On the way to Diamond Island SONATA passed the Cherry Mansion built in 1830 with 18-inch thick brick walls and heart pine woodwork. April 6, 1862, General Ulysses S. Grant was eating breakfast when he heard the distant thud of artillery fire as Confederate forces suddenly attacked his army at nearby Shiloh.
The first look at Diamond Island; anchorage to the left. The decision was made, in view of the hour, 1400, and the swift current coming from the Pickwick Dam, to press on and go thru the lock into the lake. We can anchor on the lake.
Across the river from the Cherry Mansion and the Diamond Island anchorage is the Shiloh National Miliary Park. The battle was fought April 6-7, 1862, by more than 103,000 Union and Confederate soldiers. By the time the battle ended some 23,000 men were dead and dying. Names of the locations were Bloody Pond, Hell's Hollow and the Hornet's Nest. Those that came to defend their cause discovered the real horror of war.
The closer we came to the Pickwick Dam and Lock the stronger the downstream current became; up to 3 knots, we were making 5.5 knots over ground . . . slow progress.
There is no place to tie up at the Pickwick Lock, you must remain underway in the strong current until the gates open and you can lock through. The name of the dam and lock come from the 1883 postoffice nearby, named by the postmaster after Charles Dickens' novel, The Pickwick Papers. Construction of the facility began in 1934 and was completed in 1944.
SONATA remained underway past the Tombigbee Channel and the Grand Harbor Marina to Panther Creek for an overnight anchorage.
A quiet, peaceful evening on the creek in 14' of water with a full moon, brought us to the early morning and fishermen alongside SONATA against a backdrop of fall colors.
Anchor up and stowed, SONATA crosses Pickwick Lake to Grand Harbor. We will meet Mary Ruth, Charlie's sister, and travel by auto to, Madison, near Jackson, Mississippi, for a "reunion" at Stockett's with Mary Ruth, Barbara, John, Dorothy, Charlie . . . will be a great get-together with good old Southern cooking.
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