History class visits Shiloh National Military Park

Dr Douglas Cupple's class HIST 4670/6670 (Civil War and Reconstruction) made a field trip to the Shiloh National Military Park in early April, when a renactment of the battle that was fought there in April 1862 was being held. Mike Altman was the photographer for the three views of the living history demonstrations you see here:




A University of Memphis student strolls through a Union camp to observe the daily soldiers' life during the American Civil War. On display were tents, uniforms, arms, accoutrements, camp cooking gear, tents, and a variety of other items used by the soldiers. Reenactors gave the students an authentic insight that included company drill and bayonet practice.




Dressed in authentic officers' and enlisted men's uniforms, reenactors give a narrative of the role played by both Union and Confederate navies during the war. Among the topics presented were the lives of the common sailors along with discussions on amphibious operations, life on the blockaders, and the evolving role of technology in naval warfare.




University of Memphis instructor Doug Cupples discusses the state of field artillery during the War and the important role of the Hornet's Nest in the Union defence and the Confederate's massing of sixty-two cannons (the largest number assembled in American warfare to that date) to break the Federal line. An artillery demonstration and firing gave students the feel, sound, and smell of black powder, muzzle-loading mid-19th-century artillery.