Drive from Nashville to Memphis

Along the way I wanted to stop at Shiloh. It looking much closer on Google maps! Unfortunately, I was not up to the 51 miles each way detour so instead we went to the Parker's Crossing Civil War trail and memorial. It is called Parker's Crossing because the battle occurred in the front lawn of Reverend Parker's house. Parker supported the North and the end of slavery until the battle got close to damaging his house when he suddenly changed sides and declared he supported the South. For some reason the Union forces didn't care and kept their artillery in his yard anyway. So to show them he was buried with his feet facing north and his head facing south in the old Jones Cemetery. That is what passed for spite in the old days.

This trip also reminded me why I like travelling with the kids. While we were walking along the trail J found a nest of baby birds in the barrel of a cannon. Adults find the battlefields, kids find the birdsnests.