November 3, 2009 Shiloh National Military Park

This marina is impressive and the service is first rate. We have been treated very well. On Tuesday we used the marina courtesy car to go to Shiloh National Military Park. The marina drew us a map and gave us a CD driving tour through the park. The Shiloh battlefield has been preserved as it was in 1862 and many monuments have been stationed throughout the park commemorating those who fought and those who died there. The battle lasted two days with Confederate forces pushing the Union soldiers back to Pittsburg Landing on the first day, and then the Union with reinforcements reclaiming the land on the second day. The pond in the pictures was called "Bloody Pond". The battle cost both sides a combined total of 23,746 men killed, wounded or missing. Both Confederate and Union soldiers were buried in trenches after the battle because of the weather conditions. Later the Union soldiers were recovered and buried in the National Cemetery while the Confederate soldiers are still in at least 5 different burial trenches. Hallowed ground.

It is fascinating the paths we cross as we travel. Today we met two folks that we had met in July at the Northport Great Loop meeting, and a couple from East Dubuque who had seen our boat at the Midtown Marina (and I had seen their boat, Tourist, in Green Turtle Bay). Also, I spoke with a fellow who arrived late last night in a retired car ferry from Washington Island, Door County, WI. He and his wife plan to remake the ferry into a pirate ship in St. Thomas and work with cruise ship lines as an excursion available to those who visit the island. Then late this afternoon after returning from Shiloh, we were sitting on the dock reviewing our charts when a guy sat down with us. It was Fred Myers, the author of several cruising guides for the Tenn-Tom, Cumberland River, and Tennessee River. He and his wife, Joan, had just returned from the big Great Loop Rendezvous at Joe Wheeler State Park where Fred had been a speaker. He shared information and we got our individualized lesson from a master.

Fred suggested that if we are not on a schedule, we should travel further upstream on the Tennessee as it is a beautiful river, the weather is perfect, and the fall colors are at peak. We may not be able to go as far as Chattanooga, but we think we may go as far as Joe Wheeler State Park. So a little shift in plans – stay tuned!!