What was the aftermath of the US Civil War Battle of Shiloh?

Answer 1

General Grant and about 40,000 troops the headed South along the Tennessee River toward Corinth,Mississippi, and important railroad junction. While waiting for reinforcements from General Buell, the Federals were attacked at Pittsburg Landing. It became the Battle of Shiloh. The Battle Of Shiloh lasted two days, with some of the most bitter, bloody fighting of the war. The losses of the Battle of Shiloh were enormous. Together the two armies suffered more than 20,000 casualties. Confederate general Johnston also died in the bloodbath. After the narrow victory of Shiloh, Union forces gained control of Corinth on May 30. The date of the battle, in the Spring of 1862 was a terrible Southern defeat and many Northern critics blamed General Grant for the heavy Union casualties. With that said, it was too early in the war to say how it really may have effected the outcome. One thing is certain however, if the Union had lost the battle, it would have altered their approach to the Western Theater.

As an aside, Grant's commanding officer, Henry Halleck was very upset with General Grant. Halleck left his headquarters in St. Louis to take command of Grant's army.

Answer 2

The US Civil War Battle of Shiloh took place in Tennessee on April 6th and 7th. It was there that Confederate General Albert Sidney Johnston attacked Union troops under the command of General US Grant. By the end of April 7, 1862, Confederate General PT Beauregard had to lead the defeated Southern army into retreat. This battle had many effects, both short term and long term. The consequences of the battle were as follows:

1. The battle caused a large amount of casualties and awakened both sides to the fact that the war might be more violent and costly in terms of troop casualties;

2. On the first day of the battle, Confederate General A.S. Johnston was wounded and died. Johnston was a highly regarded general by both sides of the war. The South lost a valuable general who may have helped the Rebel cause on a long term basis if he had lived;

3. The Union army, garrisoned at Pittsburg Landing was caught by surprise by Johnston's attack. Generally speaking this places the defenders at a huge disadvantage;

4. US Grant was blamed for not entrenching his army when it arrived at Pittsburg Landing on April 3, 1862. The values of entrenchment were prioritized by the Union high command after this error;

5. Based on all the evidence concerning this battle, it seems that US Grant's army should have landed on the western shore of the Tennessee River not the eastern shore. This placed Grant in a vulnerable position. The river should have been a barrier between his army and that of General Johnston. This effect of this was that correct military communications was vital and not executed;

6. Based on faulty information, Confederate General PT Beauregard, called an end to the first day's battle, believing that Union reinforcements were too faraway to aid Grant;

7. The commanding Union general in the West was Henry Halleck. Based on his assessment of Grant's performance, he traveled from St. Louis to take personal command of the Army of the Tennessee; and

8. US Grant blamed himself for the near defeat at Shiloh and was misled by thinking that the South could never sustain itself after such a large amount of casualties.

The summary of effects are that entrenchments are essential, surprise attacks are the most successful, and to never halt a successful attack based on assumptions. PT Beauregard assumed that Union reinforcements were too far away. Also, to never underestimate the enemy.

Answer 3

The Battle of Shiloh demonstrated that battles can have an importance far beyond their initial results. Such was the case at Shiloh. This battle advanced the Northern cause only on a marginal basis. Note that marginal refers to the key term "cause". Shiloh changed the nature of the war in the minds of both soldiers and civilians on both sides forever.

US General Sherman remarked that Shiloh should have cured anyone about conducting war. The entire nation was awakened to what the ramifications of this war really meant.

Most everyone was in disbelief when this battle was over. The slaughter at Shiloh shocked General Grant into believing that because of this battle, the war would soon be over. Grant's attendants later said that instead of sleep, Grant paced his quarters night after night.

He believed that Shiloh would cause the South to give up. When that did not happen, his only thought was only total war & complete conquest could bring an end to the carnage.

Answer 4

The Battle of Shiloh in April of 1862 was a demonstration that the Southern rebellion would be far more bloodier and last longer than anyone had expected. The only person who had predicted a long and bloody war was Union General in Chief Winfield Scott long before the rebellion even started. US Grant had expected a short war. He believed that his capture of Confederate forts Henry and Donelson would lead to a Confederate surrender. Instead it resulted not long after the bloody battle at Shiloh. Although Grant with the reinforcements of General Buell soundly beat the Rebels on the second day of the battle, Grant wrote later that he could not bring his army to pursue the retreating Confederates. Here again, a defeated army escaped destruction. This would be repeated for most of the war's battles.

Answer 5

After the Union victory at the two day Battle of Shiloh, both sides came to grasp that the war would be a long, bloody, and drawn out affair. There would be no quick end to the war as many people, such as President Lincoln had hoped for. Even General Grant, in his memoirs wrote that prior to Shiloh he had every hope the South would see the futility of carrying on the war.

Answer 6

The US Civil War Battle of Shiloh was an influence on the outcome of the war, however, by itself it did not effect the war's outcome. When Union General Buell was able to reinforce General Grant on the second day of the battle, it was a demonstration of how overwhelming numbers of troops were the keys to victory in most cases.

Answer 7

This is the first great victory of the Union and the Union gains a new hero, "Unconditional Surrender" Grant.

Answer 8

The end of Confederate hopes of occupying Tennessee, and the death in battle of Confederate General Sidney Johnston, regarded by some as the best soldier in America.