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General Buell's Map of the Battle of Shiloh

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General Buell's Map of the Battle of Shiloh

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The Battle of Shiloh held great significance in the larger context of the Civil War. Politically, it marked a turning point as it revealed the ferocity and scale of the conflict, leading to a shift in strategy and increased determination from both the Union and Confederate forces. Socially, the battle had a profound impact, as it showcased the devastating human cost of the war. The staggering number of casualties and the brutality of the fighting served as a stark reminder of the deep divisions within communities and the toll that the war was taking on the nation as a whole. The Battle of Shiloh was a pivotal moment that shaped the course of the Civil War and left a lasting impact on American history.

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Before the Battle

To consolidate his forces and prepare for operations against Grant, Johnston marshals his forces at Corinth. The Confederate retreat is welcomed by Grant, whose Army of the Tennessee needs time to prepare for its own offensive up the Tennessee River. Grant's army camps at Pittsburg Landing, where it spends time drilling recruits and awaiting Maj. Gen. Don Carlos Buell 's Army of Ohio. Grant is ordered not to engage the Confederates until he has been reinforced by Buell's army, which is marching overland from Nashville to meet him. Once combined, the two armies will advance south on Corinth.

Anticipating a Federal move against Corinth, Johnston and his 44,000-man Army of Mississippi plan to smash Grant's army at Pittsburg Landing before Buell can arrive with more Union troops. On April 3, Johnston places his troops in motion, but heavy rains delay his attack. By nightfall on April 5, his army is deployed for battle only four miles southwest of Pittsburg Landing, and pickets from both sides nervously exchange gunfire in the dense woods that evening.

During the Battle

April 6. At daybreak three corps of Confederate infantry storm out of the woods and sweep into the southernmost Federal camps, catching Grant's men unprepared. Intense fighting centers around Shiloh Church as the Confederates sweep the Union line from that area. Despite heavy fire on their position, Union troops counterattack but slowly lose ground and fall back northeast toward Pittsburg Landing. Throughout the morning, Confederate brigades force Grant's troops into defensive positions at Shiloh Church, the Peach Orchard, Water Oaks Pond, and a treacherous thicket of oaks posthumously named the Hornets' Nest by fortunate survivors. That afternoon, while leading an attack on the left end of the Union's Hornets' Nest line, Johnston is shot in the right knee. The bullet severs an artery and the commander bleeds to death. Gen. Pierre G. T. Beauregard is appointed the new Confederate commander. Believing his army victorious, Beauregard calls a halt to the attacks as darkness approaches. He is unaware that overnight Buell arrives with reinforcements for Grant. The Union army how has nearly 54,000 men near Pittsburgh Landing and outnumbers Beauregard's army of around 30,000.

April 7. Grant's army launches their attack at 6:00 a.m. Beauregard immediately orders a counterattack. The Confederates are ultimately compelled to fall back and regroup all along their line. Beauregard orders a second counterattack, which halts the Federals' advance but ultimately ends in a stalemate. The timberclads USS Tyler and USS Lexington provides naval artillery support to Grant's left flank from the Tennessee River. About 3:00 p.m., Beauregard realizes he is outnumbered and, having already suffered tremendous casualties, retreats toward Corinth.

Aftermath

On April 8, Grant dispatches Brig. Gen. William T. Sherman and Brig. Gen. Thomas J. Wood to ascertain the Confederates' position. At Fallen Timbers, six miles south of the battlefield, they encounter Rebel cavalry under Col. Nathan Bedford Forrest. Forrest charges into the Federals ahead of his own troops and is shot by Federal infantry at point-blank range. Although he will later require difficult surgery to remove the life-threatening bullet, Forrest's reckless aggression pays off. Federal forces flee in the direction of Pittsburg Landing, allowing the Confederates to escape.

The loss of life on both sides at Shiloh-which, ironically, means place of peace in Hebrew-was staggering. But there were other sad consequences of the battle as well. Johnston's death was a damaging blow to Confederate morale, particularly for President Jefferson Davis, who held Johnston high in personal and professional esteem. After the war, Davis wrote, "When Sidney Johnston fell, it was the turning point of our fate; for we had no other hand to take up his work in the West."

