Shiloh National Military Park was set aside in the 1890s as one of the five original Civil War battlefield Historical Sites.  Like Gettysburg, the park has 100s of plaques and magnificent granite memorials often including elaborate bronze statuary.  The Confederate Memorial is a beautiful example that depicts brave and determined soldiers day 1 (April 6) and the weary, defeated, disheartened soldiers at the end of day 2 (April 7).  10’s of thousands died or were wounded on this wooded battlefield.  Ridges were dotted with canon.  Gullies emitted torrents of musket fire.  A movie of the battle is heart rending.

On the bright side….they did cannon demonstrations.  I am always amazed at the complex sequence of events that culminates in cannon fire.  Every movement of a team of 8 men is perfectly choreographed to a cadence set by the bark of the gunner.  The noise.  The feel of the shockwave.  The smell of spent black powder.  And this is just one gun and it is firing low charge blanks.  God, what this place must have been like during battle!  Every American needs to visit a National Military Park at least once in their life.

Another bright side – Hiram and Julia (named for General Grant and his wife), a pair of eagles nesting in the park.  This year they have raised two young who are just fledging.  I got a glimpse of one first flight but we tired of watching before the second youngster got brave enough to take wing.