Shiloh National Military Park

Visitor facilities at both the Shiloh and Corinth Battlefields will be closed on New Years Day. We will reopen both parks at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, January 2nd.  

Everyone is invited to the annual "Wreaths Out" event in the Shiloh National Cemetery. Help rangers and volunteers remove wreaths that were placed in the cemetery during the Wreaths Across America event. No registration is required, just arrive a little before 11:00 a.m. at the gates of the national cemetery. Gloves are recommended. 

Fraley Field: The Bloody Battle Begins
5:15 a.m. - 7:00 a.m.
Parking: Meet at the Visitor Center at 5:00 am

Distance: Southern Hike - 1 mile roundtrip, Union Hike - 2 miles roundtrip Terrain: Moderate

Join Park Rangers Chris Mekow and Timothy Arnold, on a two-hour battlefield hike which will introduce visitors to the events surrounding the opening shots of the battle. These hikes will travel the approach routes of the Union and Confederate soldiers toward Fraley Field, whose landscape witnessed the first exchange of hostilities and the beginning of the epic Battle of Shiloh. These individual tours will both arrive in Fraley Field at sunrise. Visitors will decide which hike they will follow upon arriving at the Visitor Center. The choices are to follow the Union reconnoitering party ordered out by Colonel Everett Peabody, while the Confederates will approach Fraley Field through the position of the 3rd Mississippi Infantry Battalion.

Green Division Faces Attack: The Failure of Prentiss
8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Meet at Tour Stop #9
Parking: Park on Side of Peabody Road just before Tour Stop #9
Distance: 2 Miles

Terrain: Moderately Difficult

The newest division in the Army of the Tennessee was commanded by Brigadier General Benjamin Prentiss. Prentiss was surprised by the attack and held Col. Everett Peabody responsible for bringing on the action. The morning attack on April 6th found the division unprepared to fight a major battle. Some units had just arrived, but some put up stubborn resistance that stunned Confederate forces. This program will end at the camp of the 18th Wisconsin Infantry, where Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston made several fateful decisions. Join Charles Spearman, follow the defensive stand of this division and discover their fate.

Car Caravan Tour
10:00 a.m. – 12:00p.m.
Parking: Meet at the Visitor Center Distance: Entire Battlefield (Driving)

Park Ranger Laura Lee McKellips will lead a two-hour car caravan tour of the battlefield. This tour will allow visitors the opportunity to follow the battle in chronological order as it developed. The tour will take visitors to the high points on the battlefield in order to interpret the story of the bloody Battle of Shiloh. While visiting historic sites such as Fraley Field, the Hornets’ Nest, and the Peach Orchard, participants will be afforded the opportunity to ask questions to achieve a better understanding of the epic battle.

Alone on the Left: Stuart’s Brigade at Shiloh
10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Parking: Tent Hospital Site (Tour Stop #16) Distance: 1 ½ miles

Terrain: Moderate

Follow Park Ranger Chris Mekow and trace the actions of Colonel David Stuart’s Brigade as they attempted to protect the entire Union army’s left flank against General James Chalmers’ overwhelming infantry and artillery for several hours. Learn about their struggle, weapons, and adapted tactics as you walk the terrain where this action occurred. Also, learn about the “hard luck” 71st Ohio Infantry Regiment and the controversy surrounding their actions at Shiloh.

Johnston’s Last Day
12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Parking: Meet at Tour Stop #7 (Fraley Field)

Distance: 2.5 Miles Driving ½ Mile Walking

Terrain: Easy to Moderate

Join Ranger Anthony Killion to retrace Confederate General Albert Sidney Johnston’s journey across Shiloh’s battlefield from where the first shots were fired to the place where Johnston took his final breaths. Explore how the battle unfolded from Johnston’s point of view and the critical command decisions he made. Ask yourself if his presence on the frontlines was a necessary risk, and if the battle’s outcome would have changed had he not been mortally wounded. This program is combination of driving and hiking.

Car Caravan Tour
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Parking: Meet at the Visitor Center Distance: Entire Battlefield (Driving)

Park Ranger Laura Lee McKellips will lead a two-hour car caravan tour of the battlefield. This tour will allow visitors the opportunity to follow the battle in the chronological order as it developed. The tour will take visitors to the high points on the battlefield in order to interpret the story of the bloody Battle of Shiloh. While visiting historic sites such as Fraley Field, the Hornets’ Nest, and the Peach Orchard, participants will be afforded the opportunity to ask questions to achieve a better understanding of the epic battle.

