Search the Community

The following video from middle of 2019 is an exemplary sample of tours now conducted at Shiloh NMP making use of corrected terminology. The “Dense Thicket” with its briars, brambles and thorns is finally given pride of place along “This Line” (the temporary name for the poorly identified Sunken Road, which was never really sunken, “just washed out in a few places” with deep wagon ruts, not really useable by infantrymen.) CONGRATULATIONS to everyone who assisted in making these changes come about. As we say in Australia, “I am gobsmacked.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzvStI2fneY A Shiloh Battle Walk posted by Paul Vivrett 10 SEP 2020

I've always been one who believed, "Don't throw out the baby with the bath water." So when this original NPS film of Shiloh was discovered on YouTube, it seemed appropriate to add it to the references section, for others to view. And having it available allows discussion of the good and bad aspects of this 60+ year old work: First, it is in color, and the views of the battlefield circa 1956 permit identification of changes over time; There is an attempt at balance: the efforts and sacrifice of both opponents are given fair treatment in respect to each other; The most obvious error: giving credit to General Prentiss for the action of Colonel Peabody in sending out Powell's patrol; The second most obvious error: NO mention of William Tecumseh Sherman and the actions of the Fifth Division; Third most obvious error: no mention of McClernand, Hurlbut or Stuart (or Webster or Powell) Although the models used were mediocre, the effort to recognize the Navy's contribution is commendable; The attempt is made to explain Bloody Pond, the Peach Orchard, the Sunken Road, and the Hornet's Nest (for the benefit of park visitors) The charts and drawings used are simple, but reasonably accurate (especially the depiction of Grant's Last Line). Although this film has obvious flaws, it is an easy matter for those of us who study the Battle of Shiloh to recognize those flaws... and enjoy the telling of the story. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbjXqwAOhgw Posted on YouTube by LionHeart Film Works on 6 April 2019.

( Confederate Veteran Magazine, March 1895.) Much deserving credit is accorded Major D. W. Reed in helping make Shiloh NMP what it is today. But, "unrecognized others" were just as necessary to the creation of, "the wondrous preserve that is Shiloh NMP and Cemetery" (including the survey team, pictured above.) In Confederate Veteran (volume 3, edition of March 1895, pages 75 - 77) begins an extensive article that details work of some of the other men (and provides photographs): Colonel E T. Lee and Captain J. W. Irwin, just two mentioned. Others include Colonel Cornelius Cadle (Park Commissioner), General Don Carlos Buell (Park Commissioner -- page 104), and Captain James Williams (Assistant Secretary of Shiloh Battlefield Association, former member of Brewer's Cavalry Battalion, then living in Savannah Tennessee.) The article begins with an "invitation to attend the Second Reunion at Shiloh, to be held April 5 and 6 1895 at Pittsburg Landing," and flows into a description of the work done by Colonel E. T. Lee of Monticello Illinois (Secretary of the Shiloh Battlefield Association.) E. T. Lee also wrote a four column article on Battle of Shiloh (included in references at bottom.) On page 77 the details of Captain J. W. Irwin are revealed (former member of Confederate Cavalry that was absorbed into N. B. Forrest's command.) A two-page article detailing service with General Forrest is included. Much additional information is to be found in volumes 3 and 4 of Confederate Veteran, but the Index does not allow effective searching. [Best to click on the "Catalog Record," below; select the desired volume; and in Search Box at top of that volume, insert "Shiloh" for references IRT the creation of the Military Park.] Regards Ozzy References: http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.32044035882372;view=1up;seq=104 Confederate Veteran, volume 3. http://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/000528187 Catalog Record for Confederate Veteran Magazine (all issues, 1893 - 1922.) http://newspapers.library.in.gov/cgi-bin/indiana?a=d&d=INN18950302-01.1.11 Indianapolis News of 2 MAR 1895, page 11, "Shiloh Memorial Park" by E. T. Lee. N.B. Did anyone else notice the steamboat in the background? Might be the Edgar Cherry.

Was conducting research into the monuments and memorials at Shiloh National Military Park (in particular, the Headquarters Monuments) and ran into an unexpected brick wall: although individual States paid for the creation of stone regimental markers and State participation markers at Shiloh, the States were not involved in creation and erection of the many Headquarters Monuments (memorializing brigade and division HQ locations at the commencement of the battle.) http://archive.org/details/illinoisatshiloh00illi Illinois at Shiloh was one of the resources consulted. After a bit of searching, tracked down this reference, published in 2012: A History and Guide to the Monuments of Shiloh National Park, by Stacy W. Reaves. Only about forty pages long, this resource records the drive behind the establishment of the national military parks, and responsibility for all the memorials and monuments (especially those at Shiloh NMP.) Some excellent circa-1900 photographs are included. http://issuu.com/historypressusa/docs/4124-shiloh Turns out, on pages 35 - 36 are to be found the answers to my questions IRT the Headquarters Monument. And it also turns out, Perry Cuskey introduced this book a few years ago (and it comes back as a "hit" when "monuments" is inserted in the Search Box.) Ozzy