50 Facts About Shiloh

The Battle of Shiloh: A Pivotal Moment in the Civil War

The Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, was a crucial engagement in the American Civil War. Fought on April 6-7, 1862, in southwestern Tennessee, it was one of the bloodiest battles of the war. Here are 50 key facts about this significant event.

1. The Battle of Shiloh took place on April 6-7, 1862, in southwestern Tennessee, primarily around the area known as Pittsburg Landing and the Shiloh Church.
2. The Union forces were led by Major General Ulysses S. Grant, while the Confederate forces were commanded by General Albert Sidney Johnston until his death, after which General P.G.T. Beauregard took over.
3. The Union army consisted of approximately 40,000 men, with Grant's Army of the Tennessee and Buell's Army of the Ohio combined to face the Confederates.
4. The Confederate Army of Mississippi had nearly 44,000 men present for duty, led by General Johnston and later by General Beauregard.
5. Minor skirmishes had taken place in the days leading up to the battle, indicating that both sides were aware of each other's presence.

The Surprise Attack and Initial Confederate Success

The battle began with a surprise attack by the Confederates, catching the Union forces off guard and leading to initial Confederate gains.

6. Despite the presence of Confederate troops, the Union forces were largely unprepared for the surprise attack that began at dawn on April 6, 1862.
7. The Confederates initially gained ground, pushing the Union troops back to defensive positions around Shiloh Church and other key areas.
8. The area known as the Hornet’s Nest, a sunken road, became a crucial defensive position for the Union forces, where intense fighting took place.
9. Colonel Everett Peabody, a Union brigade commander, had sent out a patrol the night before the battle, which located the Confederate army just a mile from the Union front, but his actions were not officially recognized.
10. Prentiss, who defended the Hornet’s Nest, became a hero of the battle despite not being the only one who defended the area. His story was more prominent due to his ability to tell it after being a prisoner for six months.

Leadership Changes and Battlefield Terrain

The death of General Johnston and the challenging terrain played significant roles in the battle's outcome.

11. Johnston was mortally wounded by a stray bullet during the battle and died shortly after, which led to Beauregard taking command of the Confederate forces.
12. Despite being outnumbered, Beauregard skillfully withdrew his troops from the battlefield, leading them back to Corinth, Mississippi.
13. The battle resulted in approximately 23,746 casualties, with both sides suffering heavy losses. About 10,000 men from each side were killed or wounded.
14. The battlefield was a wooded area with scattered cotton fields, peach orchards, and small structures, forming a triangular shape with creeks and the Tennessee River.
15. The Union camps were not fortified, and the troops were largely unprepared for battle, leading to initial disorganization and confusion.

Key Divisions and Defensive Positions

Several key divisions and defensive positions played crucial roles in the battle's outcome.

16. Sherman’s division was the first to occupy the Shiloh area, with his four brigades camped near the main approaches to Pittsburg Landing.
17. Colonel David Stuart’s brigade was on the Union left near the Hamburg-Savannah Road and a ford, while Sherman’s other three brigades formed the Union right around Shiloh Church.
18. Prentiss’s division was positioned between Sherman and Stuart, while McClernand and Hurlbut’s divisions were between Shiloh Church and the Tennessee River.
19. W.H.L. Wallace’s division was closest to Pittsburg Landing, while Lew Wallace’s division was at Crump’s Landing.
20. The Union camps did not form a defensive line, and no entrenchments were made because nobody expected a fight at that location.

Picket Duty and Reconnaissance Missions

Picket duty and reconnaissance missions provided crucial information about the enemy's movements.

21. Only a few pickets were in place despite a small skirmish on April 4, indicating the lack of preparedness for battle.
22. Colonel Everett Peabody ordered a reconnaissance mission to Seay Field around midnight on April 5, which located Confederate soldiers just a mile away from the Union front.
23. Major James E. Powell led the patrol with three companies of the 25th Missouri Infantry Regiment and two companies of the 12th Michigan Infantry Regiment, advancing down a farm road that led to the Pittsburg-Corinth Road.
24. Grant was waiting for reinforcements under General Don Carlos Buell, but they did not arrive in time to prevent the initial Confederate attack.
25. Major General Henry W. Halleck, commanding U.S. forces in the West, had instructed Grant not to engage the Confederates until he had been reinforced by Buell’s Army of the Ohio.

Grant’s Position and Confederate Strategy

Grant's strategic positioning and the Confederate strategy played crucial roles in the battle's dynamics.

