Join Shiloh for Memorial Day Weekend!
Shiloh National Military Park invites you to spend Memorial Day weekend with us as we present our U.S. Military History Timeline and Historic Weapons Firing Demonstrations.
📅 Saturday, May 23 & Sunday, May 24
🕙 10:00 am – 3:30 pm
Explore the weapons, equipment, and personal items used by American soldiers from the Revolutionary War through World War II.
Weapons firing demonstrations featuring historic long arms will take place at:
• 11:00 am
• 2:00 pm
each day.
The Siege of Corinth was an exercise in patience for all involved. Nearly 200,000 soldiers between both sides were involved, and there was near-daily skirmishing from April 28 when siege operations began to May 30 when the Confederate defenders withdrew from the town.
For the Federals besieging the town, they had to deal with crude roads, an ever-lengthening and perpetually-strained supply line, and a commander in Henry Halleck who seemed to embody caution and an aversion to combat the longer the siege went on.
Inside Corinth’s defenses, General Pierre G.T. Beauregard and his soldiers had a host of different problems to contend with. Besides the approaching Federal armies, the Confederate defenders were coping with a severe lack of clean drinking water and rapidly spreading disease which took tens of thousands of soldiers out of the earthworks defending the town and put them into the hospitals. As the end of May 1862—and the Federal armies—approached, Beauregard came to the realization that if he tried to hold the town any longer, there wouldn’t be a viable Confederate army to defend the Western Theater. He made the difficult decision to abandon the town and save the soldiers to fight again another day.
As day dawned on May 30, 1862, the Federals who had been pushing their earthworks closer and closer to Corinth all month, awoke to find the town empty, with smoke billowing into the sky as military supplies were burned to prevent their capture. They would begin occupying the town, and would maintain a presence in Corinth until January 1864.
#CivilWarHistory
🕵️♂️ Trivia Tuesday 🕵️♂️
Did you know that the son of the President of the Republic of Texas was injured and left for dead at the Battle of Shiloh?
Sam Houston Jr., son of the legendary Texan Sam Houston, enlisted in the 2nd Texas Infantry and fought at Shiloh. On April 6, 1862, he was wounded—but remarkably spared when a bullet struck the Bible his mother had given him, stopping the round.
The next day, his luck ran out. Houston was shot in the groin and left for dead on the battlefield. A chaplain who had known his father urged a doctor to take a second look. That decision saved his life. Houston received medical care and was sent as a prisoner of war to Camp Douglas.
He survived the war, went on to become a physician, and eventually turned from medicine to pen and paper, forging a career as an author.
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The cannon you see when you walk into the Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center? It's been through a lot!
The 3.8-inch James rifle that greets visitors just inside the doors of the Interpretive Center isn't just a display piece, it's a veteran of the Civil War.
Captured at the Battle of Shiloh, the gun was taken by Confederate forces and brought to Corinth. There, it was assigned to Captain Lewellyn Hoxton's battery and saw action during the Siege of Corinth on May 9, 1862.
That day, Hoxton's artillery opened fire as Confederate forces attempted to push back advancing Union troops. While the attack didn't unfold as planned, the fighting marked this unit's first time in combat, and this gun was an integral part of it.
The story of this particular gun doesn't end with the Siege of Corinth, though. If you want to hear the rest of its fascinating story, be sure to ask the ranger at the front desk about it the next time you visit.
#SiegeOfCorinth #CivilWarHistory #OnThisDay
🕵️♂️ Trivia Tuesday! 🕵️♂️
Did you know that General P. G. T. Beauregard once believed a hot air balloon was floating over Corinth during the Siege of Corinth?
During the Civil War, balloons were used for spying—but mostly in the Eastern Theater. Rumors reached Beauregard in late May 1862 that Union forces were operating a balloon here in Corinth.
He even wrote:
“Small details must be kept in or about old camps to keep up usual fires on account of balloon…”
But here’s the twist: there was no balloon over Corinth.
Instead, Major General John Pope had constructed a 90‑foot observation tower to watch Confederate positions—completed around May 21, 1862. A tower, not a balloon, was the source of all the concern!
Join us next week for another Trivia Tuesday as we uncover more surprising Civil War stories from Corinth.
