April 28th, 2008
By Arthur

The “Sunken Road” at Shiloh seen some of the most fierce fighting of the battle. This sunken road provided somewhat of a shelter, and defensive barrier, for the Union men who were trying to stop the Confederate advance that was happening after their surprise attack on that Sunday morning.

There is some debate as to if this road was in fact sunken. You can find many different accounts that tell both sides of the tale. While I don’t know for sure, since I wasn’t there, I do believe that even the slight depression in the road that is visible to the eye definitely helped the Union soldiers on that fateful day.

The road actually stretches from the Corinth-Pittsburgh Landing road, on the west side, to the Hamburg-Savannah Rd on the east. It snakes along a line behind the “Peach Orchard” that also provided some fierce fighting that first day, and this entire line became what is known as the “Hornet’s Nest”.

To be honest, the Sunken Road was my favorite part of the whole battlefield. It was where the 12th Michigan helped hold the Union line, along with the rest of General Prentiss’ men. They helped to hold off 11 different attacks that the Confederates made, and allowed for Grant to put together his last line of defense, that helped to defeat the Confederates the next day. This area of the battlefield is where the “meat” of the fighting took place, and to know that a unit from Niles, Michigan was actively involved and fighting from this location is amazing. I even got to stand right in the very spot where the 12th Michigan fought valiantly before finally being capture at 5:30pm the first day.

In the picture on the left you can see exactly where on the battlefield the 12th Michigan was located. You can also see, in the other pictures in this post, how the road actually looked where this particular unit fought. There is another picture in this post where I’m standing on a bridge. That bridge is just east of where the 12th Michigan fought and I have never experienced anything quite like I did standing there. The wind was very calm and as we came to this location it picked up quite a bit and had a certain feeling to it. It is hard for me to explain, but it was almost like the wind had a voice and was speaking to us. I can only attribute it to the number of men who perished in this location. I can still feel that wind when I look at these pictures. It is something I will never forget.

There are a few different “Sunken Roads” on Civil War battlefields, but none will ever come close to equalling that of the Sunken Road at Shiloh. A truly humbling and somber experience, yet one that everyone should be able to feel for themselves.

In future posts I will cover some the of 12th and 15th Michigan’s roles in the Shiloh battle in more detail. Stay tuned for those.

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April 17th, 2008
By Arthur

No, this post is not going to be about Mossy Oak or about anything even outdoor related. I guess the events took place in the outdoors, but they aren’t truly an outdoor event. I need to get back on topic though.

I have a confession: I have a new obsession. This isn’t my first obsession, and it probably won’t be my last, but it is by far one of the worst I’ve ever had. I try to leave it alone, but I just can’t. I try to walk away from it, but it always manages to talk to me in this little voice. It begs me to find out more-to keep researching. It will not let me be.

It all started with a song and it has just progressed from there. My newly found Civil War obsession is starting to take over my life. I realized this last night, as the wife and I were walking through a cemetery looking for some specific names inscribed onto a headstone. I had to find these particular gentleman, and it took everything I had to leave and come home empty handed with three of them. What is wrong with me? I used to pick on my Father-in-law for walking through cemeteries in order to complete his genealogical research, and yet here I was trampling through a cemetery, my eyes on full alert for any marker with a star that marked a Civil War veterans grave. If it wasn’t for the wife we might have never left.

I want you all to know that this is very tongue-in-cheek. I honestly love my new obsession and I love the hold that it has on me. I think it is the simple fact of knowing what these men went through, coupled with the easy accessibility to their past, that has brought about this hold on me. I have always been interested in history, but to be able to visit a battlefield like Shiloh, and then be able to find the final resting places of some of those men in your hometown, is amazing and awe-inspiring for me. I feel this deep connection with them even though we have never met. I feel like, by doing this research, and educating myself in this way, that it allows all the sacrifices they made to not be in vain.

I know that the obsession has just begun, and that it will continue for many years to come. I have many post ideas that I have been playing around with, and eventually I will share all of them. My main concentration has been on Michigan’s participation in the Shiloh battle, and I have even been contemplating making a little video of my experience and findings in regards to the Michigan regiments and their involvement.

I’m not sure how Jeff feels about me taking over our outdoor blog with Civil War facts and findings, but for now he just has to get used to it. Plus with Turkey season coming up next week the blog will return to the outdoors soon I’m sure.

Is there a Civil War buffs anonymous support group? I’ll be a proud card carrying member if there is.

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April 13th, 2008
By Arthur

“Somethings changed inside me. It sure can happen fast–standing in the presence of the past”

Those are the words from Darryl Worley’s song Shiloh, and they couldn’t describe any better how I feel after visiting this sacred, yet solemn place. It is one thing to listen to a song about history, or to read a book or website about a historic event, but it is completely another to actually walk the very ground where that event occurred.

I have been a history lover all of my life, because I feel that, if we forget history we are destined to repeat it, and I don’t want to be a part of that. I have read many a book, watched many a movie, and written a couple of papers on historic American events, but never have I actually been able to stand on the ground where those events occurred. I have never felt such pride and sorrow all at one time. I know pride is a strange word to use to describe my feelings associated with Shiloh, but it is true. There is some pride that goes along with the tragedy that happened here. That pride comes from the shear truth, that despite the horrors that took place here, that this and many other civil war battles helped shape this country to what it is today. A country that all of you know I’m very proud of.

The minute we pulled into the park, and stepped out of the car, there was an immediate lump in my throat, and a very distinct feeling in the air. I swear the soft breeze that crosses your face has many hidden voices that lie within it. I could swear that the wind speaks to you at Shiloh. I wish everyone could stop and listen to that wind just once in their life and realize the things that occurred on this ground.

I stood where the 12th Michigan, led by Col. Francis Quinn, stood as they tried to fight off the Confederate surprise attack that Sunday morning/afternoon at the “Sunken road”. I tried to imagine what it must of felt like. My eyes could see the cannon that was Ruggle’s battery, and if I listened close I could almost here the blast from the 62 cannons that were aimed to force them from their line. Just as I was picturing this that soft wind brushed across my face and began speaking to me once again. It is now the only voice, of the men who perished here, whispering its way through the trees. To think I could have been standing in the very spot where some young soldier from my home state lost his life fighting for a cause that he believed in. It is a feeling I will never forget.

I tried to imagine what it was like for all of these men. Some of them had never even saw battle before and for them to be thrust into this scene is simply amazing. I know not how they managed to muster up enough courage to fight on. The thing with the civil war battles is that men, who once could have been friends or relatives, now are on opposite sides fighting for what they think is best for the country. They share very different ways of thought, but yet both are fighting for a cause they think is just: A country that they love. I can not even imagine what that must have felt like.

I saw, and stood, next to the bloody pond where wounded soldiers went to get there last drink of water, and where the sheer number of dead and wounded turned the pure spring fed pond into a dark maroon. Such a solemn place and to try and imagine dead, dying, and wounded men and animals surrounding this silent calm pond was very surreal and I felt an immediate sadness.

I know that I am permanently changed by my visit to Shiloh. I also think, that despite the horrific scene of events that happened here, that this change is for the good. By walking this ground I have been able to take a piece of it with me and that will help me to never forget. A moment in time, when brave men stood to do battle to protect a country that all of us still love so much.

If I close my eyes I can still feel that soft breeze brush lightly across my face. Those voices I, nor any of us, should ever forget.

Author’s note: I have plenty of different posts I can do on my visit to Shiloh. There are many different places at the park that I would love to highlight. I know this is an outdoor site so I wanted to get some feedback from all of you on if you would be interested in a Shiloh series so to speak. Please let me know what you think.

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