Battle Of Shiloh 1862

Battle of Shiloh 1862

Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to explain the two day battle, which has become known as the Battle of Shiloh. It will show how the battle began and how it ended, as well as the commanders of the Union forces and the Confederate forces. It will show how this battle, up to this time became one of the bloodiest battles on both sides. Information was collected from two sources online and from a book that describes the battle. I was surprise to learn that if Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston was not killed during this battle he could have been the overall Commander of the Confederate Army. I also was surprised in the fact that Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant was almost relieved of command.
Keywords: Gen. Albert
Armed with hunting rifles and shotguns, at 0600 Johnston ordered the Confederate Army of Mississippi to begin their attack. “Polk the left, Bragg the center, Hardee the right, and Breckinridge in reserve” (Shiloh 1862: The Death of Innocence, p. 20). Johnston wanted Beauregard to stay with the reserve unit and to direct the supplies where needed, while he lead the attack. Beauregard took that as Johnston gave him the control of the battle, he decided that he wanted to attack in three phases to continue to push Grant towards the river (Shiloh 1862: The Death of Innocence, p. 25). As the units advanced, the commanders lost control, and went forward as a frontal assault without any reserves. Grants forces was caught completely by surprise, with the assault being so ferocious Union Soldiers were dropping their weapons and running towards the Tennessee River. About 0900 some of the Union forces established a defensive line along a road now known as the “Hornets’ Nest” (civilwar.org). Instead of bypassing the Hornets’ Nest, the Confederate forces continued to attack it, finally surrounding the Union forces and taking prisoners. The Union forces had done their job, giving Grant time to set up a better defensive line at Pittsburg landing. During the Hornets’ Nest battle, around 1430 Johnston was shot in his left leg in which he bleed to death and Beauregard took command of the Confederate forces (Shiloh 1862: The Death of Innocence, p. 46). Being in the rear, Beauregard didn’t know the extent of the battle. He sent a wave for attack against the main forces, which was stopped by the defense of the Union, and then called off. By 1800 most of the fighting had died down. Sherman and Grant meet under a tree, where he told Grant “well we’ve had the devil’s own day”, Grant responded “yes, lick them tomorrow, though”