Shiloh...

Last weekend as I walked the hallowed ground at Shiloh National Military Park, I felt the presence of the very young men who manned the cannons on April 6, 1862, when the quiet countryside near Pittsburgh Landing on the Tennessee River exploded into one of the most devastating battles of the Civil War. 

Walking east toward the river, you'll find the The Iowa Monument.

The monument is 75 feet high and was placed on the battlefield in 1906. On the east side is the bronze sculpture, Fame. The female figure is twelve feet high and above her hand is the inscription: 

Brave of the brave, twice five thousand men
Who all that day stood in the battle's shock,
Fame holds them dear, and with immortal pen
Inscribes their names on the enduring rock.

Photo courtesy of Patricia Preston

From there it is but a short walk to the National Cemetery where 3,584 Union soldiers are buried. Of that number 2,359 are unknown.  To stand in the cemetery and see the American flag fly over the tombstones is one of the most awesome things I've ever done.

Seventeen hundred and twenty-eight Confederate soldiers died in the battle and are buried in 11 or 12 mass graves but only five have been located.  Near the Hornet's Nest stands the Confederate Memorial. 

The memorial's centerpiece depicts three figures: in the middle is the South, on her right is Death, and on her left is Night. If one looks closely, the center figure representing the South can be seen handing off the wreath of victory to Death on her right. More information on this interesting monument can be found at the Historical Marker Database.

I hope you've enjoyed our journey into Southwest Tennessee. Which of the monuments do you find the most interesting?

Patricia Bradley
www.patriciabradleyauthor.com
http://mbtponderers.blogspot.com/
@PTBradley1

Shadows of the Past from Revell February 2014

I asked God to teach me patience and He gave me a book to write