Ten Totally Random Facts About...Shiloh!

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