Roar of cannon to be heard at Shiloh, June 23-24

The Shiloh Artillery Crew is presenting cannon firing demonstrations at Shiloh National Military Park this weekend, June 23-24.
The crew will be firing the park’s 6-pounder smooth-bore cannon, a gun which saw its first battles during the Mexican-American War in 1846-48.

Confederate cannon fire (NPS photo by Chris Mekow)

“There were more 6-pounders at Shiloh than any other type of cannon,” said park Superintendent Dale Wilkerson.
“Nearly 40 percent of the big guns in this battle were 6-pounders,” Wilkerson noted, “with 56 being used by the Confederate batteries and 40 being used by the Union forces.”
The artillery firing demonstrations take place at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m., 10 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. Sunday.
Each 30 minute program interprets the weapon, its projectiles, and the procedures Civil War artillery crews used to fire the gun during the war. As always, these demonstrations are free and open to the public.
The Visitor Center and bookstore at Shiloh Battlefield are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Shiloh movie, “Shiloh – Fiery Trial” is shown daily in the Visitor Center on the hour beginning at 8 in the morning and with the last showing at 4 in the afternoon.