Shiloh 154th Anniversary

By Craig L. Barry · Originally published May 2016 · p. 4

SHILOH, Tenn.—After a hiatus of five years, Shiloh National Military Park held Camp life, Cavalry, Artillery and Infantry historic weapons demos in honor of the 154th anniversary of the historic battle. For more than a few of us, the annual anniversary programs at Shiloh were the unofficial start to the living history calendar of events Then four years ago, about the time of the 150th anniversary, there were two competing Civil War reenactments both using Shiloh as their backdrop and scheduled on the same weekend. The Shiloh National Military Park decided to take a break and not to put on any living history programs as a result. The 154th anniversary programs were held on Saturday, April 2, at various locations throughout the park. At the Visitors Center was a

Union Camp, which provided insight into the life of a Civil War soldier as well as a Union Quartermaster demonstration. There was also a wet plate photographer there making portraits as well. The main Cavalry, Infantry and Artillery programs were at Duncan Field, between tour stop 2 and tour stop 3. The Camp life demonstrations were unique because they featured a number of the massive bellshaped Sibley tents which were a feature of camps on both sides early in the U.S. Civil War. Artillery demonstrations started the event at 10 am, followed by Infantry at 11 am and Cavalry at Noon. There was a period music demonstration at 1 pm, sailors from the U.S.S. Shiloh (currently forward deployed at Yokosuka, Japan) at 2 pm before concluding with a combined arms demonstration at 3 pm.