#TriviaTuesdays #FindYourPark #EncuentraTuParque Visit Corinth
🕵️♂️ Trivia Tuesday 🕵️♂️
"You've probably heard the phrase: "Dr. Livingstone, I presume?"
But did you know the man who said it once fought in the Battle of Shiloh?
Before becoming a world-famous journalist and explorer, Henry Morton Stanley had a complicated Civil War story. Early in the war, he joined the 6th Arkansas Infantry. During the fighting at Shiloh, he was captured and sent to Camp Douglas, a Union prisoner-of-war camp. While imprisoned, Stanley switched sides and enlisted in the Federal Army on June 4, 1862, but illness led to his discharge soon afterward. In June 1864, he joined the United States Navy.
Stanley’s naval service helped steer him toward journalism, which ultimately launched his fame. In 1869, the New York Herald sent him on assignments across Egypt, Persia, and Jerusalem before tasking him with an ambitious mission: find the missing explorer Dr. David Livingstone in Africa—or prove he was dead.
Livingstone, long presumed dead due to poor health and lack of communication, was found by Stanley on November 10, 1871. Stanley later wrote that he greeted him with the now-famous line, “Dr. Livingstone, I presume?”—a phrase not recorded in Livingstone’s own journals at the time.
Bonus trivia: In 1899, Stanley was knighted as a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, becoming Sir Henry Morton Stanley.
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#triviatuesdays #FindYourPark #EncuentraTuParque #Shiloh
🕵️♂️ Trivia Tuesday 🕵️♂️
Did you know that the Shiloh Battlefield Commission placed most of the historical markers you see today?
By 1908, the Shiloh Battlefield Commission—made up of both Federal and Confederate veterans—had completed the enormous task of marking the battlefield. They installed 651 cast-iron tablets that trace troop movements and provide detailed information about the armies that fought at Shiloh. Each tablet’s location was carefully chosen using original battlefield reports, correspondence, and, most importantly, the veterans’ own memories of the fighting.
They understood they were preserving the battlefield not only for future generations, but also for fellow veterans who returned to walk the once-bloody field. At the time, the total cost of producing and installing the tablets was $11,726.14—nearly $415,000 in today’s dollars.
The commission’s work didn’t stop there. They also mounted and displayed 250 field guns on replica carriages throughout the park, adding another powerful layer of interpretation to the landscape.
Next time you’re wandering the battlefield, take a moment to think about the veterans who placed those tablets where they stand today.
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#FindYourPark #EncuentraTuParque Explore Pickwick Lake - Hardin Co. Tourism #battlefieldmarkers
There is just one week to go before Shiloh’s Park Day event!
Every spring the American Battlefield Trust sponsors a workday at historic sites to give local members of the community the chance to help preserve history in their own backyard. This year, volunteers are needed at Shiloh to assist with debris clean up from January’s Winter Storm Fern. Work will begin at 9:00 am and finish no later than 12:00 pm. Please come dressed in work clothes and bring drinking water. Those interested in volunteering should call the Shiloh Visitor Center at 731-689-5696 to register.
If you don’t think you can assist with storm debris removal, there is also the opportunity to help roll paper cartridges in anticipation of infantry demonstrations this summer. All are welcome to help!
#FindYourPark #EncuentraTuParque #ParkDay #ParkDay2026 #VolunteersInParks
🕵️♂️ Trivia Tuesday 🕵️♂️
Did you know that the state of Mississippi has had four different state constitutions? They were adopted in 1817, 1832, 1868, and 1890—with the 1890 constitution still in effect today.
The 1868 Constitution stands out as the only one ratified by a vote of the people. The other three were adopted by constitutional conventions made up of state delegates. It was also the first Mississippi constitution written by both Black and White delegates.
During the Reconstruction period following the Civil War, many former Confederates were placed under federal martial law. Delegates for the 1868 Constitution met on January 7, 1868, in Jackson, Mississippi, and introduced several groundbreaking provisions. These included the abolition of slavery, the extension of citizenship to Black men, voting rights and the right to bear arms, the creation of public schools for all children, protection against double jeopardy, and limited property rights for married women.
