Shiloh Battlefield in Tennessee - Pictures and Information - Part 2

Just one of many battles of the Civil War

Shiloh was just one, two day battle in the United State's Civil War, but it was so significant for so many reasons. This is a follow up article to the first one about Shiloh Battlefield, and National Military Park.

Here, you will see more pictures, more memorials, a the National Cemetery at Shiloh Tennessee, and more. The park has tried to really preserve as much as they can so that people can come and visit, and remember the men that died. Of course, it is a great place to learn more about the Civil war.

Some Things of Interest Regarding the Battle of Shiloh

** I want to share something I saw in a book about Shiloh. There is a picture, an actual photo, of 4 young soldiers sitting and reclining in front of a tent. It was taken prior to the battle of Shiloh. They look happy, ready, and almost bored, like they are just waiting for the time to go to battle. When you look at all the memorials, and hear the stories of Shiloh, it just is so sad because many weren't ready for lay ahead. The group in the photo I am speaking of was from the Washington Artillery of New Orleans. The way they look, they seem to have no idea how horrifying and bloody the next few days would be.

** I learned something else new about the Battle of Shiloh in connection with the rest of the Civil War. Did you know that the first field tent hospital ever used for treating the wounded in battle, was at Shiloh? That first field hospital was established at Shiloh on April 7, 1862. When we hear of the numbers of wounded, one can only begin to imagine the reality of such a scene.

** There is a neat artists depiction of several Confederate commanders around a fire, the night before battle. They look thoughtful and somber and are having a conference. I don't know that I have permission to share it so I will not for now. I wanted to share their names, that sat around the fire, however. They are, General P.G.T. Beauregard, General Leonidas Polk, General John c. Breckinridge, General A.S. Johnston, General Braxton Bragg, and Maj. J.F. Gilmer. Evidently General W.J. Hardee wan't present.

** There was "The Drummer Boy of Shiloh", or "Johnny Shiloh", a little boy only ten years old, that lived from 1851 - 1937. He later served at Chattanooga is sometimes called "The Drummer Boy of Chickamauga." His name was Johnny Clem. Sometimes it is these little tidbits of history that make it all the more interesting and real.

** The Battle of Shiloh has inspired many to write about it in various forms. From prose to poetry, the idea of young, brave, untrained men was written about with gusto and passion. From songs to plays, the idea of leaders leading men for things they believed in, and bravery and sacrifice lived on through the writing and creativity of those that poured their hearts into it. It went strong for decades afterward. It seemed fitting to them to do that, when there wasn't much that could be done but keep their memory and passions alive. It was very popular among the public, as they wanted to know and understand all they could, to make some sense of such a tragedy, so to speak.

Part of the Confederate Battle Plan

Part of the Confederate battle plan was that Johnston was hoping to push rapidly with his "right wing" around General Ulysses S. Grant's "left." Imagine this as if looking at a map of the are, including the Tennessee on the West, and the federal encampments scattered around. If this could be achieved, it would drive the Federal Army away from its base of supplies at Pittsburg Landing. It seemed like a great idea, and hopefully would allow for them to envelop and then defeat the Federals.

How the Battle at Shiloh was Fought

Basically, the battle of Shiloh was a series of frontal attacks. The left of the Confederacy moved faster than the right. By the end of that first day, the Federals had been pushed back into their base of supplies at Pittsburg Landing. The thing is, they were strongly protected by both gunboats and artillery.

On the second day, it was the reinforcements that the Federals received that turned the tide of the battle. The confederate army was basically swept from the field.

Our Photos of Shiloh National Military Park

Be sure to view the photo gallery, as I put some things in the descriptions there that I don't put here.

Photos 1, 10 and 11 show different pictures and sections of the Shiloh National Cemetery. With 24,000 killed, you can only begin to imagine that there would be huge need for a cemetery.

Photos 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, and 14 show some of the more elaborate memorials dedicated to whole regiments, battalions, etc. Many states lost so many sons, it seems the least they could do to show their love and pride and deep loss that they all had to endure.

Photos 8 and 9 show the beautiful Tennessee river. This river was used as a means to attack. Fort Henry was attacked after gunboats ascended down the Tennessee river.

One of the things that really stands out to me from all the photos is the love of the people back home, where all these men were from. You see amazing memorials and monuments dedicated to those that lost their lives those two days. From Indiana, to Ohio, to Tennessee of course, to Wisconsin, Texas, and many more, you can just begin to get a feel of the grief and loss they all must have felt back home. These young men left, hoping to return victorious and their families felt the same, surely. What else could they do, but at the very least help to get a memorial set there for them, where they lost their lives.

To learn more and see more photos of Shiloh National Military Park, see Shiloh Battlefield, which came before this hub.

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