Cannons to roar two days at Shiloh National Military Park in honor of Independence Day

Shiloh National Military Park is hosting an artillery weekend in honor of the Fourth of July holiday.

The park plans to have Civil War firing demonstrations on Saturday and Sunday, July 1-2. The firing demonstrations are presented by the Shiloh cannon crew, firing a 6-pounder field piece across the street from the Visitors’ Center, 1055 Pittsburgh Landing Road, Shiloh.

“The 6-pounder field piece being demonstrated this upcoming weekend was the most common field artillery piece used in the battle of Shiloh. Of the 251 cannons used in the battle, 96 of them were 6-pounders,” said Acting Park Superintendent Stacy Allen.

The cannon firing demonstrations are set for Saturday at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m. 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m., and on Sunday at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Each program lasts about 20 minutes and interprets the weapons, projectiles and procedures Civil War artillery crews used during the war.

All programs are free and open to the public.