"Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by doing so some people have entertained angels without knowing it." - Hebrews 13:2



Monday, April 9, 2012

SORROW, JOY, AND SHILOH


The American Civil War brought many emotions. None stood out more than sorrow. Sorrow lurked around every corner and touched every soul during the War Between the States ~ civilian, soldier, slave, young, and old. Sorrow could be found on a battle list of wounded, dead, and missing. Sorrow rained from the sky in the form of tears from God on a battlefield…after the fighting was over.

So much was lost, but so much was gained during this difficult 4 years in our country’s history. When I stand on a battlefield, here on our home soil, I feel sorrow for those who sacrificed everything, but I also feel the joy of freedom that walks hand in hand from what their sacrifices and lessons left us—and future generations. These two feelings entwine in my heart as read about each war our country engaged—today and yesterday. We must remember the hard lessons we’ve learned from this particularly devastating war, and every war…or sorrow will flow like blood throughout the land once more.  

Between you, me and the gatepost,

Loree Huebner

CIVIL WAR MOVIE TRIVIA!
Most people have seen a movie with the Civil War as a back drop, or as the main story. At the bottom of this post, there are some Civil War Movie Trivia questions. Have fun! Test your knowledge! Some of them are from old time movies. Let me know how you did.

Now let’s drift back in time 150 years for this month’s Civil War Bivouac on Shiloh:



The Battle of Shiloh



In the first quarter of 1862, Federal victories at Mill Springs, Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, and Pea Ridge had restored most of Kentucky, Missouri, and Tennessee to the Union. Confederate forces were demoralized, while Union fortunes were inversely triumphant. To many, it seemed that one more, hard blow would crush the Confederacy. New and greater combinations were being prepared by the Union to end the rebellion.


Ulysses S Grant and his Army of the Tennessee were camped near Pittsburg Landing, just above the great bend of the Tennessee River. Don Carlos Buell was marching his Army of the Ohio from Nashville to join Grant. Their combined force would no doubt be able to take the vital rail junction at Corinth, turn west and take Memphis, or strike east toward Chattanooga.

CSA General Albert Sydney Johnston and his second in command, P. G. T. Beauregard saw the situation clearly enough. The one hope was to strike Grant’s army a devastating blow before it could be reinforced by Buell’s army. Rebel forces were rushed to Corinth from the Pensacola, New Orleans, and the Trans-Mississippi to reinforce the remnants of Johnston’s army from Kentucky and Tennessee. The combined force would give the Southerners numerical parity, if not an advantage over Grant’s army. The plan was to launch a surprise attack and destroy Grant’s army by driving it into the Tennessee River or Owl Creek.

Both armies were raw. Some of the men barely knew how to fire their muskets. The march from Corinth to Pittsburg Landing took so long that many of the Confederates had consumed all of their rations. The eager young rebels fired their weapons and made such a racket that Beauregard wanted to call off the attack. Johnston was indomitable, saying “I would fight them if they were a million.”

At dawn April 6, 1862 the Rebels attacked, catching the Federals unprepared. Sledgehammer attacks captured the Union camps and the raw soldiers of both armies stood to their work with obstinacy. Ordinary places on that field took on names terrible to remember, The Hornet’s Nest, the Peach Orchard, Bloody Pond, and Shiloh Church. 


Over 2,000 Federal soldiers were captured en masse after a bitter struggle for the Hornet’s Nest. At a crucial point in the battle, CSA commanding General A. S. Johnston was mortally wounded and afterward the offensive became less effective. As night fell, the Federal received heavy reinforcements as Lew Wallace’s division and Buell’s army began to arrive. On Sunday, April 7 the Union forces recaptured the lost ground and the Rebels retreated to Corinth.

The battle of Shiloh was a shock to the nation as 23,000 men were killed wounded, or missing. In 2 days of fighting there had been more casualties than the United States had suffered in all of its wars up to that point COMBINED. Strangely the battle was named for a church—Shiloh, which means “place of peace.” General Grant wrote that after this battle he was sure that the war would only be won through the subjugation of the South. It was said that the South “never smiled again” after Shiloh.

