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rayvyn2kSaturday morning we set off on our adventure at about 8:20am. Our first stop was Shoney's for breakfast. After we filled up on eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits and OJ, we headed south on Highway 231. See previous post for a picture of that road. It was so beautiful and the traffic was very light. I would encourage anyone to ditch the interstate and take the state roads. Our average speed was 55-65 so we didn't lose any time at all. The added bonus was that instead of billboards and scrub pines, we got to see farms, ranches and lots of country homes, not to mention the gorgeous Tennessee hills.
And so much corn! Acres and acres of cornfields.
After about an hour and a half, we turned left onto Highway 64 west and in no time at all (another hour and a half) we rolled into the city of Savannah. We stopped for lunch at a place called "Toll House Too" which is apparently a chain, but we were not aware of that at the time. The food was excellent and abundant. The strangest and most disturbing part of our visit was that the restrooms were "labelled" with a nailed-on G.I. Joe for the men and Barbie for the women. Weird.
After lunch, we hit the road again and in a very few minutes turned onto Highway 22. Ten minutes later, we were entering the Shiloh National Military Park. We drove slowly along the road. There were several monuments.
These monuments were for Ohio and ...and we can't remember the rest.
I've labelled this one:
We found out later the monuments were placed there because that's where those men were located on the battlefield. Monuments like these are everywhere in the park. The one for Iowa was particularly impressive.
Here's a close up of the statue, she was "writing" a poem on the side of the monument. Unfortunately, the poem had faded and we couldn't read it.
Next, we stopped at the Visitor's Center
We took this picture at about 7pm after we finished the tour. I like it better than the one we took earlier in the day.
We payed the fee, got our brochures and tour information, looked at all the wonderful artifacts (swords, uniforms, weapons, ammunition, etc-no pictures allowed) and then we saw the oldest video about the Shiloh battle EVER. After that, we got back into the car and started the tour.
I won't bore you with the entire tour, but the first stop was at Pittsburg Landing.
It looks like a riverbank, doesn't it? This was the spot where, on the night of April 6th, 1862 that General Buell's Army of the Ohio marched off troop transport steamers to reinforce Grant's army. The next day a Federal counterattack forced the Confederates to withdraw.
I'll get back to the tour later, but I wanted to close tonight with the (in my opinion) most beautiful monument in the entire park. The Confederate Monument.
The monument "combines symbolism and beauty to commemorate the story of the Southern "Lost Cause" in the fields and woods near Shiloh Church" according to the information marker.
The central figures depict "Defeated Victory."
She's handing a laurel wreath to Death who took away General Johnston, the Southern Commander-in-Chief at Shiloh. On her right is Night-which brought on the Union reinforcements and is waiting to complete the defeat. On either side (visible on the picture of the entire statue) of the center figure are two panels of relief heads. On the right they represent the Southern spirit of the first day's battle which was hopeful, spirited and happy. There are eleven heads for the eleven southern states. On the left, there are fewer heads; they are bowed and sorrowful. They represent the second day's battle when they were driven back and forced to retreat.
Below them is the relief of General Johnston who is still the highest ranking American officer ever killed in combat.
On the right, the figure of the infantryman is holding the southern flag and the artillaryman supports him.
On the left, the calvaryman gestures in frustration. The calvary could not penetrate the dense undergrowth of the forest. The other figure represents the Confederate officer corps, his head bowed as he gives the order to retreat.
That was my very favorite of all the monuments we saw that day. I think it is beautiful and so very sad.
Lastly for today, here's a picture of some cannon with the information placard showing the particular troop from the army of the Ohio was facing and giving some details, dates and times of that part of the battle.
That's all for now.
And so much corn! Acres and acres of cornfields.
After about an hour and a half, we turned left onto Highway 64 west and in no time at all (another hour and a half) we rolled into the city of Savannah. We stopped for lunch at a place called "Toll House Too" which is apparently a chain, but we were not aware of that at the time. The food was excellent and abundant. The strangest and most disturbing part of our visit was that the restrooms were "labelled" with a nailed-on G.I. Joe for the men and Barbie for the women. Weird.
After lunch, we hit the road again and in a very few minutes turned onto Highway 22. Ten minutes later, we were entering the Shiloh National Military Park. We drove slowly along the road. There were several monuments.
These monuments were for Ohio and ...and we can't remember the rest.
I've labelled this one:
We found out later the monuments were placed there because that's where those men were located on the battlefield. Monuments like these are everywhere in the park. The one for Iowa was particularly impressive.
Here's a close up of the statue, she was "writing" a poem on the side of the monument. Unfortunately, the poem had faded and we couldn't read it.
Next, we stopped at the Visitor's Center
We took this picture at about 7pm after we finished the tour. I like it better than the one we took earlier in the day.
We payed the fee, got our brochures and tour information, looked at all the wonderful artifacts (swords, uniforms, weapons, ammunition, etc-no pictures allowed) and then we saw the oldest video about the Shiloh battle EVER. After that, we got back into the car and started the tour.
I won't bore you with the entire tour, but the first stop was at Pittsburg Landing.
It looks like a riverbank, doesn't it? This was the spot where, on the night of April 6th, 1862 that General Buell's Army of the Ohio marched off troop transport steamers to reinforce Grant's army. The next day a Federal counterattack forced the Confederates to withdraw.
I'll get back to the tour later, but I wanted to close tonight with the (in my opinion) most beautiful monument in the entire park. The Confederate Monument.
The monument "combines symbolism and beauty to commemorate the story of the Southern "Lost Cause" in the fields and woods near Shiloh Church" according to the information marker.
The central figures depict "Defeated Victory."
She's handing a laurel wreath to Death who took away General Johnston, the Southern Commander-in-Chief at Shiloh. On her right is Night-which brought on the Union reinforcements and is waiting to complete the defeat. On either side (visible on the picture of the entire statue) of the center figure are two panels of relief heads. On the right they represent the Southern spirit of the first day's battle which was hopeful, spirited and happy. There are eleven heads for the eleven southern states. On the left, there are fewer heads; they are bowed and sorrowful. They represent the second day's battle when they were driven back and forced to retreat.
Below them is the relief of General Johnston who is still the highest ranking American officer ever killed in combat.
On the right, the figure of the infantryman is holding the southern flag and the artillaryman supports him.
On the left, the calvaryman gestures in frustration. The calvary could not penetrate the dense undergrowth of the forest. The other figure represents the Confederate officer corps, his head bowed as he gives the order to retreat.
That was my very favorite of all the monuments we saw that day. I think it is beautiful and so very sad.
Lastly for today, here's a picture of some cannon with the information placard showing the particular troop from the army of the Ohio was facing and giving some details, dates and times of that part of the battle.
That's all for now.
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(no subject)
Date: 8/8/06 12:48 pm (UTC)I'd love to go there someday....
(no subject)
Date: 8/8/06 12:57 pm (UTC)It is a beautiful place. So peaceful and serene. Walking around, it's hard to believe the carnage that happened there.
If you decide to go, you have to let me know so we can arrange to meet!
(no subject)
Date: 8/8/06 03:04 pm (UTC)Oh, if I do get to come, I would certainly contact you. :)