In the fire department where I worked, there was an often repeated phrase when referring to "Old timers" that when they talked, in their day the smoke was thicker, the fires were hotter and the men were manlier. This I believe can also be applied to old soldiers when they were referring to their exploits. Shiloh is probably my "home field" and I had the privilege/challenge of listening to a West Point Engineer and a Park Ranger discussing the "Hornet's Nest" and I came away with the same opinion that they both had, that while a severe struggle had taken place here, the facts didn't support the myth. And while discussing Shiloh "Myths", there is compelling evidence that the "Bloody Pond" wasn't there at the time of the battle as no first hand descriptions until much later mention it before/during/ or immediately after the battle.