We met up with Sam on Saturday morning; a pearly-perfect weather day. We tried Subway for breakfast and gave it a 'thumbs-up'. Pretty good stuff! It was fast and on the way to our destination- Shiloh National Military Park. The park is located not that far from Corinth, a nice little 15-20 minute drive if I remember correctly.
Here's a thumbnail explanation: (skip if you want to get to the pictures)
Shiloh National Military Park preserves the American Civil War Shiloh and Corinth battlefields. The main section of the park is in the unincorporated town of Shiloh, about nine miles south of Savannah, Tennessee, with an additional area located in the city of Corinth, Mississippi, 23 miles southwest of Shiloh. The Battle of Shiloh began a six-month struggle for the key railroad junction at Corinth. Afterward, Union forces marched from Pittsburg Landing to take Corinth in a May seige, then withstood an October Confederate counter-attack.
The Battle of Shiloh was one of the first major battles in the Western Theater of the American Civil War. The two-day battle, April 6 and April 7, 1862, involved about 65,000 Union troops under Ulysses S. Grant and Don Carlos Buell and 44,0000 Confederates under Albert Sidney Johnston (killed in battle) and P.G.T. Beauregard. The battle resulted in nearly 24,000 killed, wounded and missing. The two days of fighting did not end in a decisive tactical victory for either side- the Union held the battlefield but failed to pursue the withdrawing Confederate forces. However, it was a decisive strategic defeat for the Confederate forces that had massed to oppose Grant's and Buell's invasion through Tennessee. The battlefield is named after Shiloh Methodist Church, a small log church near Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee.
Ammo- serious business.
This fellow, who was in Union uniform, gave an excellent presentation on the different kinds of ammo and the workings of an artillery unit.
Camp- we just had to compare it to Eminence. Here is the mess- luxurious!
The boys take a break from battle to compare notes.
We tenters in Eminence have it pretty easy compared to the trappings of Civil War camp. A side note- evidently this was a camp that the guys were using 'for real'. Sam felt a lump in the blanket as he climbed in- turned out to be a very fancy camera under there!
Anniversary couple- married in Iowa.
This monument is the tallest in the park.
Illinois was well-represented also.
Frederick C. Hibbard designed and sculptured this monument which has much symbolism and beauty. The United Daughters of the Confederacy erected the monument in 1917 to pay tribute to all Southern troops who fought in the Battle of Shiloh.
General Albert Sidney Johnston, Confederate commander killed during the afternoon of the first day, is portrayed in the center with a carved bust. General Johnston was the highest ranking American officer ever to die in combat.
To the far right is the bronze figure of an infantryman who has grasped his flag in resistance of the Northern Army. The figure to the rear is an artilleryman gazing through the smoke of battle.
The central group of bronze figures represent "Defeated Victory." The front statue denotes the Confederacy surrendering the laurel wreath of victory to Death, on the left, and Night, on the right. Death came to their commander and Night brought reinforcements to the Union army.
To the far left is the bronze figure of a cavalryman with his hand extended in frustration. The cavalryman in the back represents the officers of the Confederate Army. His head is bowed in compliance to the cease fire order.
The panel of heads on the right signal the spirit of the first day; the panel of heads on the left mark the sorrow of men on the second day.
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A reproduction of the original Shiloh church that the battle was named for. So ironic that 'Shiloh' means 'peace'.
From what I can find out, this was put up by the United Daughters of the Confederacy Chapter #371, which is led by Mrs. Bettye Stanley. Feelings still run strongly evidently.
The weather was so beautiful in this peaceful, solemn park. Father and son time.
And then silliness ensued for a little while.
Sam decided to commemorate the occasion by 'planking'.
Tom was surprised he could do it-a lot easier than he thought it would be!
Okay- Sam said it was time for the guns to come out.
A deer, not really caring that there were people gawking at him.
Missouri got in on the action some- even though they had to join Tennessee units in order to fight.
The strategic, beautiful Tennessee river- where so much happened, so long ago.