26. Grant had established a base of operations on a plateau west of the Tennessee River, with his forward camps posted two miles inland around Shiloh Meeting House.
27. General Johnston planned to smash Grant’s army at Pittsburg Landing before Buell arrived, deploying his troops four miles southwest of the landing.
28. Heavy rain and difficulties encountered by marching large columns of men, artillery, and heavy wagons over muddy roads delayed the Confederate attack until April 6.
29. At daybreak on April 6, the Confederates stormed out of the woods and assailed the forward Federal camps around Shiloh Church, catching Grant’s troops by surprise.
30. Throughout the morning, Confederate brigades slowly gained ground, forcing Grant’s troops to give way and fight a succession of defensive stands at Shiloh Church, the Peach Orchard, Water Oaks Pond, and within an impenetrable oak thicket known as the Hornets’ Nest.

Disorganization and Leadership Changes

Both sides experienced significant disorganization and leadership changes during the battle.

31. Despite achieving surprise, Johnston’s troops soon became as disorganized as the Federals. The Southern attack lost coordination as corps, divisions, and brigades became entangled.
32. Johnston was struck in the right leg by a stray bullet during an assault on the Union left and bled to death, leaving Beauregard in command.
33. Despite mounting desperate counterattacks, the exhausted Confederates could not stem the increasingly stronger Federal tide. Beauregard skillfully withdrew his outnumbered command and returned to Corinth, Mississippi.
34. The battered Federals did not press the pursuit, allowing Beauregard to withdraw his troops without further engagement.
35. The battle resulted in approximately 23,746 casualties, with both sides suffering heavy losses. About 10,000 men from each side were killed or wounded.

Shiloh National Military Park and Historical Significance

The battle's legacy is preserved at Shiloh National Military Park, and its historical significance remains profound.

36. The Shiloh National Military Park was established in 1894 to commemorate the battle and preserve the battlefield.
37. The Battle of Shiloh was one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War and marked a turning point in the conflict, setting the stage for future Union victories in the Western Theater.
38. Although both sides claimed victory, it was a Confederate failure. The Union army did little more than reoccupy the camp it had lost the day before while the Confederates returned to Corinth, Mississippi.
39. The thin victory at Shiloh provided the Federal army with a keen path toward the surrender of Vicksburg, Mississippi, in the summer of 1863, effectively removing the western theater of the Deep South from the war.
40. Lew Wallace, who failed to reinforce William T. Sherman’s troops in a timely fashion, was partially blamed for Union losses on the first day of the battle. He later served the United States government as a diplomat and statesman.

Notable Figures and Their Contributions

Several notable figures played crucial roles in the battle and its aftermath.

41. John Wesley Powell, a young schoolteacher, was hit in the right arm while commanding a battery of cannon. He later explored the American West, led the United States Geological Survey, worked as an ethnologist for the Smithsonian, and co-founded one of Washington, D.C.’s most famous intellectual institutions, the Cosmos Club.
42. W.H.L. Wallace gave his horse to Powell in order for him to seek medical aid after being wounded. He lost his life as a result of wounds received during the battle.
43. Sherman’s division played a crucial role in defending the Union lines, particularly around Shiloh Church and the Peach Orchard.
44. Stuart’s brigade was instrumental in holding off Confederate advances on the Union left flank near the Hamburg-Savannah Road and a ford.
45. Prentiss’s division defended the Hornet’s Nest, an area that became a symbol of tenacious Union resistance despite being vastly outnumbered.

Key Divisions and Grant’s Leadership

The contributions of key divisions and Grant's leadership were vital to the Union's success.

46. McClernand and Hurlbut’s divisions played key roles in defending the Union lines between Shiloh Church and the Tennessee River, contributing to the overall Union victory.
47. W.H.L. Wallace’s division was closest to Pittsburg Landing, providing critical support to the Union defense.
48. Lew Wallace’s division was at Crump’s Landing, but its failure to reinforce Sherman’s troops timely led to criticism and controversy.
49. Despite initial setbacks, Grant’s leadership and strategic decisions ultimately led to a Union victory, securing a crucial foothold in the Western Theater.
50. The Battle of Shiloh remains one of the most studied and remembered battles of the American Civil War, symbolizing both the horrors of war and the resilience of soldiers on both sides.

The Legacy of Shiloh

The Battle of Shiloh stands as a stark reminder of the American Civil War's brutality and strategic complexity. Fought on April 6-7, 1862, this clash saw over 23,000 casualties, making it one of the war's bloodiest encounters. Union forces, led by Major General Ulysses S. Grant, faced a surprise attack from Confederate troops under General Albert Sidney Johnston, who was later succeeded by General P.G.T. Beauregard. Despite initial Confederate gains, the Union's resilience, particularly at the Hornet’s Nest, turned the tide. The battle's outcome paved the way for future Union victories in the Western Theater, significantly impacting the war's course. Shiloh's legacy endures, symbolizing both the horrors of war and the indomitable spirit of those who fought. Understanding these key facts offers a comprehensive view of this pivotal moment in American history.