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The usual answer is that the Confederates erred in allowing themselves to be stopped and diverted by the effort to clear Yankee holdouts from a patch of woods called the "Hornet's Nest". The thinking is that the Confederates should have continued to sweep across the battlefield and follow through on their success, and then returned to mop up the Hornet's Nest later.

But recent research has thrown this supposition into some doubt. Analysis of Confederate regimental losses during the battle seems to indicate that much less attention was paid to eliminating the Hornet's Nest than postwar accounts of the battle had led historians to believe.

I would say a much more serious error was the battlefield formation adopted by the Rebels. In every other major battle of the war, the armies of both sides fought with the corps of their armies side by side. This gave each corps commander responsibility for a certain portion of the field, and he had his troops all within reach, some in the front lines, and some behind to reinforce where needed.

The Rebel plan for Shiloh was devised by General Beauregard. His plan had the army's three corps one behind the other, with each extending all the way across the battlefield. This was too wide an area for a corps commander to oversee. Worse, once the front corps encountered the enemy and halted to fight, the second and third lines came up behind and the troops all became jumbled together, and the situation was beyond the ability of any commander to control. General Johnston realized this fatal defect in the plan drawn up by his second in command, Beauregard, but by the time he did it was too late to change Beauregard's arrangements. Then when Johnston was killed, the "excitable" Beauregard was unable to cope with the confusion engendered by his own plan.

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Q: What major mistake did the confederacy make in the Battle of Shiloh?
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Leaders engaged in the Battle of Shiloh?

For the Union, Major General Ulysses S. Grant and Major General Don Carlos Buell. For the Confederacy, General Albert Sidney Johnston and General P.G.T. Beauregard.


What were the 5 major battles of the civil war what effect did they have towards the end of the civil war?

battle of manassas (bullrun) was the first major battle Battle of Gettysburg was the turning point in the war the battle of Vicksburg divided the south ( the north took controll over the Mississippi river) firing on fort Sumter (by the confederacy) marked the beginning of the war and the battle of lexiton and concord EDIT: First of all, Lexington and Concord was the American Revolution... But besides that, a few of the battles were The Battle of Bull Run, Battle of Antietam, Battle of Fredericksburg, Battle of Chancellorsville, Battle of Shiloh, Battle of Vicksburg, and Battle of Gettysburg. The Battle of Bull Run showed that both sides needed training and the Battle of Antietam did as well, although North won the second one because Robert E. Lee was forced to retreat. The Confederacy won the Battle of Fredericksburg and the Battle of Chancellorsville, but lost an important war leader during them. The Battle of Shiloh was one of the bloodiest wars of the Civil War and during it, the North blockaded the Confederacy's ports. During the Battle of Vicksburg, the North took the Mississippi River and split the Confederacy in half. The Battle of Gettysburg was the major turning part of the war where the North pretty much won the war after winning that battle.


Where was the third battle of the civil war?

It was in hampton roads .


Where did Confederate General PT Beauregard make his headquarters at the Battle of Shiloh?

Confederate Major General PT Beauregard used the Shiloh church as his headquarters at the Battle of Shiloh. From there he drew up battle plans for the remainder of the two day battle as his superior officer, General Albert S. Johnston was mortally wounded.


What was the outcome and impact of the first major battle of the civil war?

The outcome of the First Battle of Manassas, or First Bull Run was a Confederate victory. The Battle of Shiloh indicated the war would be long and bloody.

Related questions

What was the closest major city to the Battle of Shiloh?

The closest major city and the one with the most strategic importance would have been Corinth, Mississippi, about thirty miles south of Shiloh. It was a major rail center for the Confederacy.


Leaders engaged in the Battle of Shiloh?

For the Union, Major General Ulysses S. Grant and Major General Don Carlos Buell. For the Confederacy, General Albert Sidney Johnston and General P.G.T. Beauregard.


What is the date in which the Battle of Shiloh had taken place?

The Battle of Shiloh had taken place from April 6 to April 7, 1862. The Battle of Shiloh was fought in southwestern Tennessee. It was one of the major battles of The American Civil War.


Why was the battle of Shiloh fought in Tennessee?

The Battle of Shiloh was a major battle during the U.S. Civil War. It was fought in Hardin County Tennessee on April 6-7, 1862.


Where did the Shiloh battle happen?

On the Tennessee River, north of a major rail junction at Corinth, near Shiloh Church.


Which of these is a correct match Battle of Shiloh- Tennessee?

The Battle of Shiloh was fought in Hardin County, Tennessee on April 6 - 7, 1862. It was a major battle that was won by the Union forces that were lead by Major General Ulysses S. Grant.


Where was the third battle of the civil war?

It was in hampton roads .


What were the 5 major battles of the civil war what effect did they have towards the end of the civil war?

battle of manassas (bullrun) was the first major battle Battle of Gettysburg was the turning point in the war the battle of Vicksburg divided the south ( the north took controll over the Mississippi river) firing on fort Sumter (by the confederacy) marked the beginning of the war and the battle of lexiton and concord EDIT: First of all, Lexington and Concord was the American Revolution... But besides that, a few of the battles were The Battle of Bull Run, Battle of Antietam, Battle of Fredericksburg, Battle of Chancellorsville, Battle of Shiloh, Battle of Vicksburg, and Battle of Gettysburg. The Battle of Bull Run showed that both sides needed training and the Battle of Antietam did as well, although North won the second one because Robert E. Lee was forced to retreat. The Confederacy won the Battle of Fredericksburg and the Battle of Chancellorsville, but lost an important war leader during them. The Battle of Shiloh was one of the bloodiest wars of the Civil War and during it, the North blockaded the Confederacy's ports. During the Battle of Vicksburg, the North took the Mississippi River and split the Confederacy in half. The Battle of Gettysburg was the major turning part of the war where the North pretty much won the war after winning that battle.


What is the significant of the battle of Shiloh?

That this could have been a major victory for the Confederacy,but with so many casualties on both sides,the generals on each side began to realize that the war would not be over as quickly as they thought it would. (This doesn't mean I'm a "know-it-all" person,it just means that I'm educated) The battle of Shiloh was important beacuse YOUR FACE C:


What was the site of 1862 battle on Tennessee Mississippi border?

A large number of major battles occurred in Tennessee, including the Battle of Shiloh, Stones River, Chattanooga, Nashville, and Franklin.


What three major battles took place in 1863 and why was each one important?

South Carolina attacks Fort Sumter Confederacy defeats Union at First Battle of Bull Run, Union defeats Confederacy at Shiloh and Antietam, Lincoln issues Emancipation Proclamation Union defeats Confederacy at Gettysburg and Vicksburg Lincoln delivers Gettysburg Address


Who started the Shiloh Battle?

Confederate Major General Albert S. Johnston and his troops