Fighting for the Left: The Confederate Drive toward Pittsburg Landing
1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Parking: Park across from Peach Orchard, Meet at Tour Stop #18 Distance: Approximately 2 Miles

Terrain: Moderate, except for crossing two ravines

The Confederate objective in the Battle of Shiloh was to turn the Union left flank and cut General Grant’s army off from Pittsburg Landing. By the afternoon of April 6th, General Stephen Hurlbut’s Division and parts of General John McArthur’s Brigade stood in the way of this objective. The Union defense led Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston to lead Confederate forces into battle. The struggle to turn the Union left continued through the afternoon until 4:00 p.m. Join Charles Spearman on this tour and explore the severe struggle which occurred on this part of the battlefield.

The Union Center and the Hornets’ Nest
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Parking: Meet at Tour Stop #10 (Hornets’ Nest)
Distance: 2 Miles

Terrain: Moderate, passing through thick woods and crossing small streams

Join Park Ranger Timothy Arnold to learn about the severe fighting in the famed “Hornets’ Nest” of Shiloh. This hike will discuss the establishment of the area as a Union defensive position, units involved, small arms weapons and artillery used, as well as the truth versus the myth of the life and death struggle in this area. Learn about the Confederate attacks led by Colonel Randall Gibson’s Brigade, the leadership of Generals W.H.L. Wallace and Benjamin Prentiss, and the fate of each officer.

Grant’s Last Line: Stemming the Tide
5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Parking: Visitor Center Parking Lot, Meet in the grassy area in front of the Visitor Center Distance: Approximately 2 miles

Terrain: Easy to Moderate (Paved roads and wooded trails)

As the Army of the Tennessee gradually fell back during the fighting on April 6, Major General Ulysses S. Grant ordered Colonel Joseph D. Webster to establish a defensive position that would halt the Confederate advance and leave vital routes open for Union reinforcements to arrive. Join Park Ranger Anthony Killion for an approximately two-mile-long hike of this formidable "last line" and get a closer look at the terrain Union soldiers defended and Confederate soldiers assaulted as daylight faded on April 6, 1862. Was this where the outcome of the Battle of Shiloh was decided? Join the hike to learn more.

*Sunscreen, water, and insect repellent are recommended. Severe weather will cancel programs.

*Space is limited to 45 participants per hike.

General Lew Wallace Outflanks the Confederate Line
8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Parking: Meet at the Visitor Center

Distance: Approximately 2 Miles Walking and 2 Miles Driving Terrain: Moderate

Major General Lew Wallace’s Division arrived late on the battlefield on the first day of battle but was ready to attack early the next morning. He started the Union advance on right and outflanked the piecemeal Confederate line forcing them to retreat back toward Shiloh Church. Although Wallace was blamed for not arriving as early as expected on April 6th, he redeemed himself with his actions on Monday. Join Charles Spearman and explore the battle action of General Lew Wallace’s Division against the left flank of the Southern resistance to begin the second day of battle at Shiloh.

“Find the Enemy and Whip Him”
9:00 a.m.—11:00 a.m.
Parking: Tour Stop #19 (Bloody Pond)
Distance: 3.5 Miles

Terrain: Easy to Moderate

At sunrise on April 7, 1862, Brigadier General William “Bull” Nelson advanced his division across Dill Branch and kept advancing until he found a fight. With his left flank anchored on ravines feeding the Tennessee River and his right protected by Brigadier General Thomas Crittenden’s 5th Division, Nelson’s untested soldiers slugged it out with Confederate veterans of the previous day’s fighting at notable locations including the Bloody Pond, the Peach Orchard, and the Davis Wheatfield. Join Ranger Anthony Killion for a hike examining the terrain, decisions, and combat that defined the eastern portion of Shiloh Battlefield on the second day of fighting.  

