Side Trip to SHILOH National Battlefield

Trip Day:	223	Latitude:	34°59.46 ' N	Locks Today:	0
Miles Today:	0	Longitude:	088°12.95'W	Locks Total:	96
Total Miles:	4,758	Location:	Grand Harbor Marina

Today was an amazing day of friendship and Civil War History!  The marina courtesy van was an eleven seater in which we managed to fit 12.  By nine o’clock we were on our way to visit Shiloh National Military Park.  The hour-long movie depicting the Battle of Shiloh was exceedingly well done and an excellent review of the toll the Civil War took on this    community and others like it across the South.  Confederate General Albert Johnston was tasked with holding Shiloh to protect the railroad hub at Corinth, MS.  General Ulysses S. Grant was steaming up the Tennessee River in 12 dozen steamboats carrying 48,000 Union troops. 

In April 1862 the   Confederate Army numbering 44,000 men, drove Grant’s forces back, however, General Johnston was among the casualties, which perhaps changed the course of the two-day battle.  On the second day, the Union was victorious due to the arrival of 40,000 additional troops lead by General Don Carlos Buell.  23,746 American lives were lost in the battle of Shiloh, more than any single battle in American history. 

The exhibits, monuments and historic markers at the National Park brought history alive and honored those who bravely fought and gave their lives. Artifacts, recovered on the expansive battlegrounds, were on display.  Most impressive was the personalization of the War with quotations from soldier’s personal journals. 






Additionally, photos such as this one of young John Clem who served as a drummer boy at Shiloh at 10 years of age; he retired from the army as a major general. 

 







 

In 1866 the US established the Shiloh National Cemetery on the battlefield.  Only 3 Confederate soldiers are buried in the cemetery;  all others remain interned in mass graves throughout the site.  The remains of the Union soldiers were disinterred from 156 locations on the battlefield, moved to the cemetery and identified when possible, although most are marked as unknown. 

 

On a much lighter note, our next stop was Hagy’s Catfish Hotel where the staff was decked out in Halloween costumes.  It was catfish and all the trimmings for the group. 

 

 We enjoyed our excursion to Shiloh and a great meal with friends.  Unfortunately, the evening ended on a sour note due to the Gators loss to the Georgia Bulldogs. 

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26TH - Grand Harbor Marina

 

Trip Day:	222	Latitude:	34°59.46 ' N	Locks Today:	0
Miles Today:	41	Longitude:	088°12.95'W	Locks Total:	96
Total Miles:	4,758	Location:	Grand Harbor Marina

Well, try as I might, I really cannot find nice things to say about our forty-one mile run today. The skies were gray with threatening clouds. It rain on and off most of the day and although we had plenty of wind we were dead into it most of the time. Today was simply getting from point A to point B. That being said, as soon as we pulled into Grand Harbor Marina Madeline and Bob were on the dock to take our lines.  There are about eight boats here we have met before. 

 

 Later in the afternoon we all went aboard Bucket List for a planning session.  As everyone   studied charts and various cruising guides the next ten days were mapped and charted.  But it was little three-year-old Beatriz who was the center of attention as she drew pictures for each of us and kept us entertained.  Jack, Denise and Beatriz are from Brazil and live aboard  50+ ft Jade.  Beatriz was on land for her birth, but since she has always lived aboard the boat. 

 We had soup and grilled sandwiches with Bob and Madeline while it rained outside.  We all have our heat on tonight as the temperatures are expected to drop into the low forties.