Overview
Summary – After the Civil War began on the east coast, the Battle of Shiloh ushered in the western theater and the campaigns of Ulysses S. Grant. To set the stage before the battle, Grant moved his forces into Tennessee in an attempt to cut off the western states from the fighting in the east, along with gaining Union control of the Mississippi River. But to do this, he would need to defeat the Confederate Army of the Mississippi under the direction of Albert Sidney Johnston. Johnston, the highest ranking general in the Confederacy not only possessed an experienced army, but also had the initiative and leadership to possibly defeat Grant. From the Union camp in Illinois, General Ulysses S. Grant set out to capture a series of forts along the Tennessee and Mississippi Rivers, and regain the territory surrounding them. After a brief skirmish in Belmont, Missouri, Grant's armies made their way south down the Tennessee River and eventually made camp at Pittsburgh Landing near the Tennessee/Mississippi Border.
Johnston's attack at
6 am
Seeing his opportunity to strike, Johnston launched a surprise attack on the morning of April 6th, 1862. Many of the Union soldiers were still eating breakfast or asleep when Johnston’s men broke through their defenses and forced them to fall back.
After several hours of retreat, Grant’s forces rallied and established a defensive line near the bank of the Tennessee River. Near the center, vicious fighting raged through the afternoon near the Shiloh Church, where fighting continued at a fever pitch until the Confederate withdrawal at sundown. Grant received heavy criticism for his failures to be prepared for the ambush, with many reporters spreading rumors that he was hungover that morning.
6 am
Seeing his opportunity to strike, Johnston launched a surprise attack on the morning of April 6th, 1862. Many of the Union soldiers were still eating breakfast or asleep when Johnston’s men broke through their defenses and forced them to fall back.
After several hours of retreat, Grant’s forces rallied and established a defensive line near the bank of the Tennessee River. Near the center, vicious fighting raged through the afternoon near the Shiloh Church, where fighting continued at a fever pitch until the Confederate withdrawal at sundown. Grant received heavy criticism for his failures to be prepared for the ambush, with many reporters spreading rumors that he was hungover that morning.
Union holds the line at the Hornet's Nest
Throughout the day, Johnston and Beauregard repeatedly attempted to push Grant's forces over the Tennessee river, but failed to break their lines. The Union flank under the command of William Sherman held while the center line refused to break in what became known as the "Hornet's Nest". Through the afternoon the Union line held out against multiple Confederate assaults, even when both sides sustained high casualties.During the fighting, General Johnston was struck in the leg and killed by blood loss, giving Confederate command to General PGT Beauregard, making Johnston the highest ranking officer killed in the war.
Because of this high level of casualties, Beauregard halted the attack after sundown, hoping he could give his exhausted men a chance to resupply and regroup. However by stopping, Beauregard gave Grant the opportunity to regroup his forces, as the Army of the Ohio under General Don Carlos Buell
arrived by riverboat to reinforce Grant.
Throughout the day, Johnston and Beauregard repeatedly attempted to push Grant's forces over the Tennessee river, but failed to break their lines. The Union flank under the command of William Sherman held while the center line refused to break in what became known as the "Hornet's Nest". Through the afternoon the Union line held out against multiple Confederate assaults, even when both sides sustained high casualties.During the fighting, General Johnston was struck in the leg and killed by blood loss, giving Confederate command to General PGT Beauregard, making Johnston the highest ranking officer killed in the war.
Because of this high level of casualties, Beauregard halted the attack after sundown, hoping he could give his exhausted men a chance to resupply and regroup. However by stopping, Beauregard gave Grant the opportunity to regroup his forces, as the Army of the Ohio under General Don Carlos Buell
arrived by riverboat to reinforce Grant.
Second Day counterattack crushes the Confederacy
The next morning, Grant launched a counterattack against the Confederate forces, driving them back and allowing the Union forces to move away from the banks to the river and into the open field. From there, the Union was able to completely regain the ground they lost the previous day and force Beauregard to retreat and take his forces out of Tennessee entirely.
