The Opryland Hotel in Nashville
July 26 Last night I stayed at the Hilton, so I got up at 4:30 a.m., got ready and went to the airport to catch my 6:20 a.m. flight. I flew to Nashville. When I got to Nashville at about 12:45 p.m. I drove right to Murfreesboro and the Stones River Battlefield. I got there at about 1:20 p.m. A Ranger Guided tour had started at about 1 p.m. I caught up with the tour. It lasted until about 2:30 p.m. The ranger stopped at the Slaughter Pen, The Cotton Field and The Cemetery.
When the tour was over, I went back to the visitor's center, bought some postcards and a driving tour CD. Then I went through the small museum. I wanted to kill thirty minutes, because there would be another program at 3:00 p.m. which I did. It was about the formation of the Pioneer Brigade at Stones River. This was the precursor to the corps of engineers in the modern day military. The Ranger told us about how the brigade was formed and where they fought at Stones River (supporting the Chicago Board of Trade).
Afterwards, I took the driving tour of the battlefield. I walked again through the Slaughter Pen. I also walked to the Hazen Monument in the Round Forest and down to McFadden's Ford where Breckenridge's Men (including the Orphan Brigade) were shattered by Union Artillery on Jan. 2, 1863.
I then drove back to Nashville. I had to be at my hotel by about 5:30 p.m. for Grayline to pick me up to go to The Grand Ole Opry. I pulled into the Hilton parking lot at about 5:15, checked int the hotel, and then went outside to wait. I only waited about five minutes before my ride was there. My driver picked up about twenty others and then we went to the Opry. Since I hadn't eaten since the airport, I got a chicken sandwich, some chips and a drink before the show and then went to sit down. The show lasted about two hours with, I believe, eight different performers. It is all country music there. I am not a country music fan, but I still enjoyed the show. When it was done, Grayline took us back to our hotels. I bought some ice-cream and something to drink in the gift shop, then went up to my room. After my snack, I went to bed.
July 27 I got up at about 7:30 a.m., got ready for the day and checked out of the hotel. Since the Hilton didn't offer a free breakfast, I decided to drive to the Hermitage, Andrew Jackson's Home. On the way, I stopped at a Cracker Barrel and had some pancakes. When I got to the Hermitage, saw a short movie on Jackson and his home, and then went to the house. I had a tour through the home. It was incredible. One of the guides said that about 95% of the furniture was original. Also, the wallpaper is original to the home. As you can see from the postcards, it is very beautiful. When the tour was over, I walked through the gardens and to Jackson's tomb where I took a few pictures. Outside of the home, there is a self-guided walking tour of the farm and grounds which I did. I enjoyed seeing the slave cabin that still stands on the grounds from Jackson's time. I then took a guided tour of "the farm" from one of the employees at the Hermitage. He talked to us about what was grown on Jackson's farm, about the buildings that were on the farm, and a little about the slaves there. I had spent almost three hours at the Hermitage. This was enough for me. I stopped at the gift shop, bought a few postcards, and then left for Franklin.
It took about forty-five minutes to drive to The Carter House in Franklin, Tennessee. I had finished reading a book on the battle of Franklin just a few weeks prior to my trip, so I wanted to see The Carter House. This home was right behind the Union Earthworks when the Confederates attacked. The Carter Family hid in their cellar until the battle was over. The father decided, after the battle, that he should not repair his home and outbuildings. Thus, we have The Carter Home today. the inside of the home has been restored to the way it was then. I had a tour of the home and the outbuildings. I was amazed looking at the home and other buildings owned by the Carter family. The walls were riddled with bullets. Our guide also pointed out the white marks on the buildings. The Confederates actually punched through the Union lines here, but were pushed back over the earthworks. My stay at the Carter House lasted about 1 1/2 hours. I knew I had a long drive to Shiloh. I left Franklin at about 2:30 p.m. and started driving. I hoped to get to Shiloh Battlefield before 5 p.m. so that I could buy the driving tour CD and spend the evening on the battlefield there. By the time I got to Shiloh though, it was 5:10 p.m. The Battlefield visitor's center closed at 5 p.m. I decided to go then to my hotel. As I drove to the hotel, I crossed the Pickwick Dam and then got lost. I decided to pull over and call the hotel on my cell to get directions. While I was pulled over, a man saw me from across the street and gave me directions to the hotel. It was in the middle of nowhere. When I checked into the hotel, I asked the front desk employee if there was a restaurant anywhere nearby. He told me of one place. I decided to go find it. I ended up driving south about ten miles into Alabama. I actually crossed the Tennessee River and then drove back toward the hotel. I saw a seafood place called Freddy T's and decided to stop there for something to eat. I ended up having fried shrimp. It tasted very good. Then I drove back to the hotel, rested and watched T.V. until I went to bed.
