You know we are a society that is obsessed with celebrities when you go into Yahoo or Google and type in 'Shiloh' and the first result that turns up is Shiloh Jolie-Pitt; not the two day battle that led to the ultimate failing of the Confederacy during the Civil War. BUT, that's another rant for another day :)
I am and will always hopefully be a history/Civil War student. Notice I didn't say buff. There is still plenty more for me to learn regarding the topics, but I love the Civil War - don't take that the wrong way. I love it for the fact normal farmers, pastors, students and young men from the South banded together to fight for something they believed in. Granted, they were in the wrong, but still, they fought and died defending something they believed in wholeheartedly; not something that happens anymore. These days, if you have 'beef' with something, you air your grievances on Facebook...Really?
Yet another reason why I am fascinated with the Civil War is the simple fact that it took place in our own backyard. Am I the only one amazed by that fact? I love that when visiting historic sites, you are taken back to a different time and that famous generals were once standing where you are standing. Pretty cool in my book.
The Battle of Shiloh took place on April 6 and 7 of 1862. A short battle; indeed, but a major victory for the Union. General Ulysses Grant had moved via the Tennessee river into the state of Tennessee and was camped there; not knowing that the Confederate soldiers knew of their presence and were planning a surprise attack. On the first day of battle, the Confederates achieved considerable success, but were later defeated by the Union army.
To most, Shiloh may not seem like an important battle; but, Shiloh, TN and Corinth, MS were the last lines of defense on the way to Vicksburg, MS. If the Confederate Army lost Shiloh and Corinth, then they would loose Vicksburg, resulting in the loss of the Civil War.
"If defeated here (Shiloh) we lose the Mississippi Valley and probably our cause."
The Union was obviously successful in this battle, but that was due in large part to a little help from the Confederacy. As the Confederate army continued to push the Union back; the Union armies located a sunken trail, that offered them cover from incoming fire. That sunken trail, became know as the Hornet's Nest. We all know (or hopefully) knows what happens when you attack a hornets nest. Imagine that, but on a much larger scale; with guns and bayonets and cannons to boot!
Once the Union made their camp at the Hornet's Nest, they refused to be pushed back anymore, and as the sun set on day one of the Battle of Shiloh; the Confederacy retreated back to their camp; awaiting the next day of battle. The next day of battle started earlier than expected- before dawn - the Confederacy tried calling in more units, but to no avail, and they subsequently lost the Battle of Shiloh. This battle ended up being the bloodiest battle in history; to date. Union causalities were 13,047 while Confederates only lost 10,699. Little did they know that later battles were deemed even worse.
Two interesting facts about Shiloh:
1) The Union set up a Field Hospital; one of the first ever set up on any battlefield, AND, this Union hospital treated Union and Confederate soldiers alike...Interesting, huh?
2) Gen. Beauregard (Confederacy), with urging of armies families, asked Gen. Grant if he and his men could return to the battlefield to retrieve the bodies of the dead so that the families could have proper burial. Gen. Grant, said that he would have happily obliged, but he buried them ALL in massive graves throughout the battlefield. They massive graves are all marked throughout the park.
The Welcome Center @ Shiloh
Lines of cannons (replicas); used in the battle
Taken from inside Shiloh Church, looking out onto the modern cemetery
Bloody Pond - Throughout the battle, soldiers from both sides came here to drink and bathe their wounds. Both men and their horses died at this pond, staining the water red with their blood.
The Tennessee River, from atop Shiloh Indian Mounds
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