The Battle of Shiloh
Confederate army General Albert Sidney Johnston withdrew his forces into western Tennessee, Mississipi, and Alabama in order to reorganize after a recent battle. In early March, In early March, Union Maj. Gen. Henry W. Halleck, commander of the Western Theater, responded by ordering Grant to advance his Army of West Tennessee during an invasion up the Tennessee River. He was to combine with Buell's Army of Ohio, and advance south joint offensive to seize the Memphis & Charleston Railroad, which was an important supplier located between the Mississippi, Memphis, and Richmond.
5 of 6 divisions under Grant's command were on the western side of the Tennesee River. Grant had a rather large flaw, which was worrying about his own army's plans more than the enemies, and was displayed here: he was camped at Pittsburg Landing, surrounding a small church named "Shiloh." (Shiloh is a Hebrew word meaning "place of peace." If only it had applied during this battle, then it would have saved ~10,694 casualties for the South, and ~13,407 for the North. A total of 3,477 soldiers were actually killed.) He wasn't really defending while waited for Buell's Army, and stated himself, "Besides this, the troops with me, officers and men, needed discipline and drill more than they did experience with the pick, shovel and axe. ... under all these circumstances I concluded that drill and discipline were worth more to our men than fortifications."
On the other side of this, the Confederate's Johnston had his fresh and reassembled force of an estimated 55,000 located in Corinth, approximately 20 miles southwest of where Grant was located. About 45,000 of these left their location, trying to reach General Grant before Buell could reach them. These were organized into 4 divisions, and Beauregard was second in command and strongly suggersted to Johnston to not attack. Johston ignored these pleas, and proceeded to attack the Union, and planted themselves 3 miles away from where their enemies were located. Johnston's original plan was to attack on April 4, but was delayed until Apil 6. So he and his army departed at 6 A.M.
The Union were completely surprised, and were not prepared. They expected to be attacked from the west, not the south! Also, the South was in a confused array of soldiers. "Polk the left, Bragg the center, Hardee the right, Breckenridge in reserve," were the orders of the Confederate President Jefferson Davis in an attempt to keep the Union Army from arriving to the Tennessee River. Beauregard was ordered to be in the back, Johnston in the front, giving the latter the power to and chance to use his strategy. The first assault attempted was ruined and broken up due to Beauregard somehow having the armies of Polk and Breckenridge on the front left and right lines, creating a frontal assault. Though it did little damage, it was still ferocious, and drove off many novice soldiers under Grant's command to the River.
The Union slowly lost land, ending up behind Shiloh's Church. Johnston's army made slow yet constant progress until noon. Grant was injured, due to a horse accident a few days prior to the battle. He was currently on a gunboat, 10 miles on a gunboat in Savannah. However, he did arrive at the battle at around 8:30 A.M.
The Battle of Shiloh lasted through the next day, ending after Beauregard realized that after being low on supplies such as ammunition and food, and had over 10,000 of his men killed. He withdrew farther off Shiloh Church, and in an orderly fashion at 5 P.M., departed. The Union soldiers were tired, and did not follow them very far. However, Grant and Buell argued over Grant's decision of not following them.
The North, even though they won, were not pleased with Grant, publishing false stories of how he was drunk, supporting the fact why he wasn't prepared in defensiveness. Buell was the one given all the praise and approval, and Sherman, too, was a great hero. Grant was degraded down to second-in-command, but after proving himself in late April and May, was returned to commander. This battle suffered a total of 23,741- 13,047 from the Union, 10,694 from the Confederacy. Deaths of those with high positions included General Albert Sidney Johnston, and the highest on the Union's side was W. H. L. Wallace. Both sides had never expected this much bloodshed and death, and now, both the United States of America and the Confederate States of America accepted that this war would not need one large battle, but many little ones, and must fight until the North divides, or the South withdraws.
5 of 6 divisions under Grant's command were on the western side of the Tennesee River. Grant had a rather large flaw, which was worrying about his own army's plans more than the enemies, and was displayed here: he was camped at Pittsburg Landing, surrounding a small church named "Shiloh." (Shiloh is a Hebrew word meaning "place of peace." If only it had applied during this battle, then it would have saved ~10,694 casualties for the South, and ~13,407 for the North. A total of 3,477 soldiers were actually killed.) He wasn't really defending while waited for Buell's Army, and stated himself, "Besides this, the troops with me, officers and men, needed discipline and drill more than they did experience with the pick, shovel and axe. ... under all these circumstances I concluded that drill and discipline were worth more to our men than fortifications."
On the other side of this, the Confederate's Johnston had his fresh and reassembled force of an estimated 55,000 located in Corinth, approximately 20 miles southwest of where Grant was located. About 45,000 of these left their location, trying to reach General Grant before Buell could reach them. These were organized into 4 divisions, and Beauregard was second in command and strongly suggersted to Johnston to not attack. Johston ignored these pleas, and proceeded to attack the Union, and planted themselves 3 miles away from where their enemies were located. Johnston's original plan was to attack on April 4, but was delayed until Apil 6. So he and his army departed at 6 A.M.
The Union were completely surprised, and were not prepared. They expected to be attacked from the west, not the south! Also, the South was in a confused array of soldiers. "Polk the left, Bragg the center, Hardee the right, Breckenridge in reserve," were the orders of the Confederate President Jefferson Davis in an attempt to keep the Union Army from arriving to the Tennessee River. Beauregard was ordered to be in the back, Johnston in the front, giving the latter the power to and chance to use his strategy. The first assault attempted was ruined and broken up due to Beauregard somehow having the armies of Polk and Breckenridge on the front left and right lines, creating a frontal assault. Though it did little damage, it was still ferocious, and drove off many novice soldiers under Grant's command to the River.
The Union slowly lost land, ending up behind Shiloh's Church. Johnston's army made slow yet constant progress until noon. Grant was injured, due to a horse accident a few days prior to the battle. He was currently on a gunboat, 10 miles on a gunboat in Savannah. However, he did arrive at the battle at around 8:30 A.M.
The Battle of Shiloh lasted through the next day, ending after Beauregard realized that after being low on supplies such as ammunition and food, and had over 10,000 of his men killed. He withdrew farther off Shiloh Church, and in an orderly fashion at 5 P.M., departed. The Union soldiers were tired, and did not follow them very far. However, Grant and Buell argued over Grant's decision of not following them.
The North, even though they won, were not pleased with Grant, publishing false stories of how he was drunk, supporting the fact why he wasn't prepared in defensiveness. Buell was the one given all the praise and approval, and Sherman, too, was a great hero. Grant was degraded down to second-in-command, but after proving himself in late April and May, was returned to commander. This battle suffered a total of 23,741- 13,047 from the Union, 10,694 from the Confederacy. Deaths of those with high positions included General Albert Sidney Johnston, and the highest on the Union's side was W. H. L. Wallace. Both sides had never expected this much bloodshed and death, and now, both the United States of America and the Confederate States of America accepted that this war would not need one large battle, but many little ones, and must fight until the North divides, or the South withdraws.
↓ For You Mr. Bass ↓
Not sure if you will be able to see it...but it was worth a try.