Tennessee: Shiloh and Franklin (March 29) : As we wandered north from Alabama, we swung west to catch another major Civil War battle field, Shiloh, TN. We then headed back up the Natchez Trace Trail to Franklin, TN and spent the night with another old friend from England, Johnny Minetos and his wife Dana in their beautiful home in Franklin, TN.

Shiloh National Military Park and Webster Family History: The battle of Shiloh started April 6th and ended April 7th in 1862. Turns out that my great great grandfather, Azaria Webster was part of the Illinois 9th Infantry, which saw major action on the first day. It was his second time to sign up for the military and at the age of 50 he fell when the Illinois 9th Infantry lost 66 of 646 men that first day.

Shiloh Cemetary with Union Soldiers Buried

Back of the monument for the Illinois 9th Infantry Division, of which Azariah Webster was a member

Illinois 9th Infantry momument

Sign indicating the area where the Illinois 9th Infantry fought

Field where the Illinois 9th Infantry fought on April 6th

Tennessee (March 29th):  Franklin, TN with Johnny & Dana Minetos

Nashville (April 9 – 11): Then we circled back to Nashville after visiting Mammoth Caves in Kentucky and the Great Smokey Mountains in North Carolina and Tennessee to rendezvous with my brother, Jay and his wife, Katharine to do a little Nashville site seeing, which included a food tour and then a Carbon Leaf concert in the Basement East.