Behind the Battle Lines
Union
After claiming Fort Henry and Donelson earlier in 1862, Grant and his men made camp at Pittsburg Landing in Tennessee to wait for the arrival of Union reinforcements from Ohio. General Johnston’s attack was a surprise to Grant and the Union army. |
Confederate
Upset from the retreat of his forces in Kentucky and much of Tennesse, the Confederate’s General Johnston placed his hope in a surprise attack against the Union soldiers at Pittsburg Landing. |
The Battle Ensues
The morning of April 6th took the Union army by surprise. The Confederates had surrounded the Yankees by afternoon, and drove General Grant to the Tennessee River. Both sides lost a great deal of men. That day, however, held a heavy loss for the Confederates in the death of their General, Albert Johnston. The command of the southern army fell into in the hands of General P.G.T. Beauregard. The disorganization of the Confederates army along with the arrival of Union reinforcements crippled the Confederate attack, and they were severely outnumber. Beauregard had no choice but to retreat, ending in a Union victory.
Consequences of Shiloh
“After initial successes, the Confederates were unable to hold their positions and were forced back, resulting in a Union victory” (“Battle of Shiloh”, 1). The retreat of the Confederates resulted in the northern gain of much of the Mississippi River, a huge territorial advantage. This was crucial in the Union goal of “capturing the Mississippi and thus dividing the South in half” (“Shiloh”, 4). However, “both sides suffered heavy losses, with more than 23,000 total casualties, and the level of violence shocked North and South alike” (“Battle of Shiloh”, 1). The bloodshed proved as an example to the entire country that the war would be long and bloody, with little hope for a quick end.
Bibliography
Brinkley, Alan. The Unfinished Nation: A Concise History of the American People. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2010. Print.
The Kingfisher History Encyclopedia. Boston: Kingfisher, 2004. Print.
"Shiloh." Civil War Trust. Council on Foreign Relations, n.d. Web. 12 Jan. 2014.
"Battle of Shiloh." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 12 Jan. 2014.
The Kingfisher History Encyclopedia. Boston: Kingfisher, 2004. Print.
"Shiloh." Civil War Trust. Council on Foreign Relations, n.d. Web. 12 Jan. 2014.
"Battle of Shiloh." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 12 Jan. 2014.