What are facts about the battle of Shiloh?

Answer 1

The Union won this battle. Confederate leader Johnston died after being shot in the back of the knee hitting a large artery. Confederate troops took over union camps at one point. Confederates used obsolete weaponry such as flintlock and hunting rifles.

Answer

True, the Confederates did have older weapons but they were still well armed.

The Confederates assembled 66 artillery guns to fire into the "Hornets Nest". This battery, referred to as Ruggles Battery, was the largest single use of artillery on North America at that time.

General Albert S. Johnston was the highest ranking Confederate general. While leading the charge towards the Peach Orchard, he was hit in his leg and bled into his boot. When they found the wound, he had bled to death. Investigation revealed he was hit with an bullet from an Enfield rifle. Based on this and the direction of the advance, the bullet was probably fired by some of his own troops. Ironically, it was through the request of Gen. Johnston that 15,000 Enfield rifles, recently smuggled through the blockade, were distributed to the Army only 3 days before the battle.

During this charge, the staff leading it included (1) the highest ranking Confederate General, (2) the Governor of Tennessee and (3) a previous Vice-President of the USA.

The 13th Light Artillery Battery(USA) set up position at a point in front of the line at the area that became known as the Hornet's Nest. Before they had time to set their guns, they were fired upon and the unit broke into a retreat without firing a shot. Several of their officers were court martialed. Custermen

After the Union troops fled some of the Confederate troops stopped to eat the rest of the Unions breakfast.

The above answers are excellent. There are, however, some additional important facts about the Battle of Shiloh:

A. The battle began with a surprise attack on General Grant's Union forces;

B. The battle took place in southwest Tennessee near the church of Shiloh on April 6th and 7th of 1862;

C. This battle was the bloodiest one in US history up to this time;

D. The first answer mentions the death of Confederate general whose full name is Albert Sidney Johnston. He was the 2nd highest ranking soldier in the Confederacy;

E. General Johnston was a West Point graduate. He had been offered the position of the 2nd highest command of the Union army by President Lincoln, but resigned from the Union army to join the Confederacy;

F. Details of the actions prior to and after the battle began can be summarized as this:

1. In March of 1862, General Grant commanded the Army of Tennessee, which had 56,000 troops, and moved his forces to Pittsburg Landing on April 3, 1862 and awaited the arrival of reinforcements;

2. Confederate General Johnston and his army of 56,000 troops concentrates his forces in Corinth;

3. Bad weather on April 3rd delays Johnston's advance to Pittsburg Landing, where Grants's forces are concentrated; and

4. On April 6th, Johnston launches the surprise attack against Grant before Union reinforcements arrive.

Grant was not expecting the enemy to attack, and had told his troops to rest easy.

General John McClernand was the only brigade-commander who had kept his men on the alert.

As the battle was very close-run, McClernand could reasonably claim that he had saved Grant's reputation. This led to a long-running feud between the two leaders.