This constitution was later replaced by the 1890 Constitution, which remains in use today. Rather than writing a new one, Mississippi has amended it more than 100 times. Changes over the years include repealing the poll tax, removing bans on lotteries and dueling, and eliminating literacy requirements for voting.
Join us next week for another Trivia Tuesday!
#FindYourPark #EncuentraTuParque Visit Corinth
Mark your calendars for Park Day 2026!
Park Day is an annual event sponsored by the American Battlefield Trust that encourages everyday Americans to volunteer their time helping care for local historic sites. This year’s Park Day event at Shiloh will take place on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
Join Shiloh rangers as they continue to clean up damage from January’s Winter Storm Fern. Planned work will include rebuilding collapsed fences and piling fallen debris for pick up by heavy machinery. If you aren’t able to do this kind of strenuous labor but still want to lend a helping hand, the park needs paper musket cartridges rolled for black powder demonstrations. Supplies will be on hand for those interested in helping create a supply of cartridges for this summer’s infantry demonstrations.
If you would like to participate in this year’s Park Day at Shiloh, call the Shiloh Visitor Center at 731-689-5696 to sign up. Work will begin at 9:00 am at the Shiloh Visitor Center located at 1055 Pittsburg Landing Road in Shiloh, TN, and will end no later than 12:00 pm. Come dressed for the weather in clothes that can get dirty, and be sure to bring drinking water.
More information can be found at /events/park-day.
#FindYourPark #EncuentraTuParque #ParkDay #ParkDay2026 #VolunteersInParks
Living History Program and Battlefield Hike — April 11
On April 11, the park will commemorate the 164th anniversary of the Battle of Shiloh with a special living history program and guided battlefield hike.
Living historians will portray Statham’s Brigade of Confederate infantry, part of Breckinridge’s Reserve Division, highlighting the often-overlooked role of the Confederate right flank. Participants in the guided hike will follow a detailed color company representing either the 15th Mississippi Infantry or the 20th Tennessee Infantry, tracing portions of the routes these units marched during the battle. Along the way, visitors will experience company-level drill movements and gain insight into the terrain and combat actions at key locations.
The guided hike will begin at 9 a.m. in Spain Field, located behind the Gladden Mortuary Monument. Parking will be available in Barnes Field, across from Prentiss’ Headquarters. Signs will be posted, and park staff will be available to assist with directions.
This program will last approximately three hours and cover about 2.5 miles over uneven terrain. Visitors are encouraged to wear comfortable walking shoes, dress for the weather, and bring water, insect repellent, and sunscreen. Those wishing to participate in the hike are asked to pre-register by calling the visitor center at 731-689-5696.
Following the hike, living historians will present drill, marching, and firing demonstrations in the Peach Orchard area (Tour Stop #18). Demonstrations will be offered at 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Parking for the afternoon कार्यक्रम will be available in the field across from the Peach Orchard. Registration is not required for these demonstrations.
We hope you will join us for this immersive look at the events of April 1862.
🕵️♂️ Trivia Tuesday 🕵️♂️
Did you know that Corinth has a connection to Kalaupapa National Historical Park in Hawaiʻi?
During the Civil War, the Hawaiian Islands faced an epidemic of Hansen’s disease (leprosy). In 1865, King Kamehameha V ordered those believed to be contagious to be isolated on Molokaʻi. In 1873, Father Damien arrived and began improving life for the people forced to live there.
When Corinth National Cemetery was established in 1866, 1st Lieutenant Ira B. Dutton and a detachment of United States Colored Troops were sent to locate the graves of Federal soldiers, exhume their remains, and reinter them in the cemetery. Most were recorded as Unknown, despite Dutton’s efforts to identify them.
During the process, Confederate graves were also found. Dutton and his crew reburied them and marked the sites with wooden headboards—locations that have since been lost to time.
Later in life, Dutton sought to atone for his “wild years.” He converted to Catholicism and joined Father Damien in 1886, becoming Brother Joseph Dutton. He served alongside Damien until the priest’s death, then continued the mission for decades. Dutton died in 1931 and is buried beside Father Damien.
Now, his more than 40 years of service has led to a canonization petition being reviewed by the Vatican. If approved, he would become only the fourth American-born saint.
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Visit Corinth #FindYourPark #EncuentraTuParque #nationalcemetaries Kalaupapa National Historical Park
