Tennessee History 101

After my last blog, we sailed for four hours in the rain, so we were quite happy to see Clifton, TN Marina!  Due to the weather forecast, we made a decision to spend three days here and enjoy the sights. (plus or minus the rain!)  The manager and owner of this marina are so helpful and seemingly would do just about anything for you.  We happen to think that Sonja, the manager, looks and talks just like Dolly Parton (we’re talking her FACE).  I asked her if anyone ever said that to her and she said, “Yes they do OR Loretta Lynn!”  So we are staying with Tennessee royalty!  We have discovered that Tennessee has a rich history with the Civil War or as it is known here The War of Northern Aggression!!!  Every pamphlet we have read has a rather southern twist to its history!  I don’t know, maybe we got it wrong up north and the Confederates really won???  Can’t believe everything you read, huh? I thought I would let you in on some of the interesting facts and places we have visited the last two days.

Steve, Nancy, and Dolly (aka Sonja)

Clifton, TN

Clifton is right on a large bend in the Tennessee River.  It is one of the best-preserved river front towns in the state. In its early days, it lost by a few votes to Nashville to become the state capital.  During the Civil War, it was overrun by the Federalists (as they call the Union soldiers) and a local Presbyterian Church went from a Confederate hospital to a stable and blacksmith shop for the Union Army.  After the war, they asked for money to rebuild the front of the church and repaired it.  You can see the different bricks to this day.  I, also, liked the sidewalks!  There is a sign that says, “Caution Uneven Historical Sidewalks!”  Right downtown, for any history buffs, General Nathan Bedford Forrest twice crossed the Tennessee River during his West Tennessee Raid in the Civil War.  Quite the quaint little town!

 

 

Shiloh National Military Park

Today we used the marina’s loaner car and drove to the Shiloh Battlefield.  I was quite proud of the three of us, because we did our homework prior to our arrival.  The marina manager had given us a tape about the battlefield and we used our computer to sharpen our knowledge about one of the fiercest battles of the Civil War.  When we arrived, a park ranger, dressed as a Confederate soldier was giving a school group a talk and demonstration about the nine steps to loading a musket.  Interesting point:  To be a soldier in the war, you needed to have a least two teeth (one on the bottom and one on the top) in order to bite off the top of the powder cartridge to pour the gunpowder into their musket!  As he added, oral hygiene in those days was lacking J  I am not a battle strategist, but it was amazing how very subtle things happened in the two days at Shiloh that really turned the tide for the Union.  Grant and his army were the victors, but the nice Southern folks who man the welcome center, almost give a little different version.  In all, more than 24,000 soldiers were killed, wounded, or captured in a two day time frame.  Quite a somber place!



This is the Shiloh Church for which the battle was named.

Cemetary at Shiloh Church



Union Cemetary at Pittsburg Landing

 

Hagy’s Catfish Hotel

Once again, the manager of the marina gave us a tip….eat at Hagy’s Catfish Hotel/Restaurant.  It is about two miles from the Shiloh Battlefield and on the scenic Tennessee River.  This area is the self-proclaimed “Catfish Capitol of the World”.  Folks use to stop by this little spot on the river and enjoy the family’s home cooking and wonderful catfish.  They would stay after dinner “spinning yarns” so late into the evening that many times they slept there. (Thus the name “Hotel”.)  Now I must admit, I am not sure if I have really ever eaten catfish, but they were delicious and it was all you can eat.  Plus, you are in the South, so there were hush puppies, potatoes, “slaw” and pie!!!  MMMM!

 

 

Leftovers...

Catfish Chairs



Steve and the man in gray

We are back at the boat now and I am blogging and Steve is  preparing the boat for our trip down river tomorrow to Pickwick Lock and Dam.  There we will enter the Tenn-Tom Waterway and go through the state of Alabama to Demopolis. This will be our last section of the river before heading to Mobile!!!!  Hope you have enjoyed Tennessee history, because there will be a quiz!  Hehehe!  Talk soon!