In short the Battle of Shiloh not only forced the Confederacy to make leadership changes and take their western armies out of a key border state, it also set up the successful campaigns of General Grant and William Sherman (who fought under Grant at Shiloh). After this battle Grant would go on to take Vicksburg and regain the Mississippi River for the Union, while Sherman would cut a swath through Georgia and all the way to the Atlantic Ocean. Shiloh was the springboard the Union needed in the West, and despite the high casualties opened the gate for the Union to regain what they had lost in the West and begin to close in on the
Confederacy
The next morning, Grant launched a counterattack against the Confederate forces, driving them back and allowing the Union forces to move away from the banks to the river and into the open field. From there, the Union was able to completely regain the ground they lost the previous day and force Beauregard to retreat and take his forces out of Tennessee entirely.
In short the Battle of Shiloh not only forced the Confederacy to make leadership changes and take their western armies out of a key border state, it also set up the successful campaigns of General Grant and William Sherman (who fought under Grant at Shiloh). After this battle Grant would go on to take Vicksburg and regain the Mississippi River for the Union, while Sherman would cut a swath through Georgia and all the way to the Atlantic Ocean. Shiloh was the springboard the Union needed in the West, and despite the high casualties opened the gate for the Union to regain what they had lost in the West and begin to close in on the
Confederacy
Army of Ohio Battle Flag
This flag was used by Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry, part of the reinforcing Army of the Ohio that came to Grant's aid after the 1st day at the Battle of Shiloh. The Army of Ohio gave Grant the extra men and morale boost he needed to counter-attack Beauregard's forces on the second day.
This flag was used by Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry, part of the reinforcing Army of the Ohio that came to Grant's aid after the 1st day at the Battle of Shiloh. The Army of Ohio gave Grant the extra men and morale boost he needed to counter-attack Beauregard's forces on the second day.
The Church of Shiloh
The battle was named after this church, for it was located near where Grant's troops were attacked. It was used initially to shelter wounded Union soldiers, but was destroyed in the later half of the battle. The Civil War Landscapes Association recreated an exact copy of the church on the same spot where it originally was located, as to preserve the history of this important event.
The battle was named after this church, for it was located near where Grant's troops were attacked. It was used initially to shelter wounded Union soldiers, but was destroyed in the later half of the battle. The Civil War Landscapes Association recreated an exact copy of the church on the same spot where it originally was located, as to preserve the history of this important event.
"Battle of Shiloh" by Thure de Thulstrup
This scene illustrates the scenery and terrain of the battlefield at Shiloh. The illustration focuses on the Union soldiers side of the fight. Grant can be seen on a horse on the right side of the painting, proving the side focused on is the Union's army. The gun smoke, dead bodies, and intense action in the painting show how brutal of a battle Shiloh was.
This scene illustrates the scenery and terrain of the battlefield at Shiloh. The illustration focuses on the Union soldiers side of the fight. Grant can be seen on a horse on the right side of the painting, proving the side focused on is the Union's army. The gun smoke, dead bodies, and intense action in the painting show how brutal of a battle Shiloh was.
