Cleburne1863 | 10 Apr 2015 2:45 p.m. PST |
I just got back from a two day trip to Shiloh. It was a great visit. Excellent battlefield park. Nice rangers and bookshop staff. I had great weather the first day, allowing me to take all the pictures I wanted with excellent lighting. The second day was overcast, but I got to visit the sights I wanted too, and take my time. A few observations: The Sunken Road isn't. Except for a brief stretch just behind the Manse George cabin, its not a depression anywhere along its length. There are a few undulations in the ground in the woods in front of the Hornet's Nest (the woods south of Duncan Field). However, for the last 150 yards there is no real cover except for the trees. Going up against a determined line backed by artillery, I can easily see how several Confederate brigades got mauled in that woods. I walked the Confederate route from Barnes Field, through the woods, to the area of the Sunken Road just south of Duncan Field. Shiloh National Military park must have hoarded all the 14 pdr James rifles in existence. Not the 6 pdr conversions, but the purposely cast ones. I've never seen so many in one place. WTF was Johnston thinking? Even reading multiple books, I didn't realize how close he was to the Union lines when he was wounded. He was easily less than 100 yards from the 9th Illinois, maybe only 75, and just across the road from the fight at the Sarah Bell Peach Orchard. He was playing the role of brigade commander, and a brigade commander leading from the front at that. The Visitor Center's movie on the battle is as good as they say. I made a few videos just for the fun of it. The first one is at the first brigade line fight with Peabody's brigade against the Confederates. I actually made a mistake. The area I was in was actually Wood's Brigade area, not near the 6th Arkansas as I mentioned in the vid. Other than that, the video speaks for itself. youtu.be/SNpwNob4bTY The second video was from the position of the 9th Illinois looking south across the ravine they held for several hours east of Sarah Bell Field. The site of Johnston's wounding is just a stone's throw away. youtu.be/H-iECmGi7ns Finally, here is a picture yours truly next to a Cleburne tablet, of course.
|
OCEdwards | 10 Apr 2015 3:03 p.m. PST |
Great post. I've come to the conclusion that Johnston's actions were defensible in the situation – the battle had devolved into a total mess, and the only way any momentum was maintained and reinforcements arrived in the right places was by proactive generalship on the ground. I think there's a strong argument to be made that Johnston's personal involvement was what gave Grant the biggest whipping he ever received (and even that wasn't enough!). |
enfant perdus | 10 Apr 2015 3:04 p.m. PST |
It really is a fantastic place. It's been 20 years since I was there and I still recall it fondly. I hit Chickamauga, Stone's River, Shiloh, and Vicksburg in the same trip. |
Grelber | 10 Apr 2015 3:08 p.m. PST |
The trees in your videos are all younger than me. Is this the sort of thing that was there in April 1862? Did they have older, thicker trees that would stop a bullet? Grelber |
Ferd45231 | 10 Apr 2015 3:55 p.m. PST |
Its a great park. My first visit I took my Uncle. He had gone to Pearl Harbor to clear damage and help raise ships. He always told me of how they would have to pick up bodies that had floated bat to the top. He later served on a mine sweeper in the USCG. His grandfather had served in the 6th Ohio (Ammens Bde., Nelson's Div) which was the second regiment to arrive from Buell's Army. I think he made a real connection to his grandpa and that place. Last time I took my, then, college aged son. I think he got it too both about the place and his great-great grandfather. Plus standing out about 100 yards from the Hornet's Nest he certainly appreciated the enormous loss of life. The Park Service does great work. All our ancestor's did too. H |
Hey You | 10 Apr 2015 4:13 p.m. PST |
I really appreciate your videos. Thanks for posting. |
Buckeye AKA Darryl | 10 Apr 2015 5:41 p.m. PST |
Nice write up and vids…and good to meet you at Chickamauga this year! |
Nashville | 10 Apr 2015 5:48 p.m. PST |
|
Extrabio1947 | 10 Apr 2015 6:56 p.m. PST |
Some years ago, I belonged to an ACW fife and drum corp. we played several concerts at Shiloh, and were allowed to camp on the battlefield itself. At night, Shiloh is pitch black, being far removed from streetlights. I remember the fields glowing green and purple with foxfire. A haunting battlefield, surely, and a very haunting night. |
T Callahan | 10 Apr 2015 9:22 p.m. PST |
My wife and I have been to Shiloh four times since 1996. We had the opportunity to be at Shiloh for the 150th anniversary. We took in three guided walks led by rangers or volunteers. The ranger explained that the Union Troops stood in the small ravine you saw at the Hornets Nest. There was no sunken road until many years later when the veterans returned for the 20th anniversary. Shiloh is one of the best preserved battlefield in the National Park Service. I seem to remember that it is only exceeded by Gettysburg in the number of artillery pieces. Terry |
GoodOldRebel | 11 Apr 2015 2:22 a.m. PST |
wonderful battlefield park and one of my favourite battles! Cleburne1863 ….does this visit presage a Shiloh scenario book??? hint, hint …. |
AussieAndy | 11 Apr 2015 4:38 a.m. PST |
I was there three weeks ago. Of the battlefields that I visited on my trip, it certainly had the most atmosphere. |
Cleburne1863 | 11 Apr 2015 5:18 a.m. PST |
Rebel, maaaybe. I had an opportunity for a visit in April, and thought it was better to have all the material/pictures and not be able to produce a scenario book for a while, then want to do one and not be able to get to the battlefield in April for a few more years. I know I have competition from the scenarios in Across a Deadly Field, but since their focus is grand tactical, and mine are more narrowly tactical, I think there is room for both. And good to meet you too Buckeye! |
Cleburne1863 | 11 Apr 2015 5:25 a.m. PST |
Also, I have the McDonough, Cunningham, and Daniel books on the battle. How is the Shiloh: Conquer or Perish by Timothy Smith? I flipped through it at the Visitors Center, and it looks pretty detailed. I might pick it up next. For some reason, I have no interest in the Sword book on the battle. I don't know why, as I like his book on Franklin/Nashville. |
GoodOldRebel | 11 Apr 2015 6:29 a.m. PST |
Cleburne1863 …I'll take that as a positive! I have all four titles (McDonough, Cunningham, Daniel and Smith) mainly for the contrasting styles and subtle shifts in emphasis between them. I must confess to enjoying Sword's book on the battle, but now wouldn't read it in isolation, rather studying it in conjunction with one of the other titles. Conquer or Perish is a thoroughly researched work! Smith's analysis of the terrain is in-depth and thought provoking, causing me to re-evaluate previously long held views on why certain actions occurred and decisions made. He puts in perspective actions like the Hornets nest and the Bloody pond as well as restoring the significance of the fighting on the second day. Not all is to my liking, but that I assign to purely personal taste rather than any great flaw in the book. |
Larry Gettysburg Soldiers | 11 Apr 2015 9:07 a.m. PST |
Cleburne1863, Thanks for the timely preview! We are coming down to visit Shiloh Battlefield this summer, then over to Vicksburg, Natchez, etc. and follow route of Grierson's Raid through Mississippi ("The Horse Soldiers" tour) |
GamesPoet | 11 Apr 2015 10:29 a.m. PST |
Thanks for sharing those videos! Haven't made it to Shiloh yet, perhaps someday, maybe even this summer. |
vtsaogames | 13 Apr 2015 7:14 p.m. PST |
Went a few years back, it was great. Also saw Corinth, Stones River, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Franklin an Nashville. But Shiloh was the best. Best BBQ was outside of Chattanooga. |