Hard to believe that this whole area was where so many fought and died on those two fateful days in April a few lifetimes ago.
Oh, that was a fun post! Thanks for sharing. I got a pretty big kick out of the planking!
Really beautiful picture of you and Dad and the end there. Shiloh looks so beautiful. Love the history.
Looks like you all had a lovely time together! Our family loves to go to historical sites also! We went to a battlefield in Murfreesboro when we were in TN. Like you said, it's hard to imagine what all was really going on in this area (and other battlefields) during the horrors of the war.
Also, the planking was hilarious! Although, Norman brought out to us not long ago that the "in thing" is now OWLING. I guess it's like planking, but you have to squat like an owl. Ha!
@wardssward - We're always behind the curve on those things.
@Little_red_hen - While Norman was home for lunch today, I showed him Tom's and Sam's planking pictures. This prompted him to go into youtube and see some of the "owling" pictures. While there, he found that "teapotting" had come inbetween "planking" and "owling". So, apparently, we had also gotten lost on all of these "in" things. Ha!
According to a news video (also on youtube), the "teapotting" came about accidentally. A girl had her picture taken, posed as a teapot, while on the Wall of China. The picture then went viral and someone made a page on facebook about "teapotting". So, Norman thought that you could take Sam's "statue" picture and start a new fad... STATUE-ING!
Oh, you were right...this Shiloh post is really good. Thanks for the info on it, especially the name. I didn't know that was where the battlefield got its name...I just assumed it was a town's name. That was funny to see Sam planking...I had already seen Tom...but I am guessing Sam probably did it first from the order of the photos. No pictures of you planking so I guess you didn't do it? I don't think I could do it...I probably (no...I know) would be sagging in the middle like the old sway back horses. Anyway...great post (but all of your postings are good).
@SpringsTruth - No, no planking for me- a girl has to have SOME dignity! That is one of the perks of being the photographer, also. Sam was the first. The last photo of Tom in the distance is him contemplating how to initiate the planking. He began by bending over getting his shoulders/chest situated, then up go the legs one at a time.
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Comments (7)
Oh, that was a fun post! Thanks for sharing. I got a pretty big kick out of the planking!
Really beautiful picture of you and Dad and the end there. Shiloh looks so beautiful. Love the history.
Looks like you all had a lovely time together! Our family loves to go to historical sites also! We went to a battlefield in Murfreesboro when we were in TN. Like you said, it's hard to imagine what all was really going on in this area (and other battlefields) during the horrors of the war.
Also, the planking was hilarious! Although, Norman brought out to us not long ago that the "in thing" is now OWLING. I guess it's like planking, but you have to squat like an owl. Ha!
@wardssward - We're always behind the curve on those things.
@Little_red_hen - While Norman was home for lunch today, I showed him Tom's and Sam's planking pictures. This prompted him to go into youtube and see some of the "owling" pictures. While there, he found that "teapotting" had come inbetween "planking" and "owling". So, apparently, we had also gotten lost on all of these "in" things. Ha!
According to a news video (also on youtube), the "teapotting" came about accidentally. A girl had her picture taken, posed as a teapot, while on the Wall of China. The picture then went viral and someone made a page on facebook about "teapotting". So, Norman thought that you could take Sam's "statue" picture and start a new fad... STATUE-ING!
Oh, you were right...this Shiloh post is really good. Thanks for the info on it, especially the name. I didn't know that was where the battlefield got its name...I just assumed it was a town's name. That was funny to see Sam planking...I had already seen Tom...but I am guessing Sam probably did it first from the order of the photos. No pictures of you planking so I guess you didn't do it? I don't think I could do it...I probably (no...I know) would be sagging in the middle like the old sway back horses. Anyway...great post (but all of your postings are good).
@SpringsTruth - No, no planking for me- a girl has to have SOME dignity! That is one of the perks of being the photographer, also. Sam was the first. The last photo of Tom in the distance is him contemplating how to initiate the planking. He began by bending over getting his shoulders/chest situated, then up go the legs one at a time.
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