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Shiloh National Military Park - part I

Writer's picture: Rocky BakerRocky Baker

Updated: Jan 30

Shiloh National Military Park is a very solemn place


The Tennessee Monument at Shiloh National Military Park
The Tennessee Monument

Just south of Savanah, Tennessee, there on the west bank of the Tennessee River, lies Shiloh National Military Park. Shiloh is the site of the largest early battle of the Civil War. It is a National Park and as such it is a beautiful place and is managed for the public, with emphasis placed on educating the public on what happened there back in 1862.

 

The Iowa Monument at Shiloh National Military Park
The Iowa Monument

The Iowa monument is big and beautiful. It is located near the park entrance.


 

Part of the Iowa Monument at Shiloh National Military Park.
Statue at the Base of the Iowa Monument

This beautiful statue of Fate is part of the Iowa Monument.

 

Inscription on the Iowa monument at Shiloh National Military Park.
Inscription on the Iowa Monument

Brave of the brave, the twice five thousand men

Who all that day stood in the battle's shock

Fame holds them dear, and with Fate's immortal pen

Inscribes their names on the enduring rock.


 

The Great Civil War Battle



Line of cannons at Shiloh Civil War battlefield.
Cannons at Duncan Field

Fought on April 6 and 7, 1862, the battle of Shiloh was the first major battle of the Civil War.


The nation was shocked to learn of the numbers of dead, wounded and captured in that battle. Losses killed, wounded or captured, were 13,047 Union and 10,669 Confederate. That was the bloodiest battle ever - ever - fought on American soil at the time.


Even with more casualties, the Union held the ground and is considered the victor. It was the beginning of a long, long, string of defeats to be suffered by the Southern forces in a war that would see more than six hundred thousand American killed.

 

Shiloh national Military Park is a beautiful place.
Shiloh is a Beautiful Park

Many like to visit Shiloh in April because that is when the battle was fought. But anytime of year the park is pretty, and for my taste, best in Autumn.

 

Three members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.
Three Members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans

Some Northerners don't understand why the war is remembered so strongly in the South. A big part of that is because the war was fought right in the Southerner's own town or neighborhood and in some cases on their own land.


Pictured above are three members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, a group dedicated to the nation remembering the correct facts and history of the war.



I ran across these men in the National Cemetery there in the park when I was visiting. They were from the southwest Tennessee area and were very conscious of the war's history. And as their club's name implies, they are descendants of men who fought for the Confederacy (as am I) in the war.


 


Members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans present the Confederate flag to the Tennessee monument at Shiloh National Military Park.
SCV Members at the Tennessee Monument

At a distance I watched the SCV members approach the Tennessee monument with the Confederate flag.


The "Stars and Bars" Confederate flag that is often seen today was not the official flag that was flown at most government buildings of the Confederacy. The flag that is well known today was the Confederate battle flag - and it was just one of several different flags carried by the southern forces into the battle of Shiloh.

 

The Illinois Monument at Shiloh National Military Park.
The Illinois Monument at Shiloh

Here the Illinois Monument sits in a beautiful field - a field once part of noise, destruction, death, courage and loss, heroism and grief - but now sits quietly in a peaceful place.

 

This section of the Illinois Monument shows a scene from battle that took place there at the Shiloh  National Military Park.
Part of the Illinois Monument

This part of the Illinois monument shows a scene from the nearby battle of the Hornet's Nest.

The inscription reads:


Illinois erects this monument to commemorate her Sons who here gave their services to perpetuate the honor and glory of the United States.


Illinois lost more men than any other state in the battle of Shiloh, 3,957 malitiamen.


 


A cannon still aims across Duncan Field at Shiloh
Cannon and Duncan Field

Near the center of the battle, Duncan Field was a large open area that had to be crossed and held by whichever forces would win the battle.


 

The Minnesota Monument is a beautiful monument at Shiloh National Military Park.
The Minnesota Monument with fall colors in the trees

Minnesota sent many cannoneers to the battle. The Minnesota Monument is one of my favorite.


 

There is a National Cemetery at Shiloh National Military Park.
Part of the National Cemetery at Shiloh

The Park includes a National Cemetery. That cemetery holds mostly graves of Union soldiers. At other places in the park one can find mass graves where many Confederates were buried.


 

Cannons at Shiloh
Cannons at Shiloh

Starting at the park office and museum, one can do a self-guided tour of the park and battlefield.


 



The Tennessee Monument at Shiloh National Military Park
The Tennessee Monument

Plaque on the Tennessee Monument
Plaque on the Monument

The bronze statue that makes the Tennessee Monument is a beautiful work of art.


 

This cannon demonstration was part of the Labor Day activities at the park at Shiloh.
Cannon Demonstration

The park office and museum were recently remodeled and modernized. A visit to the park can be enjoyed in an hour or two, or as long as a few days.


 

And in Closing


Once on a visit to Shiloh I was talking to the father of a family visiting from Mississippi. He and I were looking across a beautiful green field where once hundreds, or thousands, of Americans had fallen. The sky was sunny and the weather was near perfect.


I said, "This place is special. Any American living within a day's drive should visit this place." He agreed. But then I added, "It is a special place, but not a happy place."


Shiloh sits about 20 minutes south of Savanah, Tennessee and about 30 minutes north of Corinth, Mississippi. It is a quiet, isolated place.


Shiloh is more than a place. It is a visual reminder of the human condition as well as a frightening look at what our nation has done in the past. Those who have never been there have missed a treat. And all who have not been there should plan a visit soon.


Comments are welcomed here in the box at the bottom of this page. I really like reading those comments. You can ask questions there as well. I will try hard to give you a good answer.


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13 Comments


Guest
6 days ago

My Great Great Grand Father encountered his first battle of the war here! He survived to carry on and died an old man of ninety plus years in his homeland and lies there today in DIXIE.

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rockydbaker
4 days ago
Replying to

Excellent! Thanks for that information!

Rocky

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Laura Kroelinger
Jan 30

Wonderful pictures, Rocky!

You are a great photographer.

Edited
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rockydbaker
Jan 30
Replying to

Thanks Laura! I hope you guys are doing well!

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Guest
Jan 30

Thank you Rocky. Somber remembrance of a pivotal battle, with wonderful photos.

Harvey

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rockydbaker
Jan 30
Replying to

Thanks Harvey!


Rocky

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Guest
Jan 30

Absolutely wonderful, as usual!!

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rockydbaker
Jan 30
Replying to

Thank you very much and thank for visiting Picture Americana.

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Guest
Jan 29

Apiture is worth a thousand words! Nice job, Rocky

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rockydbaker
Jan 29
Replying to

Thanks you for the kind words, and thank you for visiting Picture Americana!


Rocky

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