We decided to rent a car today and tour the Shiloh Battlefield with Gary and Rose from “Rose’s Pick.” We stopped at the Visitor Center first to view the 25 minute film which explains what occurred here on April 6-7, 1862 and puts it within the context of the Civil War.
The Union Army under Gen. Ulysses Grant wanted to continue to sever the railroad linkages for the Confederate Army, and Generals Albert Johnson and P. G. Beauregard and their troops were determined to hold them and hoped to smash the Union Army at Shiloh and Corinth.
In a daring early morning raid on Sunday, April 6th, the Confederates stormed out of the woods and surprised a large contingent of the the 40,000 Union soldiers camped here. Fierce fighting ensued around the Shiloh (“place of peace”) Church and the Confederate Army of 44,000 gained ground and forced the Union soldiers into a thick forested area, the Hornets’ Nest, which gave them some advantage, but they were then bombarded by massive Confederate artillery.
Overnight, Union reinforcements under General Buell landed at Pittsburg Landing and on April 7th, with a combined strength of 54,000, hammered hard at the depleted ranks of General Beauregard. The Confederates continued to mount desperate counterattacks back to the Shiloh Church but were forced to retreat to Corinth. The Battle of Shiloh or Pittsburg Landing ended but it had cost both sides a combined total of 23,746 men killed, wounded or missing and was one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War.
It was ironic to see this sight on a clear quiet day and recall the carnage that happened here. The park has 14 battlefield sites which duplicate the positions and skirmishes that occurred here. Blue signs denote the Union side; Red, the Confederate side. Each battle is configured with cannons pointed towards their adversary’s position and the orderliness of this belies the horror of that day.
The park is well done and thought provoking and makes history come alive.
The Union Army under Gen. Ulysses Grant wanted to continue to sever the railroad linkages for the Confederate Army, and Generals Albert Johnson and P. G. Beauregard and their troops were determined to hold them and hoped to smash the Union Army at Shiloh and Corinth.
In a daring early morning raid on Sunday, April 6th, the Confederates stormed out of the woods and surprised a large contingent of the the 40,000 Union soldiers camped here. Fierce fighting ensued around the Shiloh (“place of peace”) Church and the Confederate Army of 44,000 gained ground and forced the Union soldiers into a thick forested area, the Hornets’ Nest, which gave them some advantage, but they were then bombarded by massive Confederate artillery.
Overnight, Union reinforcements under General Buell landed at Pittsburg Landing and on April 7th, with a combined strength of 54,000, hammered hard at the depleted ranks of General Beauregard. The Confederates continued to mount desperate counterattacks back to the Shiloh Church but were forced to retreat to Corinth. The Battle of Shiloh or Pittsburg Landing ended but it had cost both sides a combined total of 23,746 men killed, wounded or missing and was one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War.
It was ironic to see this sight on a clear quiet day and recall the carnage that happened here. The park has 14 battlefield sites which duplicate the positions and skirmishes that occurred here. Blue signs denote the Union side; Red, the Confederate side. Each battle is configured with cannons pointed towards their adversary’s position and the orderliness of this belies the horror of that day.
The park is well done and thought provoking and makes history come alive.
