Hello, everyone! Hope you’re having a beautiful day! Today I’m back with a post another Ten Totally Random Facts post, this time about Shiloh. And as a bonus, I’m gonna give you an excerpt from “Our Heritage to Save” at the end of this post regarding the battle of Shiloh, without giving too many spoilers, :P
 
So, without further ado, here we go!
 

1. The date of the battle was April 6th, 1862.
2. It was a surprise attack. There are accounts of Confederate Soldiers storming the Union camp early that morning and grabbing up food from the Union skillets, eating as they pressed forward.
3. The South was almost spared Gen. William T. Sherman’s march to the sea at this battle. If the Mississippi soldier who shot Gen. Sherman in the hand had had better aim, we might have won the war!
4. “The Hornet’s Nest” got it’s name because the fierce firepower sounded like the buzzing of hundreds of angry hornets, according to a Confederate Veteran.
   
5. Known as the “Drummer Boy of Shiloh”, Pvt. Johnny Clem is not believed to have been present at the Battle of Shiloh. The unit he claimed he served with there wasn’t mustered until the summer/fall of ’62.
6. The first man killed at the battle of Shiloh was Pvt. Joseph Holiday, orderly to Gen. Sherman.
7. Like many battles of the War Between the States, Shiloh has two names: Shiloh, the Southern Name, and Pittsburg Landing, the Northern Name.
   
8. The battle was called Shiloh after a small church in the vicinity called “Shiloh Church.”
9. Shiloh is the Hebrew word meaning “Place of Peace.”
10. Some say the South never smiled again after their defeat at the Battle of Shiloh. They must have forgotten about our victories in the Shenandoah Valley, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Chickamauga…

 
I hope you enjoyed these facts from the Battle of Shiloh. Now for the excerpt. *Drumroll Please*
 
Excerpt from “Our Heritage to Save” Chapter 10: Patriotism or Pity?
 
Early on the morning of April 6th, Drew dozed in his tent, not quite wanting to get up yet, but knowing he probably should. He rolled over. Maybe just a few more minutes…

Bang!
Boom!
Crack!

“Look out!” he heard someone shout. “The Rebels are coming!”

Drew jumped to his feet and jerked his jacket on. He threw his ammunition belt around his waist and picked up his gun. “Form a line and fire!” Capt. Badin shouted.
We must look ridiculous, Drew thought as he loaded his gun. None of us are uniformed properly and we are all half asleep!

They fired a volley into the advancing gray clad men and boys. It did nothing to stop them. Drew began to reload his gun. “Fall back!” The boys in blue turned quickly and nearly tripped over each other trying to get out of there.

Drew and Ethan found themselves running side by side. Ethan was attempting to load his gun as he ran, though not being too successful.

Just when he thought he would be able to pull out ahead and escape the barrage of Confederate fire, Drew tripped over a fallen tree, sending him sprawling to the ground. It took him a few moments to realize what had happened and regain his feet, but no sooner had he accomplished this than someone tackled him from behind…and he wasn’t wearing a blue uniform!
 
Excerpt from Chapter 11: A Sparrow Falls
 
Drew groaned as pain shot through his body. He twisted himself around and caught a glimpse of the soldier attacking him; a Confederate corporal.

Knowing he had to do something, Drew raised his foot and caught the soldier in the knee. With a shout of pain, the soldier staggered backwards.

That was all Drew needed. He jumped to his feet and took off running after his fleeing companions. They were running toward the river, but few would make it. Drew forced himself to keep his eyes on the “trail” ahead of him and not to look at the ground. “I’m tired of war,” he said to himself as he ran. “I wish we’d just let them have their own country!”

The officers tried to get the men to stop and fire back, but all was in vain. The men ran faster than they ever had before. By 9:00 a.m., the Yankee front had collapsed.
 
To find out more about the Battle of Shiloh (And what happens to Drew!) purchase “Our Heritage to Save” from my Publications page. I look forward to hearing from you!
 
Until Next time,
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22

Hey, Y’all! Today I have a fun post for you, comparing two grand armies to each other. Though from two different centuries and fighting two different foes, they couldn’t be more alike. Enjoy!
 