July 28 I got up, took a shower, got cleaned up and then went to the hotel's lobby for breakfast. Since I was staying at a Hampton Inn, I got a free breakfast. Afterward, I went back up to my room, packed up, brushed my teeth and then checked out of the hotel.
I drove back to the Shiloh Battlefield and stopped first at the visitor's center. I wanted to see what kinds of ranger tours would be offered that day. I also bought some postcards and a driving tour CD. When I was done at the visitor's center, it was about 9 a.m. As I started the driving tour, I saw two deer on the battlefield. I would see four more as the day progressed. My first stop was Fraley Field where the battle began. I walked to the field and took a picture or two. I continued with the tour and walked along the Sunken Road. I took a few pictures there and also stopped at Ruggle's Battery. It was really amazing to think that there were sixty-two cannons there firing away at the Hornet's Nest and Sunken Road. I then took part in the first ranger tour of the day: Why the battle was fought at Shiloh Church. The Ranger took us through the cemetery and down to Pittsburgh Landing. He told us that the Landing was a deep water landing area. The other landing areas at that time couldn't be used, because if I remember right, the water was very high. The other port areas on the Tennessee River were platform-like. Thus, they couldn't be used because they were underwater.
After the ranger tour, I continued the driving tour to Albert Sidney Johnston's death site. This was the same Johnston of Johnston's Army in Utah. He was shot in the back of the leg. The ball severed an artery, but Johnston didn't tell anyone until it was too late. He died in a ravine on the battlefield which I hiked to.
Then I drove back to the visitor's center for another ranger program. He was dressed as a Union Infantryman and showed us the things a Union soldier carried into battle including food and weapons. I especially enjoyed seeing what the hardtack looked and felt like. At the end of the program, he loaded and fired his Springfield Rifle (without a bullet).
Since I was hungry, I drove to Savannah, Tennessee about ten miles away and had lunch at a Taco Bell. When I was finished with my meal, I returned to the Shiloh Battlefield and continued my CD car tour. At two p.m. I drove to the Sunken Road for a ranger tour there. The ranger walked with us up the Sunken Road to the Hornet's Nest. He told us about how the Confederates repeatedly attacked the Hornet's Nest, but weren't able to dislodge the Union fighters there until Ruggle's brought in the artillery. The tour lasted about 45-50 minutes.
Afterwards, I finished the driving tour and then drove over to the Peach Orchard. This was at 3:30 p.m. This would be the last Ranger tour I would do at Shiloh. I actually had a private tour of the Peach Orchard with the ranger. He told me how the Confederates repeatedly attacked the Union left at the Peach Orchard until they fell back and had to retreat. The ranger also walked with me over to the Bloody Pond. He told me about how the wounded soldiers congregated there for water and many even died there. I believe it is a very special, hallowed place.
My tour with the ranger was over at about 4:30 p.m. I knew I had a long drive to Chattanooga, so I got going. I stayed on Highway 64 for 3 1/2 hours until I got to I-24. From I-24, it took another 45 minutes to get to Chattanooga and my hotel, another Hampton Inn. When I got to Chattanooga, it was 9:30 p.m. I realized that I had gone from Central to Eastern Standard time. I walked across the street to Wendy's and had something to eat and then went back to the hotel and went to bed.
July 29 I got up, got cleaned up, had breakfast and then went to the Chickamauga Battlefield. When I got there at 9:30 a.m., I signed up for the ranger car tour at 10:30 a.m. I went through the museum and musket collection, bought the driving tour CD and postcards, and then joined the car caravan ranger tour. Since I had been to Chickamauga with my dad before, a lot what I heard from the ranger was not new. He took us first to Battlefield Row where he talked about Breckenridge's attack against Thomas on Sept. 20th. Then he stopped at Kelly Field and finally at Snodgrass Hill. When he was done, I did the driving tour.
