Battle Of Shiloh Essay
With war comes death and destruction and the Civil War was no exception, but a shining example on how blood-letting and fierce the battle field can be. Event with heavy casualties being inflicted on one’s enemy does not guarantee complete and total victory. In majority of battles fought, there are established objectives that both sides deem important and the key to complete victory on the battlefields. The Battle of Shiloh, Chancellorsville, and Chattanooga are such battles where high numbers of casualties were inflicted on both sides, but the key objectives were never met to claim total victory. In the Battle of Shiloh, Confederate forces converged on Union troops camped at Pittsburg Landing with the objective of destroying the camped forces
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Union General Grant was under siege at Chattanooga and Confederate General Bragg possessed the high ground surrounding the city and should have been able to control the movements of Union troops.10 Union troops numbered 56,400 and the Confederates at 46,200, but maintained a tactical advantage that strengthened their numbers.11 The siege by the Confederates was successful and starved the Unions artillery horses to death, which eliminated the Unions ability to have mobile artillery during the upcoming battle.12 The siege also reduced the Unions solders to half rations and for intent purposes the Confederates were winning the battle before it even started.13 Even with the upper hand, Union troops pushed past and broke out of the siege and never allowed for the Confederates to maintain control of the battle and in turn forced the Confederates to retreat in fear of being destroyed.14 Union casualties numbered at 5,800 and the Confederates casualty rate was at 6,700.15 The Confederates once again had the upper hand over the Union troops and failed to control the battle as it commenced, which allowed for Union commanders to regroup and counterattack forcing a confederate retreat. The Confederate objective of destroying the Union army at Chattanooga was lost and the Union break out failed in destroying the Confederate Army of
Union General Grant was under siege at Chattanooga and Confederate General Bragg possessed the high ground surrounding the city and should have been able to control the movements of Union troops.10 Union troops numbered 56,400 and the Confederates at 46,200, but maintained a tactical advantage that strengthened their numbers.11 The siege by the Confederates was successful and starved the Unions artillery horses to death, which eliminated the Unions ability to have mobile artillery during the upcoming battle.12 The siege also reduced the Unions solders to half rations and for intent purposes the Confederates were winning the battle before it even started.13 Even with the upper hand, Union troops pushed past and broke out of the siege and never allowed for the Confederates to maintain control of the battle and in turn forced the Confederates to retreat in fear of being destroyed.14 Union casualties numbered at 5,800 and the Confederates casualty rate was at 6,700.15 The Confederates once again had the upper hand over the Union troops and failed to control the battle as it commenced, which allowed for Union commanders to regroup and counterattack forcing a confederate retreat. The Confederate objective of destroying the Union army at Chattanooga was lost and the Union break out failed in destroying the Confederate Army of