Tennalabassippi

Have you ever heard of or met a Basenji dog?  Basenjis are medium-sized, short-haired dogs that originate from Central Africa.  They were bred to hunt lions and don't bark.  Rather, Basenjis communicate by making a noise between a yodel and a chuckle.  According to their owners, new looper friends Bill and Bobbie (also Mainship owners, "First Forty," hometown in Colorado), Basenjis have the ability to spring to heights such that a 6-foot-high backyard fence is not high enough!

Today, we left Aquayachts Marina on Pickwick Lake to begin our southbound journey back down the Tenn-Tom Waterway.  Pickwick Lake is situated between the Pickwick and Wilson Dams on the Tennessee River, and its waters span into corners of the states of Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi.  This area of the country offered us the beauty of the area's lake waters and forests (we were reminded of our beloved  Pacific Northwest and Minnesota homes), the warmth of family and new friends, as well as stories and supporting artifacts of an ugly chapter in our nation's history. 

Located less than 30 minutes from Aquayachts Marina are the Civil War battlefields of Shiloh and Corinth.  These battles occurred earlier in the Civil War, in 1862, with the Union’s goal to take control of the two key railroad supply lines that intersect in the small town of Corinth.  The 2-day battle of Shiloh happened in April and was narrowly won by the Union, but left 23,746 total casualties (5 mass graves are located at the Shiloh National Military Park), dissipating hopes that the war would soon be over. 

After Shiloh, thousands of Confederate soldiers fled to the small town of nearby Corinth (population at the time was approximately 1,000) for medical attention and to protect the rail lines.  A state-wide call for supplies, food and volunteers was made.  Due to a drought that summer of 1862, there was a shortage of water.  Given the resulting over-population within the town, the lack of water and sanitary conditions, as well as the heat, humidity and insects, by October when the Union forces approached Corinth to take final control of the area, the Confederate army staged the town to appear “armed and ready” with cannon props, burned anything the Union might consider of value, sent those needing medical attention away via empty rail cars, and then quietly left before the Union troops arrived.  Despite no battle actually took place in Corinth, an additional 7,000+ Union and Confederate soldiers were lost in the process.

While the Union troops occupied Corinth, the “Corinth Contraband Camp” was established.  This was a first step for enslaved people who fled their plantations seeking freedom to find refuge, as well as receive religious, academic and vocational instruction.  Nearly 2,000 formerly enslaved men who passed through the “Contraband Camp” enlisted in the Union Army.

This past Sunday, we had the pleasure of having Brenda's cousins, Cheryl Cape West and Barbara Cape O'Brien visit us.  Cheryl and Barbara live in Memphis; we so happy that they would drive the 2 hours to see us!  This is Cheryl with Brenda on the flying bridge of Velsignet.

This is Cheryl and Barbara.  We couldn't remember the last time we'd seen each other; it has literally been decades!  It was fun to catch up!  The Cape family had a lake home on Pickwick Lake, so they were very familiar with the area and Aquayachts Marina.

Barbara is a neurologist in her father's provider group; Cheryl teaches French.

On Monday, Mike and Brenda with new looper friends, Bill and Bobbie Bristow (from Colorado) used the marina's courtesy car to visit Shilo and Corinth National Military Park.  This is the visitor's center at Shiloh.

Minnesota sent soldiers to fight in the Civil War.  This is the Minnesota memorial to honor the men who fought here.

The wording isn't the easiest to read in this photo; it give details of those in command and more re: Minnesota soldiers.

The battles at Shiloh were some of the bloodiest in the Civil War with casualties exceeding 23,000 Union and Confederate soldiers.  This is a cemetery at the National Military Park.

After Shiloh, we drove 18 miles to Corinth to the Visitor Center there. 

The Visitor Center in Corinth.

The day Cheryl and Barbara came to Aquayachts Marina was sunny and pleasant.  

This is a photo of a Basenji dog (taken from the internet).  This looks very similar to Bill and Bobbie's 2 Basenji dogs.

Before our visits to Shiloh and Corinth, Bill and Bobbie and Mike and Brenda enjoyed breakfast at the Outpost at Pickwick.  The place was highly recommended to us for their breakfasts, and it did not disappoint. The owners of the restaurant work with a local church to hire youth that can learn from each other (model youth and troubled youth) while they provide customer service to others.  We were told that the troubled youth kind of "figure things out" being around the model youth, and the model youth learn "patience!"