Baptism of Fire: The Valor and Controversy of the 2nd Texas Infantry
10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Parking: Meet at Tour Stop #7
Distance: 5 Miles
Terrain: Moderate

From the coastal warehouses of Galveston to the bloody ravines of Tennessee, the 2nd Texas Infantry—the 'Texas Sharpshooters'—faced a baptism by fire at the Battle of Shiloh that would define their legacy forever. Join us for a three-hour walking journey as we trace their desperate route through the battlefield: from their dawn charge into Union camps and the climactic encirclement of the Hornet's Nest, to their final, exhausted stand near Pittsburg Landing. Join Matt McMillen, as we explore the stories of men like Sam Houston, Jr., who was wounded in the fray, and the leadership of Colonel John Creed Moore, while confronting the controversial accusations of cowardice that shadowed the regiment after the smoke cleared. Walk the ground where these Texans fought, suffered, and eventually earned a place of honor at a place called Shiloh. *Sunscreen, water, and insect repellent are recommended. Severe weather will cancel programs. *Space is limited to 45 participants per hike.

Crittenden Pushes the Center
11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Distance: 2 Miles

Parking: Tour Stop #2 (Confederate Memorial) Terrain: Moderate

General Thomas L. Crittenden’s 5th Division of General Don Carlos Buell’s Army of the Ohio was the center of the Union line as it began its counterattack on April 7th, 1862. To the troops fighting their way through the center of the battlefield that morning, the severity of the previous day’s combat became readily apparent. When the Union Division commanded by General Thomas Crittenden approached the dense thicket, which the day before was dubbed, “The Hornets’ Nest”, they ran into very heavy resistance. Over several hours of fighting the Union advance ground to a halt.

Join Park Ranger Timothy Arnold on a hike which will provide a glimpse into the division’s advance, as they attempted to negotiate the tangled wilderness of the Hornets’ Nest and drive the enemy from the Daniel Davis Wheat Field and the Hamburg-Purdy Road, where it halted as the battle drew to a close.

Car Caravan
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Parking: Meet at the Visitor Center
Distance: Entire Battlefield (Driving)

Park Ranger Laura Lee McKellips will lead a two-hour car caravan tour of the battlefield. This tour will allow visitors the opportunity to follow the battle in the chronological order as it developed. The tour will take visitors to the high points on the battlefield in order to interpret the story of the bloody Battle of Shiloh. While visiting historic sites such as Fraley Field, the Hornets’ Nest, and the Peach Orchard, participants will be afforded the opportunity to ask questions to achieve a better understanding of the epic battle.

Car Caravan
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Parking: Meet at the Visitor Center
Distance: Entire Battlefield (Driving)

Park Ranger Laura Lee McKellips will lead a two-hour car caravan tour of the battlefield. This tour will allow visitors the opportunity to follow the battle in the chronological order as it developed. The tour will take visitors to the high points on the battlefield in order to interpret the story of the bloody Battle of Shiloh. While visiting historic sites such as Fraley Field, the Hornets’ Nest, and the Peach Orchard, participants will be afforded the opportunity to ask questions to achieve a better understanding of the epic battle.

A Fighting McCook at Shiloh
2:00 p.m.—4:00 p.m.
Parking: Tour Stop #2 (Confederate Memorial)
Distance: 4 miles

Terrain: Moderate

Join Ranger Anthony Killion to retrace the fighting that occurred on Brigadier General Alexander McCook’s front on April 7, 1862, as his inexperienced troops endured their own fiery trial in places like Stacy Field, Duncan Field, and the Crossroads. Explore the tactics that officers employed to protect their units and learn about how a cobbled-together Confederate line was able to punch back against the Union offensive on the second day at bloody Shiloh.

The Rest of the Story: Aftermath of Shiloh
4:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Parking: Tour Stop #5

Join Park Ranger Timothy Arnold as we wrap up the second day of fighting. Both armies begin to realize just how much loss they endured and the psychological changes the soldiers experienced. In the days following the Battle of Shiloh, the Union Army regroups to continue their mission and the Confederates begin licking their wounds preparing for what comes next. Ranger Arnold will also cover the weeks following the battle leading up to the Siege of Corinth.

*Sunscreen, water, and insect repellent are recommended. Severe weather will cancel programs.

*Space is limited to 45 participants per hike.

The Shield of the South: Breckinridge’s Rear Guard and the Fight at Fallen Timbers Car Caravan

8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Parking: Meet at the Visitor Center Distance: 8 Miles Driving and Some Walking

Terrain: Moderately Easy

As the smoke of two days of unprecedented slaughter began to settle, the Confederate dream of a decisive victory at Shiloh had vanished. By the afternoon of April 7, General P.G.T. Beauregard faced a desperate reality: he had to extract a shattered, exhausted army before it was annihilated. The only thing standing between the retreating Confederates and total disaster was a thin line of weary soldiers tasked with the most dangerous job on the battlefield—the rearguard. Join Matt McMillen for a deep dive into the harrowing final hours of the Battle of Shiloh. We will retrace the footsteps of General John C. Breckinridge’s "Reserve Corps" as they stood their ground against a surging Union pursuit. Discover the strategic maneuvers that saved the Army of the Mississippi from a chaotic rout and explore the climactic clash at Fallen Timbers, where a daring cavalry charge led by Nathan Bedford Forrest provided the final, bloody punctuation to the battle. Experience the stories of sacrifice, the weight of command decisions made under fire, and the tactical brilliance that allowed a defeated army to live to fight another day.

