What was the battle preceding the Battle of Shiloh?

Answer 1

The Union army began to advance into Kentucky to oppose the Confederate forces there. General Grant then moved his troops down the Mississippi River and captured Fort Donnelson. Instead of continuing his advance down the Mississippi River, he moved down the Tennessee to Pittsburg Landing. He couldn't have continued further south on the river into Alabama because of the shallow, rocky river at Muscle Shoals, AL.

General Grant had ordered the army in Nashville to march to join him. Grant wanted to consolidate his troops and move down into Mississippi and take the Memphis & Charleston RairlRoad. While he was securing his position, the Confederates launched their surprise attack.