Not Lost, Just Wandering: Shiloh and Corinth Battlefields

Shiloh Battlefield

Since high school, I have been interested in Civil War history, partly because my great grandfather and great-great grandfather enlisted in the Union Army at the beginning of the war. While Andrew Waldrip developed "rheumatism" and was discharged within a year, Henry Lingle Waldrip, his son, served with the 24th Indiana Volunteers from 1861 to 1864. For most of that time, he was with the Army of the Tennessee commanded by Ulysses S. Grant.

I knew that the Visitor Center at Shiloh could give me a map showing where his unit was during the battle if I gave them the unit information. A lovely young woman named Grace O'Malley something (her father named her for the famous Irish pirate queen) pulled out a huge map of the park, located the unit, and gave me directions. The 24th Indiana was stationed at the far right flank of the combined Union armies.

I spent about three hours just driving around in the park, reading the markers and the memorials. Below is a monument to the Confederate Army (who lost, technically, at Shiloh). Both armies were so savaged and weakened that the CSA retreat to Corinth was only weakly followed by the Union Army. The Confederate commander at Shiloh was General Albert Sydney Johnston, who bled to death from a bullet wound to the leg. General P. T. Beauregard replaced him and ordered the retreat.

Memorial to the Confederate Army troops.

Reproduction of the Shiloh Methodist Meeting House. The original was destroyed during the battle.

Corinth Battlefield

The next day, I drove the 30 miles or so to the Corinth Battlefield. It is mostly just the Visitor Center and some land surrounding it. There are sites in the town which are marked.

From Savannah, TN, I traveled to Cedar Grove, TN, to visit friends from two years ago at Port Townsend and Hidden Valley Ranch. Scott and Debbie bought a house in the country and retired from full-time RVing.