Halloween Haunts (pt. 2) - Tennessee

Many Civil War battlefields in Tennessee are believed to be haunted. One such battlefield that is occupied by a famous ghost is Chickamauga, and the entity has come to be known as "Old Green Eyes." On numerous occasions, people have reported that an eerie presence approaches them, and that glowing green eyes are visible through the eerie mist that lingers around the base of Lookout Mountain.

A group of specters occupies another Tennessee battlefield, Stones River near Murfreesboro (just outside Nashville). At the "Slaughter Pen," one particular spirit inhabits the area, his soul eternally doomed to roam what has now become a dark, shadowy, spooky wooded area.

Shiloh is another haunted battlefield where the land will forever have the impression cast upon it of death, suffering, and destruction. "Bloody Pond" is said to take on the color of blood on occasion, and of course, the battlefield, like nearly all Civil War battlefields, has its share of noises, such as distant drums, marching, battle cries, and gunfire.

Mississippi First Brigade Reunites at Annual Meeting

Last Saturday night, the local Sons of Confederates Samuel Hughey camp met with other camps from North Mississippi in the fourth annual First Brigade meeting. The event was held in Hernando at an old plantation house. The home, originally built in colonial style in the 1840's, was cut in half to convert it into a Victorian-style home prior to the Civil War.

The meeting was held in the yard of the old house, and the weather cooperated nicely. We enjoyed great food, friends, and fellowship before hearing speakers discuss upcoming plans for the Civil War's 150th anniversary, as well as erecting a Mississippi monument at Shiloh National Military Park. Judge McClure entertained us with a talk about the horses of Nathan Bedford Forrest before the meeting concluded.

The Battle of Shiloh

The next two days, April 6 and 7, mark the 148th anniversary of the Battle of Shiloh. The battle took place on the banks of the Tennessee River, and near a small country church named Shiloh, which means “place of peace” in Hebrew.

In two days of battle, the Confederate army sustained more than 10,500 casualties, while Union casualties exceeded 13,000. At that point in time, it was the bloodiest battle of the war. The first Confederate general to die in the War Between the States, General Albert Sidney Johnston, did so during the first day of battle when he bled out from a wound to his femoral artery while retaining command on his horse. General Grant was driven back to Pittsburg Landing, but General Beauregard, who took command after Johnston’s demise, failed to attack him, so the Union general managed to join forces with General Buell. The increased size of the Union army gave them the advantage to pursue the Rebels further south into Mississippi.

Over the years, the battlefield has gone through renovations, such as new peach trees being planted where the original peach orchard stood. An original cabin (although not one that was there during the actual battle) is near the orchard, and a reproduction of Shiloh Church stands on the site of the original church. Up until fairly recently, treasure hunters were allowed into the park to dig for artifacts. The battlefield is a fascinating, albeit eerie reminder of what occurred 148 years ago. My only complaint is the outdated movie shown in the museum, which depicts the battle. (This filmstrip is at least 50 years old!) It will truly accentuate the park and its visitors’ experience if the movie is brought up-to-date, just as Fredericksburg National Park has done.

Sesquicentennial Soon Approaching

The 150th anniversary of the American Civil War is fast approaching, and groups around the country are starting preparations. This year marks the beginning of many anniversary celebrations/observances. Gettysburg is priming for a huge event to take place in July 2013. Many other locations are gearing up in Virginia as well.

Here in the "Western Theatre," local groups are in the process of securing funds and sponsors for their events. Corinth, which played a pivotal role in the "Battle of Shiloh," has a governor-appointed "Mississippi Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission," which is in the planning stages, and will begin publicizing next year. However, lawmakers must act quickly to secure funds for the events.

Last year, an annual "Battle of Corinth" was planned, but had to be canceled because the land that the reenactment was supposed to take place on is privately owned, and the owner felt it was racist. Too bad he missed the point, as well as the opportunity to allow Corinth to prosper. Such an event took place last fall in Collierville, Tennessee. "The Battle of Collierville" attracted so many spectators that the city prospered significantly. This is the first reenactment Collierville has sponsored in years, and needless to say, will probably participate in from here on out.

A motor coach and car tour along the corridor between Corinth and Vicksburg, the Natchez Parkway, is in the works, as is implementation at Brices Crossroads and Tupelo. It should be fascinating to see what plans evolve during the next year. Interest in the War Between the States will certainly increase as the 150th anniversary nears.

Visiting Shiloh National Military Park

Last weekend, I convinced my family to take a road trip to Shiloh, which is about two hours from where we live. Once we arrived, we were pleasantly surprised to learn that admission was free due to Father's Day. Although the temperature threatened to reach 100, we still enjoyed the time we spent there. My son and I went through the small museum at the visitor's center, and watched the 1/2 hour long movie about the battle. (The movie is from the 50's. Time to do an update!)

We then proceeded to stop #4, where we were entertained by members of Selden's Alabama Battery and Tarrant's Alabama Battery. These guys are genuinely devoted historians. They'd have to be, to dress up in wool uniforms in order to perform living history demonstrations. They enlightened the crowd by displaying an authentic campsite, firing off two cannons, and explaining the procedure required to do so. (It takes six men to fire off a cannon.)

Following the demonstration, we took the driving tour of the park, and saw the National Cemetery, the Confederate mass grave sites, the enormous monuments, and Pittsburgh Landing on the Tennessee River. The peach orchard has been replanted to replicate the original, and Bloody Pond still emits a strange, reddish coloration, but supports wildlife. (We noticed several small fish swimming in the pond.) The day was hot and humid, but the experience was profound and inspirational. Our son, who has never seen the park before, really enjoyed it, and learned much about the battle.