On Friday, February 22, we went down to Shiloh National Military Park in Shiloh, TN. The battle of Shiloh took place on April 6 & 7, 1862. Producing more than 23,000 casualties, the battle was the largest engagement in the Mississippi Valley campaign during the Civil War.
The kids in front of the Visitor Center.
This battlefield is one of the most extensively marked battlefields we have been to. On the over 4,200 acres of battlefield, there are over 800 markers & monuments.
Some of the famous veterans of the Battle of Shiloh.
This battlefield has a junior ranger program. They have a booklet that the kids fill out using info they find around the park. If they fill it out, they get a badge. Here the kids are searching for info.
David dressed as a Union soldier.
David dressed as a Confederate soldier.
I loved these pictures because they are of troops from Indiana. I believe some of my ancestors might be in these pictures.
One of the many monuments dedicated to Indiana troops. This is for the 17th Regiment of the Infantry.
This is a replica of the Shiloh church. The battle started here.
The original church was burnt down during the battles.
The kids at the front of Shiloh Church.
Union troops were stationed around Shiloh church. The Confederate troops snuck up & attacked on the morning of April 6, 1862.
Colonel Everett Peabody sent out scouting missions to determine the position & size of the Confederate Army. He encouraged his men to hold the line & keep the Confederates at bay despite 4 wounds including the head wound that would take his life.
General Johnston was head of the Confederate troops at Shiloh. He seemed to be everywhere encouraging his troops. He took a shot to the leg, behind the knee.
General Johnston did not think his wound was serious. But the bullet hit an artery. He was found at this spot slumped over on his horse by Gov. Isham Harris who was volunteering during the battle.
Governor Harris led General Johnston's horse down in this valley where the General died (down by the sign where David is standing). His death was considered by Confederate President Jefferson Davis to be"the turning point of our fate."
During the battle, soldiers from both sides came here to drink & bath their wounds. Many men & horses died at the edges of this pond that it turned blood red.
This was one of the bloodiest battle sites at Shiloh. The Confederates would end up winning this confrontation but only after a considerable loss of infantry troops.
The confederates stood where I am standing. Across this wide open field along the tree line is the "sunken road". The Union Army formed a line at the sunken road which formed a natural trench in which to fight from. They were able to pick off the Confederate infantry as they marched across the open field. This area was called the Hornets nest because of the sheer amount of ammunition flying here.
The tide of this skirmish turned when the Confederate Artillery brought in 62 cannons to fire at the Union. What the infantry could not do in over 6 hours, the Artillery accomplished in less than 2 hours.
Jessica taking a picture of an Illinois monument.
Jamie & David reading about the Artillery at the Hornets Nest.
Map of the Shiloh National Cemetery.
A marker showing the location of General Grant's headquarters in the cemetery.
These were some deer that were in the field across from the cemetery. There's at least 5 in this photo.
And another 6 here. There were just beautiful & a great way to end our day!
No comments:
Post a Comment