April 6, 1862

150 years ago today, on April 6, 1862, the Battle of Shiloh began. Over the past few weeks, I have done various posts on Shiloh, stemming from my recent visit. I have always been fascinated by this battle, as I was born on its 125th Anniversary (yes, that makes today my birthday). Shiloh has always stood out for me as being a very unique battle. It was the first of the great and terrible battles of the war. One week short of one year into the war, 24,000 Americans lay dead, wounded, or dying on once peaceful fields in Southern Tennessee. There was no turning back for America after Shiloh, as it forever changed the nation. It told all who would listen that the war would not be an easy affair, that the war would not be over quickly, and that with such momentous issues at stake, a great deal of blood would be required to settle the matter of which vision of liberty would prevail.

In Corinth, Mississippi, about 20 miles south of Shiloh, there is a relatively new NPS Interpretive Center. If you get the chance, I highly recommend you go there. Along with the fine museums and interpretive films, the Interpretive Center has a small display behind the building. The display, pictured above, is of a stream, the stream of American history. It starts with the Declaration of Independence; small ripples in the stream are caused by various sectional controversies leading up to the war. The blocks in the middle represent the war itself, with the larger blocks representing the larger battles. I found this to be fascinating because it is an excellent way to understand how these battles impacted history. Shiloh, Antietam, Gettysburg, and many others were all major events in the stream of American history, causing ripples which are still being felt today. Shiloh led to unforeseen casualties, the rise of a Lost Cause myth, the rise of Ulysses S. Grant, but more importantly, it taught Americans exactly how high the price of freedom truly is. The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were documents that were so sacred that in order to either destroy or save them, thousands upon thousands of lives would need to be sacrificed. Those sacrifices, made at Shiloh 150 years ago, still affect our lives today, reminding us of what it means to be a citizen in this great republic.

Because I have written quite a bit about my recent visit to Shiloh, today, in commemoration of the battle's 150th anniversary, I wanted to simply share some of my favorite photos from my visit there (what I hope will be the first of many visits). Let us remember the sacrifices made 150 years ago today in the fields and woods surrounding Shiloh Church. As Lincoln wrote in his December 3, 1861 message to Congress, "The struggle of today, is not altogether for today -- it is for a vast future also. With a reliance on Providence, all the more firm and earnest, let us proceed in the great task which events have devolved upon us."


Here are the links for the posts I have done about Shiloh over the past few weeks. You can find many more Shiloh photos in these posts as well.

Shiloh National Cemetery
Confederate Burial Trenches 
Shiloh's Confederate Memorial
Sherman Arrives at Pittsburg Landing
Battle of Shiloh Begins
Shiloh's Rhea Field
Shiloh's State Monuments
Shiloh's Hornets' Nest
April 3, 1862: Confederate Advance, Union Camps
April 5, 1862: "The eyes and hopes of eight millions of people rest upon you" (Death of A.S. Johnston)

I would be remiss if I didn't put the most important photo first. Going to Shiloh with my Dad made my first visit to Shiloh all the more special. Here is Dad and I along the edge of the Hornets' Nest, with Duncan Field behind us. 

Now, on to my other favorite photos...

Iowa Monument

Iowa Monument

Confederate Memorial

 Tennessee Memorial

 Artillery near Water Oaks Pond

 Sherman's Headquarters sign

 57th Ohio Monument

The Peach Orchard

 

One of the park's resident Bald Eagles, taken in Cloud Field

 Shiloh at sunset, taken from the Peach Orchard (same for next few)

 

Shiloh National Cemetery

Graves of Wisconsin Color Bearers overlooking the Tennessee River

Site of Grant's Headquarters on the evening of April 6ht

Shiloh National Cemetery

Confederate Battery Tablet

 Albert Sydney Johnston Death Site

Confederate Burial Trench

Welcome to Tennessee

Stones River National Battlefield Visitor Center

Today, my Dad and I made our way to Nashville, Tennessee, for the first of several days of touring some Civil War battlefields which have long been on our list of places to visit. Upon arriving in Nashville, our first order of business was to head to Murfreesboro to check out Stones River National Battlefield. While it is relatively small, and while much of the field has been lost to development and business, this is a site which is still worth your time. A great Visitor Center, a nice museum, a good short introductory film, and a driving tour covering the heart of the battle are some highlights at Stones River which you won't want to miss. Most meaningful for me was the large National Cemetery, containing the remains of over 6,000 Civil War soldiers from the Battle of Stones River, as well as other battles in the Nashville area. There will be much more to come on Stones River National Battlefield.

Stones River National Cemetery

Tomorrow, we will make our way to southern Tennessee to see the hallowed ground of Shiloh. I have wanted to visit Shiloh for as long as I can remember. After all, the battle and I share the same birthday. Shiloh began on April 6, 1862, and I was born 125 years later to the day. So, what better way to celebrate a 25th birthday, and to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Shiloh, than to finally visit the park. Of course, we are a few weeks early, but I think missing crowds of visitors, throngs of reenactors, and general mayhem is a good thing. I think visiting 149 years, 11 months, and a few days since the battle is close enough.


While we are there, we'll swing down to Corinth, Mississippi, to see the NPS Interpretive Center and Civil War earthworks surrounding the town. We are also going to make a sojourn up to Fort Donelson as long as we are in the neighborhood.


So, stay tuned to the blog, as I can promise lots of new photos, stories, and reflections as your humble blogger visits some of our country's most hallowed sites.