American Patriots & American Confederates
 

1. Both groups fought against government gone amuck. The British oppressed the colonists with unfair legislation which took away their rights as Englishmen. These laws only benefited England. The Federal government oppressed the South with legislation that only benefited the industrial Northern states, taking away their rights in competitive free enterprise.
2. They both fought for religious rights. One of the reasons the Patriots cited that they were displeased with the British rule was the fact that they were prohibited from printing their own Bibles and sending out missionaries to other countries. The Southerners also came up against religious persecution. Abraham Lincoln declared Bibles were contraband of war and that they were to be confiscated from prisoners. The South on the other hand gave Bibles and tracts to prisoners. With the help of distressed Christian Northerners, printing press parts, paper, ink and templates were smuggled into the South so that Bibles could be printed.
3. They were both undermanned and coming up against the greatest army of their time. No one can dispute the fact that both the British and Union armies were large in man and fire power. Nor will many debate the fact that both armies were well trained in comparison to their belligerents. But what is so amazing is that the Patriots, undermanned and ill trained, ousted the greatest army of their day. And the South, contrary to what many say, nearly did the same. (Remember, 2 out of 3 days of Gettysburg were Southern Victory! And the final battle of the War Between the States was won by the Confederates.)
4. Both wars began in Southern States. It’s true. The American Revolution began with the Battle of Alamance, perpetrated by North Carolinians known as the Regulators. That’s a long ways from Boston Harbor. J Yes, the Boston Massacre took place a year prior to Alamance, but that’s a post for another time. But take my word for it, the Massacre did not start the War. Likewise, Ft. Sumter did not start the Civil War. That was not an act of war, but of self-defense. The war really started when Union troops invaded Virginia and took over Alexandria in June of 1861, nearly a month after Lincoln declared war.
5. Christians played a big role in both armies. Preachers and parishioners flocked to the ranks of the Patriot army. The same happened with the Confederate army, with churches sending their pastors to the front as Chaplains, congregations mustering into the same company and churches turning themselves into hospitals. Even bells were taken to make cannon shot for the army.
6. Churches suffered at the hands of the enemy. In both wars, churches were burned to the ground by disrespectful enemy soldiers. One famous incident of the American Revolution was the burning of a church pastored by Frederick Muhlenberg, brother of Peter Muhlenberg, a preacher turned patriot. There are multiple accounts of both Gen. Butler and Gen. Sherman of the Union Army burning churches throughout the South. That’s just one of the many atrocities committed by tyrants.
7. Both often went barefoot. Everyone’s heard about the famous winter of Valley Forge where our brave forefathers froze without proper clothing and footwear. The same was a common aliment of our Southern forefathers, for with all the marching and elements of war they had to endure, their clothing lacked much to be desired and at times, nearly every man could be found shoeless.
8. Both Armies were led by Christians. Contrary to what the media says, George Washington was not a deist, but a devout Christian. Likewise, Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, and numerous other Confederate leaders proclaimed their faith in God and promoted Salvation messages throughout their camps.
9. Both leaders were natives to Virginia. While we’re talking about Washington and Lee, we might as well add that they were both native Sons of Virginia. And a bonus, Lee was married into the Washington Family. Plus, their last names were tied together for Washington and Lee University.
10. They both fought for Liberty. They both suffered and died for the cause of freedom, not only for themselves, but for future generations. While one army won and the other lost, no one can dispute their bravery and dedication to the Cause they loved and served. All gave some, some gave all. Thank you for your service!

 
Well, that’s all for now. There are more similarities I’m sure, but this is a good overview I think. Why not study out these armies and try to spot some more for yourself?
 
Have a Blessed Day!
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22

Hey Y’all! Good to be back in the blogosphere! Hope you are having a great week so far! So, I really enjoyed that post on Nicknames that I did a few months ago, so I decided to do a sequel! Hope you enjoy!
 
Southern
 
Tom Fool: A name not so lovely bestowed on General Thomas “Stonewall Jackson” by his Virginia Military Institute (V.M.I.) Cadets at the beginning of the war, because of his odd mannerisms. This was quickly changed to the much loved “Stonewall” following the First Battle of Manassas Junction.
 
The Grand Creole: This one makes me smile! It’s the name given to Gen. Pierre Gustav Toutant Beauregard (Say that five times fast!). Being a French Creole from Louisiana, and having a reputation for being haughty at times, this name fits the Frenchman well.
 
King of Spades: A little known nickname for our revered General Robert E. Lee. Prior to his well-known campaigns against numerous Union generals, Lee was in charge of the Richmond defenses. He made his men dig a series of trenches around the city, thus the nickname. But I don’t recall any grumblings when the trenches later came in handy in 1864-65, protecting the soldiers during the Petersburg/Richmond campaign. It has been said that this tactic used by Lee was influential in the WWI trench warfare a few decades later.
 
Pathfinder of the Sea: Matthew Fontaine Maury, a noted oceanographer, was the first man to identify the Gulf Stream. He was in the Confederate Navy.
 
Rooney: This is an example of a childhood nickname lasting through to adulthood. Gen. William Henry Fitzhugh Lee, the second son of Gen. Robert E. Lee, is more commonly known by Rooney.
 
Northern
 
Dizzy Miss Lizzy: Richmond native, Miss Elizabeth Van Lew, turned traitor to her country and operated a spy ring out of the Confederate capitol. She was known for acting insane, helping to shield her from suspicion.
 
Old Blood and Whiskers: Gen. Ulysses S. Grant. Perhaps he was branded with this name for his Vicksburg campaign. It certainly was appropriate, especially at Cold Harbor, when he vainly threw his tired and ill prepared men at the Confederate troops.
 
Old Blinky: This name was given to Union Major Gen. William French because of his habit of constantly blinking while talking.
 
Cump: This nonsense name was given to William Tecumseh Sherman by his family growing up. His soldiers called him “Uncle Billy.” The South referred to him as a “Nightmare,” a “Ghoul” and a “Hyena.” You decide which you think fits best.
 
Little Napoleon: Gen. George McClellan sported this nickname, though he lacked the battlefield bravery of his namesake. It was probably given to him for the way he carried himself. Being short, he tried to make himself look taller.
 
 
 
Something to think about:  Take a few minutes to think about your own nicknames. Do you think they fit you or not?
 
I hope you enjoyed this post! Have a blessed day!
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22