From there, I drove to Lookout Mountain and Point Park. I knew there was a ranger tour at Point Park at 2 p.m. which I wanted to do. The ranger walked us around up there and told us about the Battle of Lookout Mountain as well as the battles of Orchard Knob and Missionary Ridge which enabled the Union Army there to break out of the Confederate Siege. I really enjoyed this tour. On my way over to Rock City, I stopped at a cafe for a late lunch. I ended up having a Reuben. Then I continued onto Rock City. It took me about 1 1/2 hours to walk the path. Unfortunately, it was very cloudy, so the views of Chattanooga weren't that good. But, I loved the path. I would definitely go back to Rock city again.
The last thing I did for the day at about 6 p.m. was drive over to Missionary Ridge. I wanted to see what was there to see. There were a few monuments, but the whole area is privately owned now. I drove back to the hotel, watched some T.V. and then went to bed.
July 30 This would be my last day in Tennessee. I got up, got cleaned up, had breakfast and then checked out of the hotel. There would be a special battlefield walk with a Ranger today at 9:30 a.m. at Chickamauga Battlefield. When I got there, the ranger showed us on a map Bragg's plan to attack the Union army at Chickamauga. He also showed us where the Confederates would cross Chickamauga Creek to attack. We then drove out onto the battlefield about two miles. We stopped at a dirt road. The ranger now told us we would hike to the ford where the Confederates crossed. As we walked the mile to mile and a half road, the ranger pointed out that the dirt road we were walking on was the I-75 of its time. He said that the road had been preserved and stood in essentially the same condition as it had during the battle. I was amazed by this. When we got to the ford, I could definitely see how soldiers and wagons could cross there. It was not deep at all. We then walked back up to the site of the Hunt Farm. The ranger read a personal memoir from a woman who was at the Hunt Farm during and after the battle. The farm was used as a hospital. It was incredible to think that thousands of wounded confederates had been treated there. We then walked back to our cars. It was now time to drive back to Nashville.
It took me about two hours to drive to Nashville and I got there at about 1:15 p.m. (the time change). Mike had suggested that I see the Opryland Hotel, so that's what I did. I was amazed by what I saw. I really can't describe it. You just have to see and experience it. I had lunch at a restaurant in the hotel. After lunch, I drove to the airport. I connected in Cincinnati and made it home by about 11:30 p.m. It really was a great trip! I enjoyed myself very much!
The Georgia Aquarium
Crabs and Penguins
A Whale Shark
Beluga Whale
The Atlanta Cyclorama
At the Georgia Dome for The Tournament
Rock City
Some of my favorite spots at Rock City
The Stone Bridge
At Rock City
The Carter House in Franklin, Tennessee
Outbuildings at the Carter House in Franklin, Tennessee with bullet holes in them from the battle.
Inside the Carter House
At The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville
Bell Buckle, Tennessee
The Slaughter Pen
Hazen Monument in the Round Forest.
McFadden Ford where Confederates Charged against the Union left Flank on Jan. 2, 1863.
Cotton Field at Stones River
Chicago Board of Trade Battery
Stones River National Cemetery
At the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville
Inside the Grand Ole Opry
The Hermitage-Andrew Jackson's home
Inside Jackson's Home
Jackson and his wife's tomb
Slave Duplex home at the Hermitage
Jackson's Carriage
The Carter House at The Battle of Franklin
Kitchen and Outbuilding at the Carter House where the Battle of Franklin Happened.
Shiloh National Battlefield--Fraley Field where the Battle started.
Reconstructed Shiloh Church
The Sunken Road
The Hornet's Nest
Confederate Ruggle's Battery that chased Union soldiers out of the Hornet's Nest.
Peach Orchard and Manse George Cabin at the Peach Orchard
Confederate General Albert Sidney Johnston Monument
Pond where many soldiers died.
Mass Gravesite of Confederate soldiers
Shiloh National Cemetery
Rock City
The Path at Rock City
Rock City
White Deer at Rock City
The Stone Bridge at Rock City
Lover's Leap and Swing Along Bridge at Rock City
Kelly Field at Chickamauga National Battlefield
Brotherton Cabin & Field at Chickamauga
Dalton's Ford--I hiked to this spot with a Ranger at Chickamauga
Chattanooga from Lookout Mountain.
The Opryland Hotel in Nashville