Near Shiloh in Hardin County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

First Minnesota Light Artillery

Prentiss' Division

— Army of the Tennessee —

First Minnesota Light Artillery Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, March 16, 2009

1. First Minnesota Light Artillery Monument

Inscription. (Front): Minnesota
(Back):First Minnesota Battery Light Artillery.
Capt. Emil Munch,
Brig. Gen. B.M. Prentiss' Division.
Army of the Tennessee.
Engaged from early in the morning, when Capt. Munch was wounded and disabled, in the first day's battle of Shiloh, April 6, 1862. The right and left sections under command of 1st Lieut. William Pfaender participated in the struggle of the "Hornet's Nest" where this monument stands. The two guns of the center section were disabled early in the day, but one of them took part in the evening in repelling the last charge of the Confederates. Capt. E. Munch and 1st Lieut. F.E. Peebles wounded; three men killed and six men wounded.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is April 6, 1867.

Location. 35° 8.155′ N, 88° 20.273′ W. Marker is near Shiloh, Tennessee, in Hardin County. Marker is at the intersection of Eastern Corinth Road and Hornets Nest Loop, on the right when traveling south on Eastern Corinth Road. Located near the intersection of the "Sunken Road" and the Eastern Corinth Road in Shiloh National Military Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Shiloh TN 38376, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Surrender of the Hornets' Nest (a few steps from this

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marker); "Hornets Nest" (a few steps from this marker); 12th Iowa Infantry Regiment (within shouting distance of this marker); Impenetrable Thicket (within shouting distance of this marker); 14th Iowa Infantry Regiment (within shouting distance of this marker); Arkansas Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Munch's Battery (within shouting distance of this marker); 21st Missouri Infantry (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Shiloh.

Back of Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, March 16, 2009

2. Back of Monument

Monument as Seen from the Road image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, March 16, 2009

3. Monument as Seen from the Road

The monument is flanked by a James Type 1 3.80-inch Rifle and a 6-pdr Model 1841 smoothbore. Both guns use the same design, and look very similar from a distance.

3.80-inch James Rifle, Type 1 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, March 16, 2009

4. 3.80-inch James Rifle, Type 1

This gun used the design of the Model 1841 6-pdr, but had a larger and rifled bore. The rifling features fifteen lands and grooves. The gun was cast in 1961 by Ames Manufacturing, of Massachusetts. Note the holes in the breech above the knob for mounting of the rear sight.

Muzzle of Rifled Gun image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, March 16, 2009

5. Muzzle of Rifled Gun

Showing the fifteen lands and grooves.

6-pdr Field Gun Model 1841 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, March 16, 2009

6. 6-pdr Field Gun Model 1841

The companion piece, which externally looks very similar to the rifle, is a smoothbore 6-pdr cast in 1857 by Cyrus Alger, of Boston, Massachusetts. The three holes on the breech face above the knob, where the hause bracket was mounted, are an external indication this piece is a smoothbore.

Muzzle of 6-pdr Model 1841 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, March 16, 2009

7. Muzzle of 6-pdr Model 1841

No lands and grooves for a smoothbore! The registry number, 159, appears at the top. The inspecting officers initials - B.H. for Benjamin Huger - appear at the bottom. (Huger had served in the U.S. Army for over thirty years before resigning his commission to join the Confederate army in 1861.)

Credits. This page was last revised on March 20, 2019. It was originally submitted on September 27, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,080 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on September 27, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.