Day 3: 81 Miles
Starting location: Meriwether Lewis Campground – Natchez Trace Parkway – 69 degrees
Major Sites: Shiloh National Battlefield
Ending location: Pickwick Landing State Park – 72 degrees
Weather: Grey overcast, showers in afternoon
Roads: Wet
Speaking to my SIL, Alexis, yesterday, I told her I was having a hard time finding the time to write. While that is a little bit true, I think there may be more to it. I have been immersing myself into the history of this country, and some of it is not very pleasant. In fact, it is horrific to learn what humans are capable of; and, the tragic events surrounding the Natchez Trace area are overwhelming. Today we leave the Trace to head to nearby Shiloh National Battlefield.
Civil War?
When you visit Shiloh, or just about any Civil War battlefield, you learn quickly that there was nothing civil to the war. What could possibly make a war “civil”? The term was actually instituted by Congress in the early 1900’s as the official term. It polled better than “War between the states”, Rebellion, Abolitionist War, or War against slavery. It comes from the older use of the word that mean citizens of a place; so this term puts the focus of the war on the splitting of the union. It was less offensive to the South which may have been to help them save face.
It is difficult for me to understand how anyone could morally think that slavery is right. What would drive a person to fight in this war? If it is not the moral question of slavery driving the Northern side of the war, how did they get soldiers to fight? It would take only one battle to know that there is little glory here. There was pain, misery, hunger, death and hard work for the living. If you were wounded, you likely died from disease. So, while the South was fighting to keep slavery, the common guy in the North seems led by their moral compass. Many soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice to make the world a better place. Whichever reason you think we fought the war, I prefer to believe it was for the moral good.
Supply Chain Implications
The battle at Shiloh was ultimately fought to defend (Confederates) or take over (Union) the supply chain of the South. Corinth, a town 22 miles southwest of Shiloh battlefield was were two major railways cross. These railways were the backbone of the South’s supply chain and considered a very strategic target. The North using battleships on the Tennessee River was able to land the soldiers at a place called Pittsburg landing as it did not easily flood. As General Grant prepared his men and waited on the Army of the Ohio to arrive, the South marched North as a pre-emptive move to keep the Union from Corinth. The two day battle of Shiloh took place on April 6-7, 1862 with over 100,000 soldiers engaged.
If you would like to understand more, this YouTube video is the movie they show at the Visitors Center and tells the story much better than I could. I will just share some of my pictures from the visit. Seeing the locations make it all come to life a bit more. Sorry for the somber tone today.
Your blog is so interesting! Always learning! Thank you for sharing your journey with us. Safe travels my friend.
Thanks, Tammy! I hope all is going well as you close out your time at work. I will do my best to stay safe. 🙂 Miss our daily chats.
Karen this is very interesting and horrifying history as you note. I am catching up now but plan to make this part of my morning readings! You have a natural taken here girl! Miss you. Be safe. Love, Deb
Thanks, Deb! Miss you, too! It has been an interesting time thus far!