The Civil War Battle of Shiloh was fought April 6-7 1862, near Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee, on the Tennessee River about 20 miles from Mississippi. It was the largest battle on the North American continent up to its time and resulted in nearly 24,000 casualties and 3500 deaths. The site of the battle is now the Shiloh National Military Park administered by the National Park Service.
This book, "Shiloh National Military Park" (2012) is a short, eloquent photographic history of how the Battle of Shiloh has been commemorated and remembered through establishment and administration of the Shiloh National Military Park. Brian McCutchen and Timothy Smith, both former rangers at Shiloh, wrote the book which also features a Foreword by Woody Harrell, for many years the Superintendent at Shiloh. McCutcheon has served as ranger, historian, and superintendent at other national parks while Smith has become a respected authority on the Battle of Shiloh and on the Park with several books to his credit. The book is part of the Images of America series which commemorates American places in short photographic histories.
The book begins with a brief overview of the battle which pitted the Union Army of the Tennessee under Grant and the Army of the Ohio under Buell against the Confederate Army of the Mississippi under Johnston and Beauregard. It also shows the people that lived in the area and some of the places where the battle was fought. Although few contemporary images of the battlefield survive, the book offers photographs of the combatants, drawings, and later-day images to capture a feeling of solemnity and of the important character of the events. The book does not purport to offer a history of the battle itself.
The battle took place in a remote rural area which is difficult to access, even today. People who come to Shiloh from any distance must make an effort and must want to be there. The Park and much of the surrounding area are still in essentially the same condition as they were in 1862.
Most of McCutcheon's and Smith's book describes efforts to commemorate the Battle of Shiloh over the years. These efforts began in 1866 with the establishment of a National Military Cemetery
at Shiloh. Some years later, veterans on both sides took the lead in lobbying Congress to establish a park at Shiloh, together with parks at other major Civil War battlefields. Congress established the Shiloh park by legislation in 1894 signed by President Grover Cleveland.
The book describes the years of veteran's administration as "Shiloh's Golden Age" as the veterans administered the park, purchased the land and built roads, wrote the history of the battle, and provided for the placement of monuments. The veterans and their families came to the park to share memories, renew or make friendships, and reconcile with their former foes after many years. The book moving captures the Shiloh Park's early years with the large role played by veterans of the battle. It shows many photographs of the monuments established on the battlefield by states, the soldiers themselves, and the Federal government.
Shiloh faced a crisis in 1909 when a cyclone decimated much of the park facilities along the River and took lives. The commitment to the Park was such that it was quickly rebuilt and strengthened. In 1933, administration of the park passed from the military to the National Park Service of the Department of the Interior. As the authors point out, this transfer signified a change in the purpose of the park from serving veterans to serving and educating the broader American public about the battle and its importance.
During the Depression, Shiloh was refurbished through the efforts of African American Units of the Civilian Conservation Corps, most of whom had served in WW I. Beginning in the 1950s, as more people had the time and means to travel, Shiloh modernized still further. Among other things, the Park developed an interpretive film on the battle which was shown to visitors for 55 years until it was replaced by a new film in 2012. I saw the old film when I visited the park some years ago, but only saw the new film after reading this book. With its history and its dedicated staff, Shiloh remains a deeply moving place to visit. It encourages reflection on the meaning of the battle and of its commemoration.
The book closes with an image of three young children enjoying a visit to Shiloh. The authors write: "The voices of 1862 are long gone, and it is vital that parents and grandparents of today carry the torch to future generations,... encouraging them to explore their nation's history, experience their historic sites, and learn of their heritage and the importance and blessings of being an American."
This book will help its readers to understand the Shiloh National Military Park and its reasons for being. It may also encourage people to visit. I visited the Park some years ago and would love to see it again.
