Civil War Trail through West Tennessee: Shiloh National Park, Elmwood ...

A recent visit to West Tennessee included touring large and small battlefields, walking through historic cemeteries and staying overnight at a home that was occupied by Gen. U.S. Grant and Union soldiers during the Civil War.

Shiloh National Park, overlooking the Tennessee River in Hardin County, Tenn., is home to 156 monuments, 217 cannons and more than 650 historic markers. It’s America’s best preserved battlefield and site of the Civil War’s first major battle, fought April 6-7, 1862, as well as the site of the death of Gen. Albert Sidney Johnson, the highest ranking American ever killed in combat. The national park features such historical sites as Grant’s Last Line, the site of General Johnson’s death, as well as the Shiloh National Cemetery where 3,584 are buried. Historic re-enactments are featured at the park throughout the year.

For more information on Shiloh National Park, go to www.nps.gov/shil.

Located less than 10 miles from Shiloh is Savannah, Tenn., where you will find Cherry Mansion, where Union Gen. U.S. Grant was on the morning of April 6 when the Battle of Shiloh erupted up the river. Grant and his staff got on a steamer and headed to the fighting. The home is now a private residence and is open several times a year for tours.

The Tennessee River Museum in Savannah has information on the Civil War on the river, as well as exhibits on prehistoric times, mounds, steamboats and the Trail of Tears.

While in the Savannah area, we had a wonderful meal at The Broken Spoke, which was built in the 1920s, making it the longest running restaurant in the area. The steaks are the featured item on the menu and a great choice.

For more information on Savannah, Tenn., and Hardin County, go to www.tourhardincounty.org.

BATTLE OF BRITTON LANE

In Denmark, Tenn., the quiet woods and fields were the scene of a mighty conflict on Sept. 1, 1862, known as Britton Lane Battlefield, where federal and Confederate troops accidentally ran into each other. During the four-hour battle that ensued, Confederates made furious charges across open cornfields to attack the federal troops who were entrenched behind in a grove of trees on a hill. The battle resulted in the capture of 213 prisoners. Monuments mark the site along with a mass grave of Confederates. A restored Civil War-era cabin, used as a hospital during the battle, is open. After the battle, 87 Union soldiers were imprisoned in the Denmark Presbyterian Church, located near the battlefield. The structure still contains graffiti left by the federal prisoners.

In Denmark, the Big Black Creek Historical Association offers tours of the buildings, cemeteries, Britton Lane Battlefield and other historic areas. The tours can be self guided or escorted by one of The Big Black Creek Historical Association's members. For a special treat, make plans ahead of time for members to tell the graveside history of individuals whose final resting place is in the cemetery.

The Big Black Creek Historical Association has many current and planned projects, including the restoration of the old Denmark Presbyterian Church. The building is listed on The National Register of Historic Places and Tennessee Trail, and will be used as a museum after repairs are complete.

For more information, go to www.bigblackcreekhistorical.com.

HISTORIC HOME

Visitors to the Memphis area can stay overnight at a home with ties to the Civil War. The Hunt Phelan Home was occupied by Gen. U.S. Grant and Union soldiers during the Civil War. Historical figures, including Jefferson Davis, Nathan Bedford Forrest and President Andrew Jackson, attended events at the grand mansion. It’s such a unique experience to become a part of history by adding your name to the guest list. Dinner and breakfast are also offered at the home.

For more information on the home, go to www.huntphelan.com.

Also near Memphis is Elmwood Cemetery, where you will find the graves of nearly 1,200 Confederate soldiers and 20 Confederate generals. The garden cemetery has wonderful monuments, landscaping and grounds. It is a serene, peaceful place to visit. Make sure to allow time to walk among the graves and read some of the markers, including that of Virginia Bethal Moon, “a Confederate spy who became famous during the War Between the States.”

For more information on following the Civil War trail through West Tennessee, go to www.tnvacation.com.