(no subject)
The battle of Shiloh took place of April 6th and 7th 1862. The Union commander at this battle was Ulysses S. Grant and the commander of the Confederate army was Albert Sydney Johnston. P.G.T. Beauregard was second in command for Johnston. Grant and Buell were on their way to Corinth, Mississippi to capture a main railroad junction.
After the Federals had victories at Fort Henry and Fort Donelson, they thought that the next battle would come wherever they chose. But, Albert Johnston withdrew to Corinth, Mississippi, and watched Grant’s activities. Johnston got a little scared when he found out more Federal troops were arriving. He also found out that Don Carlos Buell’s troops were on their way and were arriving very soon.
Although the Federals had many troops arriving, one thing was still in Confederate favor. This was that the Federals were making no effect to prepare defenses. Then Johnston decided to attack Grant before the Federals united their troops. Beauregard tried to get Johnston to call of the attack, but he refused and already made up his mind to go through with it.
The Confederates marched north very slow and noisy. Then during the night of April 4-5 1862, the two armies made their first contact. But, William T. Sherman didn’t see any reason to fear a big enemy attack. Then on April 6, the Confederates attacked the troops of Sherman and Ben Prentiss, which forced them back.
The woods were very thick and it was nearly impossible for the southern forces to stay organized. Their strongest resistance was from the Federals hidden on a sunken road. That was given the nickname of the “Hornet’s Nest.” Grant was seven miles away, at Savannah, and heard the guns that morning. So, he took a steamboat to Pittburg Landing and took care of the situation.
Later that afternoon, Johnston got a wound in his leg that he barely noticed. But the wound had severed an artery and he died soon afterward, which put Beauregard in command at a time when his troops were facing the Federals back to the landing. But Grant’s defense became stronger by both artillery and gunboats. Then at 6 p.m. Beauregard called off operations for the day, which was a huge mistake. It was a mistake because during the night, Buell’s 20,000 Federals arrived, and the 20,000 reinforcements Beauregard was supposed to get from Earl Van Dorn did not arrive.
It rained very hard that night and the Rebels were in misery. There was also the sound of Federal cannons that made it even worse for the Rebels. The Yankees started attacking early in the morning and Beauregard’s troops were pushed back. They rallied and pushed the bluecoats back to the Peach Orchard. Then when he found out Van Dorn was held up in the Mississippi, Beauregard began to withdraw.
The Union soldiers were very worn out and made very little effort yo follow. But some attempt was made on the 8th, but Nathan Forrest’s cavalry attacked and then they stopped any more attempts. This had been the biggest battle ever fought(to that time) on American soil. There were 3,400 men dead and 16,000 wounded. Later Grant said: “It was a high price to pay for a country church and a steamboat dock.”
After the Federals had victories at Fort Henry and Fort Donelson, they thought that the next battle would come wherever they chose. But, Albert Johnston withdrew to Corinth, Mississippi, and watched Grant’s activities. Johnston got a little scared when he found out more Federal troops were arriving. He also found out that Don Carlos Buell’s troops were on their way and were arriving very soon.
Although the Federals had many troops arriving, one thing was still in Confederate favor. This was that the Federals were making no effect to prepare defenses. Then Johnston decided to attack Grant before the Federals united their troops. Beauregard tried to get Johnston to call of the attack, but he refused and already made up his mind to go through with it.
The Confederates marched north very slow and noisy. Then during the night of April 4-5 1862, the two armies made their first contact. But, William T. Sherman didn’t see any reason to fear a big enemy attack. Then on April 6, the Confederates attacked the troops of Sherman and Ben Prentiss, which forced them back.
The woods were very thick and it was nearly impossible for the southern forces to stay organized. Their strongest resistance was from the Federals hidden on a sunken road. That was given the nickname of the “Hornet’s Nest.” Grant was seven miles away, at Savannah, and heard the guns that morning. So, he took a steamboat to Pittburg Landing and took care of the situation.
Later that afternoon, Johnston got a wound in his leg that he barely noticed. But the wound had severed an artery and he died soon afterward, which put Beauregard in command at a time when his troops were facing the Federals back to the landing. But Grant’s defense became stronger by both artillery and gunboats. Then at 6 p.m. Beauregard called off operations for the day, which was a huge mistake. It was a mistake because during the night, Buell’s 20,000 Federals arrived, and the 20,000 reinforcements Beauregard was supposed to get from Earl Van Dorn did not arrive.
It rained very hard that night and the Rebels were in misery. There was also the sound of Federal cannons that made it even worse for the Rebels. The Yankees started attacking early in the morning and Beauregard’s troops were pushed back. They rallied and pushed the bluecoats back to the Peach Orchard. Then when he found out Van Dorn was held up in the Mississippi, Beauregard began to withdraw.
The Union soldiers were very worn out and made very little effort yo follow. But some attempt was made on the 8th, but Nathan Forrest’s cavalry attacked and then they stopped any more attempts. This had been the biggest battle ever fought(to that time) on American soil. There were 3,400 men dead and 16,000 wounded. Later Grant said: “It was a high price to pay for a country church and a steamboat dock.”