Battle Of Shiloh Analysis

The word Shiloh is said to be Hebrew for “place of peace,” however, in April of 1862, the Battle of Shiloh became the site of one of the deadliest conflicts in Civil War history. With over 23,000 casualties, the battle, fought in Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee played an important role in Union’s progress in the western theater. The Battle of Shiloh proved to be more challenging and complex due to the surprise attack initiated by the Confederates. Despite the commanders’ poor use of mission variables, the Union defended their position and performed a successful counterattack, which led to Tennessee becoming the North’s territory.
Background
In 1861, the Confederacy was attempting to maintain a cordon defense around the original territory of
By using the variables, METT-TC, leaders are able to visualize, direct, and execute an operation. Preceding the Battle of Shiloh, the Union Commanders did not accurately analyze the mission variables that would have allowed them to prepare for the operation. However, once the Confederates executed their attack, the Union defended their position, studied the situation and, in the end, accomplished their mission. At one point during the battle, Grant’s troops’ mission was to hold their defensive position, also known as the Hornet’s Nest, at all costs. After reinforcements arrived, they were able to clearly define another critical task and purpose. Beauregard’s Confederate troops were taken by surprise when Union columns assaulted them the morning of April 7, 1862. After hours of intense, bloody fighting, Beauregard ordered a retreat to Corinth (Sword). Although, they were not expecting the Confederates to conduct an offensive attack on them, the Union adapted their mission and it was inevitably
Throughout the war, the use of mission variables can make or break your operation. The Union in the Battle of Shiloh demonstrated just that. They did not analyze their situation efficiently before getting attacked. They denied that the enemy was near, they did not take their cover and concealment completely serious, and instead of preparing and rehearsing for the enemy to attack, they conducted the less critical priorities of work. Although, after they were bombarded by the Confederates, the Commanders were able to reconsolidate and analyze the mission variables appropriately. Inevitability, they successfully completed their mission at the