Grant, though victorious, was vilified in the press after being caught unprepared at Pittsburg Landing on April 6. Critics called for him to be dismissed, but Abraham Lincoln defended his general , declaring "I can't spare this man, he fights." Corinth fell to the Union by the end of May, allowing Grant to focus on gaining control of the Mississippi River.

Shiloh: Featured Resources

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Our Battle of Shiloh page includes history articles, battle maps, photos, web links, and the latest preservation news for this important 1862 Civil War battle in Tennessee.

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This is a newspaper cover from the Union in Boston. It reported the Battle of Shiloh in Tennessee.

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The first day of battle had already commenced. The Union was trying to counter-attack the Confederacy and was forced to remain near structures to keep stable head counts for the number of men available. Due to the pressing attacks from the Confederacy, the migration of the battle was forced to be moved to Pittsburg Landing near Shiloh Church. This document was made from a newspaper article in Savannah, Georgia. The reporter is trying to inform the population of the bloodshed and battle tactics being used in the violence that has ensued. This article was produced to understand the extent of the war and how it affected each side of the conflict.

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Drawing of Pittsburg Landing from "Harper's Weekly"

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Drawing of Pittsburg Landing from "Harper's Weekly"

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The drawing is a picture of a camp in Tennessee before the Union was attacked by the Confederacy.

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Summary: The Battle of Pittsburg Landing (Shiloh)

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Summary: The Battle of Pittsburg Landing (Shiloh)

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The Battle of Shiloh also known as The Battle of Pittsburg Landing, occurred in Hardin County, Tennessee from April 6-7, 1862. This battle allowed Union troops to target the Confederacy's interior. Thus, the number of casualties combined with the Union and Confederacy was around 24,000. This includes around 3,500 deaths during the battle. The battle started because of a surprise attack from the Confederacy, led by Albert Sidney Johnston. Three Confederate corps were able to come out of the trees and into federal camps. This ultimately caught Ulysses S. Grant's men off-guard and caused the heavy firing to be centered near the Shiloh Churches. The Union was forced to fall back northeast to Pittsburg Landing. This forced Grant's men to be kept up in several places to lay low. Later that afternoon, Albert Johnston was shot and bled to death and the Confederacy had to appoint P.G.T Beaureguard to be commander of the leftover troops. However, Grant had reinforcements that allowed his troops to outnumber the Confederacy by 30,000 men. Ultimately, this resulted in a Union victory, but the amount of blood-shed allowed for the battle to be a failure in more ways than one for both sides of conflict.

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Our Battle of Shiloh page includes history articles, battle maps, photos, web links, and the latest preservation news for this important 1862 Civil War battle in Tennessee.

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During the Civil War, the main way to communicate with the government was by telegraph. It allowed major decisions, battle tactics, and social inquiries to be proficiently dealt with. The source was created to document the War in the South. The number of casualties and troops in certain areas were very important to keep up with, so everyone was able to be fully prepared for anything that came their way. Along with, informing the Presidents if they won or lost a battle. The Southern influence on the telegraph shows the tactics they were trying to lay down during the Battle of Shiloh, especially since Albert Johnson was killed in action. However, the document could be miss-leading to the thought process of the person receiving the telegraph due to the un-clear points being made.

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This is a picture of the 9th Indiana in Tennessee before the Confederacy did a surprise attack.

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This is a picture of Confederate Soldiers before the battle and invasion of the Union camps.

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This is a drawing of Union troops coming ashore to help aid the Union during the Battle of Pittsburg Landing.

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In February 1862, Union forces under Brig. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant captured Forts Henry and Donelson, opening the way into Tennessee. Grant’s army moved to Pittsburg Landing on the Tennessee River in preparation for an offensive on Corinth, Mississippi. On April 6, Confederates under Albert Sidney Joh…

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https://www.loc.gov/item/gvhs01.vhs00313/