*Sunscreen, water, and insect repellent are recommended. Severe weather will cancel programs.

*Space is limited to 45 participants per hike.

On Saturday, April 11, the park will conclude the 164th anniversary commemoration with a special living history program featuring a military encampment, company-level drill and firing demonstrations, and a guided, real-time battlefield hike led by living historians. 

A company-sized unit of living historians will portray Statham’s Brigade of Confederate infantry, part of Breckinridge’s Reserve Division, which served on the often-overlooked right flank of the Confederate Army. Visitors will follow a detailed color company representing either the 15th Mississippi Infantry or the 20th Tennessee Infantry along portions of the same routes those units traversed during the battle. Along the way, living historians will demonstrate company movements and provide first-hand accounts of the terrain and combat actions at key locations.

The guided hike will begin at 9:00 a.m. in Spain Field, located behind the Gladden Mortuary Monument. Visitor parking will be available in Barnes Field, across from Prentiss’ Headquarters. Signs will be posted, and park staff will be on duty to assist with parking and directions.
The hike will last approximately three hours and cover about 2.5 miles over uneven terrain. Visitors should wear comfortable walking shoes and dress appropriately for the weather. Drinking water, insect repellent, and sunscreen are recommended.

Following the hike, company-level drill, marching, and firing demonstrations will take place in the living history camp located in the Peach Orchard area (Tour Stop #18). Thirty-minute demonstrations will be offered at 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Visitor parking will be marked in the field across from the Peach Orchard.

From May 23 to 25, Shiloh National Military Park will host a weekend of special events and commemorative activities to honor the memory of American military service members who gave their lives in service to the nation. Visitors can experience live demonstrations, historic reenactments, and a solemn Memorial Day ceremony during a three‑day commemoration at Shiloh National Military Park.

“This annual Memorial Day event provides the opportunity to reflect upon the personal sacrifices made by our nation’s military service members and their families in defense of our freedoms,” said Acting Superintendent Randy Martin.

Living historians will present a U.S. Military History Timeline on the front lawn of the Shiloh Battlefield Visitor Center on May 23 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and on May 24 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., offering visitors the chance to interact with living history interpreters and explore the military experience across generations. In recognition of America’s 250th anniversary, the programs will also feature Revolutionary War weapons and equipment—including an 18th‑century swivel gun—with live firing demonstrations highlighting the evolution of American shoulder arms. These demonstrations will take place on both days at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Shiloh National Military Park will officially commemorate Memorial Day on May 25 with a remembrance ceremony at Shiloh National Cemetery. The one-hour ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. and will include a military flag presentation, patriotic music, a keynote address, a firing salute and the playing of Taps. This year’s keynote speaker will be Brigadier General Harold E. Lomenick of the Mississippi National Guard.

Brigadier General Lomenick, a respected resident of Iuka, Mississippi, stands as a distinguished businessman and senior officer in the Mississippi National Guard, renowned for his exemplary service, steadfast leadership, and enduring commitment to the betterment of his community. His early endeavors included participation on the Northeast Mississippi Junior/Community College football team, after which he advanced his academic studies at Mississippi State University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education in 1972 and a Master of Science degree in education in 1976. He further enhanced his military knowledge and leadership capabilities through his completion of the United States Army Command & General Staff College in 1977. In 1980, Brigadier General Lomenick embarked upon a highly successful career as an agent with State Farm Insurance, a position in which he continues to serve with honor and distinction.

Attendees are invited to bring lawn chairs or blankets to one of the longest continually running Memorial Day services in West Tennessee.

In commemoration of America’s 250th birthday, the park will lay a wreath at the grave of Shiloh National Cemetery’s sole Revolutionary War veteran, Private George S. Ross. A Patriot soldier who served in the Southern Campaign and fought in key engagements such as Rocky Mount and Hanging Rock, Ross later settled in Tennessee, where he received a land grant and pension for his service. He died in 1846 and is buried at Shiloh National Cemetery, remembered as one of the citizen soldiers who helped secure American independence.

