"BLOODIEST BATTLE OF THE CIVIL WAR"

BLOODY BATTLE OF SHILOH BEGINS

Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee (JFK+50) On April 6, 1862, Union forces under General Ulysses S. Grant came under attack along the Tennessee River near SHILOH CHURCH.  Grant's forces had captured Forts Henry and Donelson and made their way southward along the river.

Confederate troops under Generals Albert Sidney Johnston* and PGT Beauregard launched a surprise attack and by the end of the day had driven Grant's forces back to the river.  Union forces under General Benjamin Prentiss*, however, made a stand at the Sunken Road where fighting was so intense this area of the battlefield was called the "Hornets Nest."

In a tragic turn of events for the Confederacy, General Johnston was badly wounded in the afternoon and bled to death on the battlefield. 
  
The two day battle at Shiloh was fought to a tactical draw but because Confederate forces retreated back into Mississippi, military historians see it as a Union victory.  

Despite the fact that there would be even bloodier battles to come, because it was the first battle of the War Between the States to have so high numbers of casualties on both sides, the Battle of Shiloh is known as the "Bloodiest Battle of the Civil War." 

JFK+50 NOTE

The two day battle of Shiloh is known as the bloodiest battle of the bloodiest war in American history.  Sources say 1754 Union soldiers and 1728 Confederate soldiers died...a total of 3, 482.  

Today, April 6, 2020, there have been 10,874 deaths in the United States attributed to the coronavirus....a sobering comparison.  

Stay home....stay safe! 

*Albert Sidney Johnston (1803-1862) was born in Washington, Kentucky and educated at Transylvania University and West Point.  He lived most of his life in Texas where he served in the army of Sam Houston.  ASJ was the highest ranking officer to lose his life on either side during the Civil War.

Shiloh Church 

Shiloh National Battlefield

Photo by Donald Wiles (2006)

JFK+50 TOP TEN POSTS #8

JFK+50 TOP POST #8

Knoxville, Tennessee (JFK+50) Today we continue a review of the ten most popular posts of our JFK+50 blog since we began in November 2010.  This review will include updates and revisions of the original posts. 

Thanks to all our visitors worldwide.

THE BLOODY BATTLE OF SHILOH 

April 6, 2011, Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee (JFK+50) Union forces under General Ulysses S. Grant came under attack 149 years ago today near Pittsburg Landing here in western Tennessee.

The battle, which was fought on April 6th and 7th, 1862, was named Shiloh after a small church located on the battlefield.

                    Map by Hal Jespersen
                       www.cwmaps.com

General Grant's forces had captured Forts Henry and Donelson in February. From there, the army marched southward along the Tennessee River.

Rebel troops under Generals Albert Sidney Johnston and PGT Beauregard launched a surprise attack and by the end of the day had driven Grant's forces back to the river.

Union forces under General Benjamin Prentiss*,  however, made a stand at the Sunken Road where fighting was so intense this area of the battlefield was called the Hornets Nest.

In a tragic turn of events for the Confederacy, General Johnston was badly wounded in the leg during the afternoon and bled to death on the battlefield.  

The two day battle at Shiloh was fought to a tactical draw but because Confederate forces retreated back into Mississippi, military historians see it as a Union victory.  

The Battle of Shiloh is known as the "Bloodiest Battle of the Civil War."

                         Shiloh Church 
            Shiloh National Battlefield
            Photo by Donald Wiles (2006)

A recent article by Timothy B. Smith, "Battle of Shiloh: Shattering Myths," argues that the long held view that the Confederates launched a surprise on Grant's Union forces is a myth.  Smith says that newspaper men who were miles away during the battle are responsible for the story.

Another myth, Smith claims, is the idea that had Albert Sidney Johnston** survived the battle, the South would have won it and perhaps even the war.

Mr. Smith writes...

"Johnston could probably have pressed the attack no faster" and would have also been "preoccupied with capturing the Hornets Nest."

He adds...

 "By 6 p.m. (on April 6) it is highly doubtful Shiloh could have been a Confederate victory even with Napoleon Bonaparte in command."

*Benjamin Prentiss (1819-1901) was born in Belleville, Virginia and was a rope maker and auctioneer before the Civil War.  He served as a postmaster in Bethany, Missouri after the war.

                     Benjamin Prentiss

**Albert Sidney Johnston (1803-1862) was born in Washington, Kentucky and educated at Transylvania University and West Point.  He lived most of his life in Texas where he served in the army of Sam Houston.  

ASJ was the highest ranking officer to lose his life on either side during the Civil War.

                   Albert Sidney Johnston

           

BATTLE OF SHILOH

BLOODIEST BATTLE OF THE CIVIL WAR BEGAN APRIL 6, 1862

Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee (JFK+50) 152 years ago today, April 6, 1862, Union forces under General Ulysses S. Grant came under attack along the Tennessee River in the western part of the state.

The battle was named SHILOH after a small church located on the battlefield.