Until we meet again,

Eric J Huebner

Civil War Movie Trivia ~ questions written by Eric and Loree Huebner

1 Name the 1956 movie, set in Indiana, starring Gary Cooper and Dorothy McGuire, about a Quaker family struggling with duty, love, and faith in the face of a looming Rebel cavalry raid.

2 Name the actress who won “Best Actress in a Supporting Role” for her brilliant portrayal of, Mammy, in Gone With The Wind.

3 Who directed the 1951 version of The Red Badge of Courage?

4 Name the 1989, four-star, Civil War movie that won Denzel Washington an Oscar for “Best Supporting Actor.”

5 Name the 1959 cavalry movie, directed by John Ford, staring John Wayne and William Holden. It would be Ford’s only feature set during the Civil War, and roughly based on actual accounts.

6 Kevin Costner won “Best Director” for Dances With Wolves. He also starred in the film as a Civil War soldier. Name his Character.

7 Name the actor who played General Stonewall Jackson in 2003’s Civil War epic, God’s and Generals.

8 Name the 1941 cavalry classic, starring Errol Flynn and Olivia De Havilland, about the flamboyant, General George Custer.

9 Who directed the 2002 Civil War era film, The Gangs of New York, starring Leonardo De Caprio, Daniel Day-Lewis, and Cameron Diaz?

10 What 1957 film largely set in Indiana, starring Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift, was a MGM attempt to create a blockbuster, northern, Gone With The Wind?

STOP – THE ANSWERS ARE BELOW THE FOLLOWING PICTURE!




Shiloh's Opposing Generals
General U. S. Grant and General A. S. Johnston




1 Friendly Persuasion
2 Hattie McDaniel  ~ she was 44 when she won the Oscar, and she was also the first African American to win an Oscar.
3 John Huston
4 Glory  ~  one of my favorite CW movies!
5 The Horse Soldiers  ~  my favorite John Wayne movie!
6 Lt. John Dunbar
7 Actor, Stephan Lang  ~  he also played General George Pickett in the 1993 movie, Gettysburg…the first movie in the series.
8 They Died With Their Boots On
9 Martin Socrsese
10 Raintree County 

29 comments:

Victoria Lindstrom said...

Yikes, Loree. I only got #6 correct - Kevin Costner, as John Dunbar, in Dances with Wolves. I guess I'm more of a WWII buff. However, your comment about war in general is something we all need to remember. Thanks!

Jill Kemerer said...

Loved all the trivia, Loree! The heroine in my current WIP is obsessed with the Civil War, so this was extra delightful! She's from Virginia, so when she's upset, she watches Gettysburg and yells at the movie. I love her. :)

Jeanette Levellie said...

Oh, Friendly Persuasion is one of our favorite movies of all time--I love the scene where the mom whacks the reb over the head with her broom!

Thanks for a fun game!

Sarah Forgrave said...

23,000 men...wow. Thanks for another glimpse at history.

Jessica R. Patch said...

I only knew #4! And ONLY because my husband watches it all the time. I prefer Matthew Broderick in Ferris Bueler! LOL

I always learn so much! Thanks Loree and Eric!

Unknown said...

Hi Loree! Facinating history -- I had no idea that the battle of Shiloh cost 23,000 men. Such a price. Thinking about it makes me wish people would stop pushing socialism and realize how precious our freedom really is.

Sandra Orchard said...

I recognized some of the movies, but got zero on the name! ;(

Loree Huebner said...

Victoria: You did good! I thought that was a hard question.

Jill: I cannot wait to read this book with the heroine obsessed with the Civil War...I love her too!

Jeanette: I just saw that movie not too long ago on TCM. It's a great movie all around...serious, humor, and faith all wrapped up in one.

Sarah: 23,000 is almost unimaginable!

Jessica: Glory is such a great movie. Sometimes I listen to the soundtrack when I write. Colonel Robert Gould Shaw was such a serious role for Matthew Broderick...after Bueller...Bueller ;)

Gwen: 23,000 is a lot of men. Especially the way the fought back then.

Sandra: There's more coming next month. I'm sure you will recognize some of the movies.

