The below article can be found at http://www.timesdaily.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040402/NEWS/404020331/1011/NEWS01. Jerry W. Murphy [email protected] Jerry's Homepage: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~jwmurphy/ Rootsweb List Administrator: ALFRANKL-L, TNHARDIN-L, TNWASHIN-L, TNWAYNE-L BRATTON-L, CAVENDER-L, COCHRAN-L, HAFLEY-L, PATTERSON-L, SOWERBY-L Wayne County, Tennessee Co-County Coordinator: http://www.netease.net/wayne Wayne County Computer Club: http://www.netease.net/waccc ------ Civil War demonstrations to highlight 142nd anniversary of Battle of Shiloh By Tom Smith Regional Bureau PITTSBURG LANDING, Tenn. - The sun glistens off the cold, black, steel cannon barrel. Streaks of sunlight finger through a light fog lifting off the Tennessee River. A soft breeze whispers through the trees, breathing life into the hallowed grounds of one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. The Battle of Shiloh was the first major battle in the Western Theater of the Civil War, taking place April 6 and April 7, 1862. Records indicate the two-day battle involved about 65,000 Union and 44,000 Confederate troops, with a total of 24,000 being killed or wounded. Historians say the battle proved to be a decisive victory for Union forces, as they were able to continue and capture the Confederate railroad system in nearby Corinth, Miss. Saturday and Sunday, this piece of history will once again come alive as Shiloh National Military Park hosts an event marking the 142nd anniversary of the battle. The weekend will feature a living history camp, demonstrations and exhibits for the public. Shiloh Military Park Ranger Joe Davis said park officials expect approximately 20,000 visitors to come to the park for the weekend. "And then, we'll have at least 250 re-enactors here participating in the living history demonstrations,'' Davis said. "Some will drive six to seven hours to get here. They'll come in Friday, set up and be ready to go Saturday morning.'' The demonstrations will include presentations by Confederate infantry, artillery and cavalry. Davis said the re-enactors will be firing rifled-muskets, small arms and cannons. Muscle Shoals resident Keith Willingham has been participating in the Shiloh event since 1982. "Shiloh is sacred ground; it's such a treat to get a chance to go there and relive history,'' said Willingham, who helps coordinate the infantry unit. Willingham said there will be 100 infantry soldiers at Shiloh this weekend. "We'll have some from Indiana, Illinois, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and Florida, as well as Tennessee,'' he said. "Last year, we had some from Australia, and it's not uncommon to get a group from Germany.'' Willingham said he considers himself a living historian, not a re-enactor. "We try to keep accurate history alive,'' he explained. "When we tell people about the infantry, we're speaking for men who can't speak for themselves. We do a lot of studying to make sure our presentations are accurate.'' Willingham said all of the living historians love history. "This is a hobby, but we take it serious because we're trying to pass our history along,'' he said. "Our goal is to present the public with a true picture of what life was like in the Civil War. "We're on display; we're not trying to be a part of history, we're just trying to preserve it.'' Besides the demonstrations, Davis said there will also be living history camps set up for the public to visit. Davis said visitors would be able to see how the camps were set up and equipped. Besides a Confederate camp, Davis said there will also be a Union camp on display this year. "These camps allow the public a chance to interact with the soldiers and get a better look at camp life during the war,'' he said. "It's our goal that the visitors who come to the park will leave with a better understanding of the Battle of Shiloh and the soldiers that fought and died here.'' Tom Smith can be reached at 332-0140 or [email protected] WANT TO GO? What: 142nd anniversary of the Battle of Shiloh When: Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Where: Shiloh National Military Park Admission: $3 per person or $5 per family Details: (731) 689-5275 or visit www.nps.gov/shil Directions to park: From Florence, take Alabama 20 to U.S. 64 in Savannah, Tenn. Turn left on U.S. 64 and go 4 miles. Turn left on Tennessee 22, which runs in front of the Shiloh National Battlefield. From Iuka, Miss., take U.S. 72 into Iuka and turn right on Mississippi 25. At the four-way stop at Pickwick Dam, turn left on Tennessee 57, then right on Tennessee 142, which merges with Tennessee 22. Jerry W. Murphy [email protected] Jerry's Homepage: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~jwmurphy/ Rootsweb List Administrator: ALFRANKL-L, TNHARDIN-L, TNWASHIN-L, TNWAYNE-L BRATTON-L, CAVENDER-L, COCHRAN-L, HAFLEY-L, PATTERSON-L, SOWERBY-L Wayne County, Tennessee Co-County Coordinator: http://www.netease.net/wayne Wayne County Computer Club: http://www.netease.net/waccc