Map by Hal Jespersen

www.cwmaps.com

General Grant's forces had captured Forts Henry and Fort Donelson in February and then made their way southward along the Tennessee River.

Confederate troops under Generals Albert Sidney Johnston and PGT Beauregard launched a surprise attack and by the end of the day had driven Grant's forces back to the river.

Union forces under General Benjamin Prentiss*, however, made a stand at the Sunken Road where fighting was so intense this area of the battlefield was called the "Hornets Nest."

In a tragic turn of events for the Confederacy, General Johnston was badly wounded in the leg during the afternoon and bled to death on the battlefield.

Military historians note that a simple tourniquet could well have saved the General's life, but because his surgeon was elsewhere on the battlefield treating wounded soldiers he was not available to care for Johnston.
  
The two day battle at Shiloh was fought to a tactical draw but because Confederate forces retreated back into Mississippi, military historians see it as a Union victory.  

Despite the fact that there would be even bloodier battles to come, because it was the first battle of the War Between the States to have so high numbers of casualties on both sides, the Battle of Shiloh is known as the "Bloodiest Battle of the Civil War."

Shiloh Church 

Shiloh National Battlefield

Photo by Donald Wiles (2006)

A recent article by Timothy B. Smith, "Battle of Shiloh: Shattering Myths," argues that the long held view that the Confederates launched a surprise on Grant's Union forces is a myth.  

Smith says that newspaper men who were miles away during the battle are responsible for the story.

Another myth, Smith claims, is the idea that had Albert Sidney Johnston** survived the battle, the South would have won it and perhaps even the war.

Mr. Smith writes...

 "Johnston could probably have pressed the attack no faster" and would have also been "preoccupied with capturing the Hornets Nest."

He adds...

 "By 6 p.m. (on April 6) it is highly doubtful Shiloh could have been a Confederate victory even with Napoleon Bonaparte in command."

*Benjamin Prentiss (1819-1901) was born in Belleville, Virginia and was a rope maker and auctioneer before the Civil War.  He served as a postmaster in Bethany, Missouri after the war.

Benjamin Prentiss

**Albert Sidney Johnston (1803-1862) was born in Washington, Kentucky and educated at Transylvania University and West Point.  He lived most of his life in Texas where he served in the army of Sam Houston.  

ASJ was the highest ranking officer to lose his life on either side during the Civil War.

Albert Sidney Johnston

BATTLE OF SHILOH BEGAN 151 YEARS AGO TODAY

April 6, 2013

BATTLE OF SHILOH BEGAN 151 YEARS AGO TODAY

Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee (JFK+50) Union forces under General Ulysses S. Grant came under attack 151 years ago today, April 6, 1862, near Pittsburg Landing in western Tennessee.

The battle was named Shlioh after a small church located on the battlefield.

                    Map by Hal Jespersen
                       www.cwmaps.com

General Grant's forces had captured Forts Henry & Donelson in February & had made their way southward along the Tennessee River.

Rebel troops under Generals Albert Sidney Johnston & PGT Beauregard launched a surprise attack and by the end of the day had driven Grant's forces back to the river.

But not before Union forces under General Benjamin Prentiss,** made a stand at the Sunken Road where fighting was so intense this area of the battlefield was called "the Hornets Nest."

In a tragic turn of events for the Confederacy, General Johnston was badly wounded in the leg during the afternoon & bled to death on the battlefield.  

*The 2 day battle at Shiloh was fought to a tactical draw but because Confederate forces retreated back into Mississippi, many military historians see it as a Union victory.  

The Battle of Shiloh is known as the "Bloodiest Battle of the Civil War."

                         Shiloh Church 
            Shiloh National Battlefield
            Photo by Donald Wiles (2006)

A recent article by Timothy B. Smith, "Battle of Shiloh: Shattering Myths," argues that the long held view that the Confederates launched a surprise on Grant's Union forces is a myth.  Smith says that newspaper men who were miles away during the battle are responsible for the story.

Another myth, Smith claims, is the idea that had Albert Sidney Johnston** survived the battle, the South would have won it & perhaps even the war.

Mr. Smith writes, "Johnston could probably have pressed the attack no faster" and would have also been "preoccupied with capturing the Hornets Nest."

He adds...

 "By 6 p.m. (on April 6) it is highly doubtful Shiloh could have been a Confederate victory even with Napoleon Bonaparte in command."


*Benjamin Prentiss (1819-1901) was born in Belleville, Virginia & was a rope maker & auctioneer before the Civil War.  He served as a postmaster in Bethany, Missouri after the war.

                     Benjamin Prentiss

**Albert Sidney Johnston (1803-1862) was born in Washington, Kentucky & educated at Transylvania University & West Point.  He lived most of his life in Texas where he served in the army of Sam Houston.  

ASJ was the highest ranking officer to lose his life on either side during the Civil War.

                   Albert Sidney Johnston

                     You Tube Video