Photo of Albert Sidney Johnston between 1860 and 1862
Albert Sidney Johnston was the leading general of the Confederacy during the first day of the attack. He was shot in the shin and died due to blood loss around 2:30 PM ( about halfway through the battle). He was an incredible general (according to Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederacy, one of the finest) to the Confederacy, and therefore his death was a huge loss to them as well. He was the highest ranking officer to be killed during the entire Civil War. His death, as said by Jefferson Davis himself, was "the turning point of (the Confederacy's) fate"
Albert Sidney Johnston was the leading general of the Confederacy during the first day of the attack. He was shot in the shin and died due to blood loss around 2:30 PM ( about halfway through the battle). He was an incredible general (according to Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederacy, one of the finest) to the Confederacy, and therefore his death was a huge loss to them as well. He was the highest ranking officer to be killed during the entire Civil War. His death, as said by Jefferson Davis himself, was "the turning point of (the Confederacy's) fate"
Springfield Model 1861 Rifle - This was the primary weapon used by the Union and Confederate forces during the Battle of Shiloh and most of the Civil War. Named for the Springfield, Massachusetts where they were produced these guns were the most advanced weapon of their day. They fire a Minié ball, a soft lead bullet that was designed in France but used extensively during the Civil War, combined with the range and accuracy of the Springfield it created a deadly small arm that was much easier to fire and quicker to reload than any previous gun. This weapon is one of the main reasons the Battle of Shiloh and the Civil War was so deadly, old tactics were combined with new weapons making it much easier to kill the enemy. These tactics usually included armies lining up and firing directly at each other, or charging enemy positions head on, creating easy targets for either side.
Extras
1. For those who want to watch the summary
http://www.history.com/topics/battle-of-shiloh/videos#the-battle-of-shiloh
2. Did you know? Shiloh is Hebrew for "place of peace"
1. For those who want to watch the summary
http://www.history.com/topics/battle-of-shiloh/videos#the-battle-of-shiloh
2. Did you know? Shiloh is Hebrew for "place of peace"
Bibliography
1. "Minié Ball." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2013. <http://www.history.com/topics/minie-ball>.
2. "Battle of Shiloh." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2013. <http://www.history.com/topics/battle-of-shiloh>.
3. Jespersen, Hal. "Hal Jespersen's Free Wikipedia Maps." Hal Jespersen's Free Wikipedia Maps. Hal Jespersen, n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2013. <http://www.cwmaps.com/freemaps.html>.
4. "Battle of Shiloh." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 12 Mar. 2013. Web. 04 Dec. 2013. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Shiloh>.
5. "Civil War - 1861 Springfield : Cabela's." Civil War - 1861 Springfield : Cabela's. Cabela's, n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2013. <http://www.cabelas.com/category/Civil-War-Springfield/108608580.uts>.
6. "Albert Sidney Johnston." Council on Foreign Relations. Council on Foreign Relations, n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2013. <http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/biographies/albert-johnston.html>.
7. "Army of the Ohio (USA), US Civil War." Army of the Ohio. Geni, n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2013. <http://www.geni.com/projects/Army-of-the-Ohio-USA-US-Civil-War/4244>.
8. "Thure De Thulstrup." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 29 Sept. 2013. Web. 06 Dec. 2013. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thure_de_Thulstrup>.
1. "Minié Ball." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2013. <http://www.history.com/topics/minie-ball>.
2. "Battle of Shiloh." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2013. <http://www.history.com/topics/battle-of-shiloh>.
3. Jespersen, Hal. "Hal Jespersen's Free Wikipedia Maps." Hal Jespersen's Free Wikipedia Maps. Hal Jespersen, n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2013. <http://www.cwmaps.com/freemaps.html>.
4. "Battle of Shiloh." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 12 Mar. 2013. Web. 04 Dec. 2013. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Shiloh>.
5. "Civil War - 1861 Springfield : Cabela's." Civil War - 1861 Springfield : Cabela's. Cabela's, n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2013. <http://www.cabelas.com/category/Civil-War-Springfield/108608580.uts>.
6. "Albert Sidney Johnston." Council on Foreign Relations. Council on Foreign Relations, n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2013. <http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/biographies/albert-johnston.html>.
7. "Army of the Ohio (USA), US Civil War." Army of the Ohio. Geni, n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2013. <http://www.geni.com/projects/Army-of-the-Ohio-USA-US-Civil-War/4244>.
8. "Thure De Thulstrup." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 29 Sept. 2013. Web. 06 Dec. 2013. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thure_de_Thulstrup>.