With the new year a month old and Spring just around the corner my thoughts have turned to the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Shiloh. I began making plans to attend the events and logged on to the National Park Service Shiloh website. Most of the events planned for April 6 and 7 are hiking events. Anything from 1 mile to 4 -- 5 miles. Also encouraged to bring lunch, snacks, and water as some of the hikes are long and difficult. My 70 year old body is very willing, however, my seemingly 90 year old legs have already begun to hurt. Maybe if I begin to train now, by April I will be able to endure a 3 mile hike through difficult terrain.
Shiloh was great-grandfather James M. Polk's first battle and I am sure he got a real good look at the elephant in this bloody battle. He managed to keep his head down and be in the right place at the right time to avoid getting shot or captured until the Battle of Franklin. Great-grandfather was one of the many captured at Franklin and sent to prisoner of war camp until released at the end of the war.
