Battle of Shiloh

Quick Facts: Who was Battle of Shiloh?

Subject:

Battle of Shiloh

Known for:

A pivotal and costly battle in the Western Theater of the American Civil War.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, was a major battle in the American Civil War fought on April 6–7, 1862. The fighting took place in southwestern Tennessee, which was part of the war's western theater. The battlefield is located between a small, undistinguished church named Shiloh and Pittsburg Landing on the Tennessee River. Two Union armies combined to defeat the Confederate Army of Mississippi. Major General Ulysses S. Grant was the Union commander, while General Albert Sidney Johnston was the Confederate commander until his battlefield death, when he was replaced by his second-in-command, General P. G. T. Beauregard.

Career & Major Achievements

The Confederate army hoped to defeat Grant's Army of the Tennessee before it could be reinforced and resupplied. Although it made considerable gains with a surprise attack on the first day of the battle, Johnston was mortally wounded and Grant's army was not eliminated. Overnight, Grant's Army of the Tennessee was reinforced by one of its divisions stationed farther north, and was also joined by portions of the Army of the Ohio, under the command of Major General Don Carlos Buell. The Union forces conducted an unexpected counterattack in the morning, which reversed the Confederate gains of the previous day. The exhausted Confederate army withdrew further south, and a modest Union pursuit started and ended on the next day.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Though victorious, the Union army had around 2,500 more casualties than the Confederates (mostly a difference in the number captured). After the lengthy Union casualty list became known, Grant was heavily criticized; decisions made by both the Federal and Confederate high command were afterward questioned by individuals on and off the battlefield. The battle was the costliest engagement of the Civil War up to that point, and its nearly 24,000 casualties made it one of the bloodiest battles of the entire war. During February 1862, a Union army led by Ulysses S. Grant won two battles that were the most significant Union victories, at that time, of the American Civil War. The battles were the Battle of Fort Henry and the Battle of Fort Donelson, and they occurred in Tennessee on the Tennessee River and the Cumberland River, respectively.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1862: 1862 Milestone — The Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, was a major battle in the American Civil War fought on April 6–7, 1862.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Battle of Shiloh

True or False: “The Battle of Shiloh was fought primarily over control of the vital railroad junction at Corinth, Mississippi.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While Corinth was strategically important to both sides, the battle itself took place near Pittsburg Landing in southwestern Tennessee.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Andrew Fisher — Historical peer (Born in 1862) (1862): Australian Labor Party leader and Prime Minister of Australia (1862–1928).
• Aristide Briand — Historical peer (Born in 1862) (1862): French statesman known for international reconciliation and peace efforts.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Battle of Shiloh