Lawnfield, Library Continue Civil War Series With Battle Of Shiloh

and will continue their series of lunchtime talks on the major battles of the Civil War with "The Battles of Shiloh" at noon Wednesday.

Park Volunteer Dan Vermilya will lead the talk at noon this Wednesday in the library's .

The program is free and people are invited to bring their own lunch.

The battle, nicknamed “bloody Shiloh,” took place near the town of Pittsburg Landing, TN on April 6 and 7, 1862. About 44,000 Confederates under Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston and 40,000 Federals led by Gen. Ulysses S. Grant hammered away at one another for two days.

The southerners sought to protect their communication and supply lines based in nearby Corinth, MS, while the northerners hoped to attack the city and permanently break western Confederate railroad communications.

"Shiloh was, at the time, the bloodiest battle in U.S. history," said Park Ranger Todd Arrington. "This battle had a number of impacts on the course of the Civil War, not the least of which was the continued rise of Ulysses S. Grant’s status as a Union commander."

Vermilya will provide information about the battle’s background, actions and results during the talk, Arrington said.

Coincidentally, the Shiloh battlefield -- like President James Garfield's Mentor home -- is preserved as a national park.

The monthly Civil War series will continue May 9 with a program that focuses on the battle of Winchester, Virginia.

The joint series coincides with the park's commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.

All of the talks are free and open to the public. However, those interested should register beforehand. They can do so on the library's website or by calling 440-255-8811.