Following the ceremony, park rangers will offer free guided programs and demonstrations throughout the afternoon.

Celebrating Our Nation’s 250th Anniversary 

The National Park Service is playing a leading role in the celebration and commemoration of the 250th anniversary of American independence. Throughout the country, national parks will host hundreds of 250th anniversary programs, events and exhibits, including many sites with direct connections to the formation of the country.

Shiloh National Military Park will officially commemorate Memorial Day on Monday, May 26, with a remembrance ceremony at Shiloh National Cemetery.

“This annual Memorial Day event provides the opportunity to reflect upon the personal sacrifices made by our nation’s military service members and their families in defense of our freedoms,” said Acting Superintendent Randy Martin.

The public is invited to bring lawn chairs or blankets and participate in one of the longest continually running Memorial Day services in West Tennessee. The one-hour ceremony will begin at 11:00 a.m. and will include a military flag presentation, patriotic music, a keynote address, a firing salute, and the playing of Taps.

This year’s keynote speaker will be Brigadier General Harold E. Lomenick of the Mississippi National Guard. Brigadier General Lomenick, a respected resident of Iuka, Mississippi, stands as a distinguished businessman and senior officer in the Mississippi National Guard, renowned for his exemplary service, steadfast leadership, and enduring commitment to the betterment of his community. His early endeavors included participation on the Northeast Mississippi Junior/Community College football team, after which he advanced his academic studies at Mississippi State University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education in 1972 and a Master of Science degree in education in 1976. He further enhanced his military knowledge and leadership capabilities through his completion of the United States Army Command & General Staff College in 1977. In 1980, Brigadier General Lomenick embarked upon a highly successful career as an agent with State Farm Insurance, a position in which he continues to serve with honor and distinction.

In addition to his many professional achievements, Brigadier General Lomenick has demonstrated unwavering dedication to civic service, holding leadership roles in numerous community organizations, including the Iuka Rotary Club, the Tishomingo County Development Foundation, and the Mississippi State University Alumni Association. He has also provided invaluable, forward-thinking leadership to the Iuka Battlefield Commission, guiding its preservation and interpretation initiatives related to the September 1862 Battle of Iuka and ensuring that this historic site is honored and understood by future generations. He is supported in all his endeavors by his devoted wife, Judy, and takes great pride in his daughters, Brandi and her husband Jeff Phillips, and Molly and her husband Jason Daerr, as well as his six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Throughout his remarkable career, Brigadier General Lomenick has been recognized with numerous prestigious honors, including the Federal Legion of Merit Award and the Mississippi Magnolia Cross Award, reflecting a lifetime of service marked by integrity, dedication, and distinction.

In commemoration of America’s 250th birthday, we will be laying a wreath at the grave of Shiloh National Cemetery’s sole Revolutionary War veteran, Private George S. Ross. Born on July 16, 1760, in Virginia, George Ross was a Patriot soldier who served in the Southern Campaign of the American Revolutionary War. Enlisting in South Carolina in 1780, he fought under leaders such as Thomas Sumter and Andrew Pickens, participating in key engagements including Rocky Mount and Hanging Rock.

After the war, Ross settled in Tennessee, where he received a land grant for his service and later a pension, with assistance from future president James K. Polk. He died on August 21, 1846, and is now buried at Shiloh National Cemetery, remembered as one of the citizen-soldiers who helped secure American independence.

Following the ceremony, park rangers will offer free guided programs and demonstrations throughout the afternoon. A complete schedule is attached to this news release and will also be available at the Shiloh Visitor Center.

Join the Shiloh Cannon Crew on Flag Day weekend at Shiloh National Military Park for powerful Civil War cannon firing demonstrations on the historic battlefield!

Hear the roar and watch the smoke rise once more as artillery comes to life.

Saturday Demonstrations:
10:00 a.m. • 11:30 a.m. • 1:30 p.m. • 3:00 p.m.

Sunday Demonstrations:
11:00 a.m. • 1:00 p.m. • 2:30 p.m.

📍 Programs take place across the street from the park’s visitor center.

Each 20-minute program explores the weapons, projectiles, and procedures used by Civil War artillery crews—and includes two live cannon firings.

Don’t miss this chance to experience history in action!