Natchez Trace Day 2 + Shiloh Battlefield

October 26
We left Davy Crockett, got some gasoline and coffee to quench our thirsty beasts and headed back to the Trace Parkway.

We backtracked a lot not wanting to miss parts of the Trace. That being said, we could have skipped parts of it. The speed limit was 50, I drove 56 with no issues. Most if it looks like this

 It is a pretty drive but rather boring in many sections. I wouldn't rank it in the top five best roads. I might be in the bottom twenty for scenery.

 We left the Trace and went over to Shiloh National Military Park to see where Grant set up camp along the Mississippi. They ferried 144 steam ship loads of troops to the landing here at Shiloh staging for a move to Corinth where major Confederate railroads crossed. If they could take Corinth and sever the rail traffic it would cripple the South. 
General Albert Sydney Johnston lead Confederate troops in a sneak attack against Grant who had been ordered not to engage in any battles until he linked up with other Union troops coming down the river. On April 6-7, 1862, 44,000 Confederate troops clashed with 65,000 Union soldiers. The battle resulted in 24,000 troops killed, wounded or missing and the retreat of the Confederates. It also started a six month long battle for Corinth Crossroads.

 Every militia unit had a monument erected to it. There were five markers for Ohio units. Iowa had a very large marker.

 The Visitor's Center. They had a terrific 45 minute movie that expertly explained the battle, troop positioning and struggles of the men.

 The park had a twenty mile driving loop viewing various battle positions. We chose not to go because we had the trailer. There were many markers signifying unit placement, engagements and movements.

 After lunch, we headed back to the Trace and turned south again. We crossed the Tennessee River.

Considering Jackson moved his up and down the Trace at least twice, Colbert was probably tired of moving them. It would take several days to ferry the troops across the river.

 

We ended the day at Tishamingo State Park. It was an interesting place. The handicap accessible sites were right beside the bathroom which was very nicely done. The sites however were not so nice. The pad was flat but the drive bent down at a steep angle. I run into the problem of the site not being long enough for the truck and trailer. I need extra room in the back so I can drop the ramp and get in and out. I can unhook the truck but I hate doing that when we're just spending the night. We chose to find a different site. This was more accessible for us.

Most of the sites were like this, a nice pad with drop offs on each side.

Natchez Trace

Tuesday October 25
Nashville was good to us last time we were in town and we planned to make a return visit to I dream of Weenie but their operating hours didn't coincide with our time table. Someday I want to come back and spend time floating in and out of the honky tonks and bars listening to the music. Today, we passed through town and instead of taking the freeway around, the GPS plotted us through town to the end of the Natchez Trace National Park. The trail starts in Natchez and ends in Nashville. The Parkway ends (or begins for us) in Pasquo.

Tennessee Titans Stadium

70S took us through Vanderbilt University, past beautiful mansions and old plantations plus newer developments of well maintained homes. It was a nice scenic drive through old Nashville. We made a stop at the grocery store in Pasquo and then boarded the Trace.

Borrowed from: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/b5/4f/87/b54f87a71b242785d63d295c53a11a71.jpg

 We were greeted by cones on the Trace. They were working on repaving and we had to cross over to the other lane. Many of the cones were in our lane and made squeezing between them and the shoulder really tight. I ended up knocking a few down with the camper. Becky asked if I was doing it on purpose. I'll never tell......

Borrowed from: https://www.nps.gov/natr/learn/news/images/TN-100-East-ramp-closed.jpg

 Birdsong Hollow is spanned by one of the most photographed bridges on the Trace. The double arch bridge.

 While Becky fixed some lunch, I rolled out on the bridge and took some pictures.

There are a lot of stops marked with an arrowhead sign that says, historical marker half mile ahead. All these are marked on the park pamphlet with a brief description of each stop.

There was a whole herd of deer but we only captured this one.

Meriwether Lewis died along the Trace. After his historic trip west with William Clark he was awarded the governorship of the Upper Louisiana Territory. Some of the bills he submitted for the western exploration were called into question and he was traveling to Washington, along part of the trace, to defend them. He would be personally liable for those bills if the government denied them. At a placed called Grinder's Stand he died from gunshot wounds. Many experts believed those wounds were self inflicted.  

 This monument stands over his burial plot. Your eye is immediately drawn to the broken column. It was purposely designed to symbolize a life cut short.

 A replica of Grinder's Stand. It can easily be understood how depression could grip the good governor in light of the crushing debt he would owe if the government denied his bills.

 As the sun was dipping lower, we left the trace and headed for Davy Crockett State Park. Becky was excited to be staying here where Crockett, who settled the area, owned a powder mill, grist mill and distillery. His operations were destroyed by a flood in September 1821 and he moved on to West Tennessee. Crockett was one of Becky's childhood heroes.

Iris gets into the Buckeye spirit.

 We stayed in the Campground 2 in spot 107. It is a place we would like to return to. The site was level and paved extra wide with a nice raised fire pit. The bath house was easily accessible as most state properties are. The park is close to Nashville and other attractions.