johnston died during the battle. He had a bullet wound to his leg and was unaware he was bleeding heavily into his boot until he collapsed. He was considered one of the top generals with General Robert E. Lee and his loss was devastating to the Confederate Army. He was a measured military man with significant knowledge of the battlefield. Below is the monument at Shiloh to where he died. Information about him and the battle can be found here and here.
Shiloh Civil War Battlefied
Bob and I just got back from Memphis Tennessee earlier this week. One week ago we drove 2 hours east to the Shiloh National Park Battlefield near Shiloh TN. This covers a lot of area around the town and west of the Tennessee River. This is probably 15-20 miles north of Corinth, MS where the Confederate forces were bivouacked. Corinth was a major railroad connection in the South and one of the targets of the Union army under General Grant.
We had a great trip and saw a bit of the area while there. We also watched a 30 minutes film at the Visitor's Center while there.
Here is the sign for the entrance to the visitor's part of the park.
We had a great trip and saw a bit of the area while there. We also watched a 30 minutes film at the Visitor's Center while there.
Here is the sign for the entrance to the visitor's part of the park.
Norway Lofoten and Vowels
07/10/23 16:08 Filed in: Travel
One place we have long wanted to visit in Norway are the Lofoten Islands. They are farther north than we have been and off the northern west coast. All the photos show a beautiful place to visit.
Here are some details about that part of Norway and their language where one town is known by one letter, A:
Pronounced like the "o" in "born," "Å" is one of eight vowels in the Norwegian alphabet. It's also an Old Norse word meaning "small river." Only about 150 people live in the village, which is known for both fishing and tourism. Interestingly, the Å in Lofoten is not the only Å in Norway. At least six other towns have the same name, but Lofoten's Å is the most popular, likely because of the scenery and climate of the islands. The weather is mild, the mountains are large, and in the summertime, you can experience days with up to 24 hours of sunlight.
Here are some details about that part of Norway and their language where one town is known by one letter, A:
Pronounced like the "o" in "born," "Å" is one of eight vowels in the Norwegian alphabet. It's also an Old Norse word meaning "small river." Only about 150 people live in the village, which is known for both fishing and tourism. Interestingly, the Å in Lofoten is not the only Å in Norway. At least six other towns have the same name, but Lofoten's Å is the most popular, likely because of the scenery and climate of the islands. The weather is mild, the mountains are large, and in the summertime, you can experience days with up to 24 hours of sunlight.
