Over the course of 2 days in April, 1862, close to 24,000 men were killed, wounded or went missing in the most violent battle of the entire 4 years of the Civil War. These few square miles on the banks of the Tennessee River, where 3 states (Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi) converge, were farms and orchards, and the Shiloh meeting house, a small rough log church which was destroyed during the fighting. This replica was built in 1966, out of timber from hundred year old trees cut down within the surrounding woods.
The park is set up so that those who wish can follow the entire battle, from point to point, landmark to landmark. Cannons stand in fields, and plaques describe which army was placed in each position. Statues and monuments commemorate each state represented at the battle - both north and south, and the men who fought and died there. It's hard to imagine now that this beautiful setting saw such unprecedented carnage. A US National Cemetery within the grounds, contains the remains of about 4,000 soldiers and their family members.
But there is evidence, too, of a much older civilization here. Indian mounds, estimated to be about 800 years old, mark the site of a village here. Between two steep ravines, a wooden palisade enclosed seven earthen mounds and dozens of houses. Six mounds, rectangular with flat tops, probably served as platforms for the town's important buildings - council houses, religious buildings, or residences for the town's leaders. The seventh mound is oval and round topped, and is the place where the town's important people were buried.
Even though neither of us have any connection at all to the Civil War, nor is it part of our national heritage or history, it was an interesting and moving visit.
A beautiful sunset finished the day for us, and will hopefully bring good travelling weather tomorrow.
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