Shiloh
Six Must See Battlefields
26/02/24 18:02 Filed in: History
While reading through a Daily Passport email, one of their story leads was about six must-see battlefields in the United States. We have visited all six at some point. I will start with the last one we visited last October, Shiloh Battlefield, located in southern Tennessee just over the Tennessee-Mississippi border. The largest loss of life in a battle in the U.S. and in some respects a draw between the Union and Rebel forces.
From the article:
The Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, was one of the most significant battles in the Mississippi Valley Campaign of the Civil War. The Union’s victory on April 7, 1862, came at a high cost, resulting in more casualties than in all of America’s previous wars combined. Occupying over 5,000 acres, Shiloh National Military Park offers visitors the chance to discover several historic sites. These include the Corinth Battlefield Unit, which preserves the Siege and Battle of Corinth, and the Shiloh National Cemetery, the resting place of around 4,000 fallen soldiers. Also found here are the Shiloh Indian Mounds, an archeological remnant of the South Appalachian Mississippi culture that lived in the area around 1200 CE. A great way to explore the park is by driving its 12.7-mile, 22-stop self-guided tour of the battlefield. Alternatively, visitors can hike along trails or ride a bicycle or e-bike around the paved roads. Whichever way you get around, you’ll get the chance to spot local wildlife, including 186 bird species, such as the majestic bald eagle and great-horned owl.
From the article:
The Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, was one of the most significant battles in the Mississippi Valley Campaign of the Civil War. The Union’s victory on April 7, 1862, came at a high cost, resulting in more casualties than in all of America’s previous wars combined. Occupying over 5,000 acres, Shiloh National Military Park offers visitors the chance to discover several historic sites. These include the Corinth Battlefield Unit, which preserves the Siege and Battle of Corinth, and the Shiloh National Cemetery, the resting place of around 4,000 fallen soldiers. Also found here are the Shiloh Indian Mounds, an archeological remnant of the South Appalachian Mississippi culture that lived in the area around 1200 CE. A great way to explore the park is by driving its 12.7-mile, 22-stop self-guided tour of the battlefield. Alternatively, visitors can hike along trails or ride a bicycle or e-bike around the paved roads. Whichever way you get around, you’ll get the chance to spot local wildlife, including 186 bird species, such as the majestic bald eagle and great-horned owl.
Comments
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.
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.
