News Release

Living History Bus Tour Offers Firsthand Accounts from Battle of Shiloh

Five Characters on the Shiloh Living Bus History Tour. (l-r) Leander Stillwell, Ann Wallace, Sam Houston, Jr, Belle Reynolds, and Cyrus Boyd

Complied by NPS Mekow

News Release Date: August 31, 2026
Contact: Shiloh National Military Park

SHILOH, Tenn. — Shiloh National Military Park is offering a special bus tour for visitors to learn about the Battle of Shiloh through the eyes of those who experienced it firsthand. The “Meet the Past” tour will feature living historians presenting the stories of five individuals from historical accounts, letters, diaries and other primary sources.

“The bus tour will take visitors to historic sites on the battlefield where they will meet people who experienced the Battle of Shiloh and hear their stories,” “We’re excited to once again offer this unique opportunity to experience the Battle of Shiloh,” said Acting Superintendent Randy Martin. “When we debuted this event in 2024, it was almost completely booked. We look forward to sharing it with even more people this year.

”The Battle of Shiloh was a two-day battle in April 1862 that raged around Shiloh Church and Pittsburg Landing. Producing more than 23,000 casualties, the battle was the largest engagement in the Mississippi Valley campaign during the Civil War.Visitors will encounter the following individuals whose lives were forever changed by the Battle of Shiloh:

• Sam Houston, Jr., Texas soldier
• Belle Reynolds, Union nurse
• Leander Stillwell, Union soldier
• Ann Dickey Wallace, wife of General W.H.L. Wallace
• Cyrus Boyd, 15^th Iowa Infantry soldier

The “Meet the Past” bus tour is free, but seating is limited. Tours will depart from the Shiloh Battlefield Visitor Center on Sept. 12 at 2:00, 2:30, 3:50 and 4:20 p.m. Each tour will last approximately one hour and 45 minutes.Reservations are required.

To reserve seats, please call 731-689-5696.For more information on all events at both the Shiloh and Corinth battlefields please call 731-689-5696 or visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/shil, on X at /ShilohNPS and our Facebook page at facebook.com/ShilohNMP.

nps.gov

About the National Park Service.  Established in 1916, the National Park Service preserves America’s most treasured natural and cultural places for the enjoyment, education and inspiration of current and future generations. Learn more at nps.gov.   

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