Victoria, Jill, Jeanette, Sarah, Jessica, Gwen, and Sandra, thanks so much for stopping by. I enjoyed reading your comments.

Rhonda Schrock said...

Oh, my husband loves this stuff! He's the history buff; got that angled covered. Sometimes I wonder just how many times you can watch the Nazis invade on the History Channel and boo from the couch? :):)

Waving and smiling,

Rhonda

Deana said...

Apparently I need to brush up on my Civil War history. I didn't know any of the answers to your trivia:(

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

I'm not good with these kind of questions. I've only seen two of the movies mentioned.

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

I'm not a movie buff, so I didn't even attempt the trivia questions.

War is awful, but as one person said, "Freedom isn't free." I'm thankful for all those who have fought to preserve this country.

Blessings,
Susan

Cynthia Chapman Willis said...

I am awful with trivia, but I loved your beautifully written post. There are many, many lessons for us to learn from our wars and history.

Loree Huebner said...

Rhonda: Welcome here! My hubby is the extreme history buff. He can watch anything history related...particularly American history. I agree, sometimes the documentaries seem to run together.

Deana: You'll do better next time! :)

Lynda: Some of these movies are oldies. It's surprising how many Civil War related movies there are.

Susan: Indeed, war is awful and certainly "freedom isn't free" - thank you for your wonderful words to those who have fought for it.

Cynthia: Thank you. There are so many history lessons we must hold dear.

Rhonda, Deana, Lynda, Susan, and Cynthia, thank you for chiming in!

Shelley Sly said...

That trivia was interesting! I'm fascinated by the Civil War. Would love to read a (non-fiction) book on it sometime.

Ruth Schiffmann said...

You can't make me tell you how bad I did on the trivia ;)

New follower here, nice to meet you. Enjoyed this thoughtfully written post.

Unknown said...

Sorry I'm commenting late here, Loree, but I looove the trivia! Fun stuff...history fascinates me, so I love it when I get a good dose on your blog. :)

Loree Huebner said...

Shelley: There are some really great books on the Civil War. It was a fascinating and strange time in our country's history.

Inluvwithwords: Welcome here! Nice to meet you! Glad you stopped in.

Melissa: You are never never never late! This post is up all week. You can come by anytime it's convenient for you! Thanks for the compliment! I just love to share history.

Shelley, inluv, and Melissa, thanks for popping in. I love reading your comments!

Carol Riggs said...

You're just a treasure trove of historical info!! Nice trivia bits too. Thanks. :)

Jessica Nelson said...

What a beautiful post you wrote. War is so sad...:-( But I agree we've got much to learn from history.

Cheryl Linn Martin said...

I was back east two years ago and was able to visit Gettysburg. Hard to imagine all the horror that happened there. It seemed so peaceful.

Aloha! --Cheryl

Loree Huebner said...

Carol: You are just so sweet! Enjoyed your blog post today!

Jessica: Thank you! We must remember the lessons learned.

Cheryl: Gettysburg is so peaceful. You really have to use your imagination to picture the horrendous fighting that took place there.

Carol, Jessica, and Cheryl, thanks for stopping by! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. I enjoy reading each and every one.

Jayne said...

Imagine--leading men who barely know how to use their muskets? Oh, boy, yes, let's never forget the hard lessons we’ve learned!

Loree Huebner said...

Jayne: I know...I know...
I hope you find that groove again on your break. I'll be thinking about you.

Thanks for stopping in!

troutbirder said...

Ouch! I consider myself reasonably knowledgeable on Civil War History but movies.... not so much. I only got Glory on the movie quiz even though I had seen several of the others. :)

Unknown said...

You're officially my new history teacher! Love it!

Loree Huebner said...

trout: Glory is one of the best CW movies. Some of those are tough questions.

Julie: Awww...thanks! Stay safe in those storms!

trout and Julie, thanks for dropping by!

MTeacress said...

I didn't get a one - but I remember reading Red Badge of Courage as a young teen and the impression it left upon me. The price of war is terrible.

Loree Huebner said...

Michelle: The Red Badge of Courage is an important Civil War novel. I recently re-read it. Such a great story.

Thanks for stopping in!