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The Spirits of Shiloh
 One of the greatest ironies in history is that the word "Shiloh" means "peace" in Hebrew. During the Civil War, the Battle of Shiloh was one of the most bloody in history, with thousands of men on both sides being killed.
The battle began on Sunday, April 6, 1862, near Shiloh Methodist Church, which lent it's name forever to the battle. The battle began with the Confederate troops strongly outnumbering the Union troops, and also being much well organized. In fact, at the time the battle began, U.S. General U.S. Grant was eating breakfast ten miles away at Cherry Mansion in Savannah. No one knows why he was so far away, though it is rumored the alcoholic Union general was suffering from a hangover following a wild night of drinking. In any event, his absence nearly cost the Union the battle. Eventually, the Confederates were outnumbered, and had to retreat. They were pursued for a while by Union Gen. Sherman, until they reached Confederate Gen. N.B. Forrest, at which time Sherman gave up the pursuit Today, the battlefield is haunted, or so they say. Not that any park official will tell you that. But there have been rumors for years about ghosts that inhabit the place. One of the most famous is the tale about a young Union drummer, who didn't know how to drum retreat. He accidentally drummed "charge," which led to an accidental advance by Union troops. Though it was a huge gamble, it did pay off, and the drummer was seen as a hero. Unfortunately, the boy was killed. It is said today that if you listen closely, you can still hear him drumming.
Another tale involves bizarre activity at the old caretaker's home. According to reports, many strange things happened there, such as unexplained footsteps, opening and closing of doors, and sometimes voices. No one knows what caused this phenomena. Then, of course, there are distant gunshots and the sounds of marching, which are standard at all battlefields. Are they real, or just the result of someone's overactive imagination? We may never know, because the park is closed after dark!
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Another tale is about Bloody Pond. During the battle, it became a horrendous sight. Dying soldiers would crawl to it to get a drink and clean their wounds. Many soldiers and horses died in the water, and it's said that the pond turned blood red. Today, it has been known to do the same on occasion, though some might say it's just an optical illusion caused by the way the sun hits it. Still, it would be enough to cause discomfort. 