Battle of Shiloh

Background. In early 1862, Confederate General Albert Sidney Johnston commanded forces in the Western Theater. After moving to Nashville, he organized the Army of the Mississippi. On April 6, 1862, Johnston launched a massive surprise attack against Grant's Army of the Tennessee at Shiloh, despite prior reports of troop movements that had left Union forces unaware of the imminent threat.

First Day Fighting. The battle began on April 6, 1862, with Confederate forces attacking Grant's troops at Pittsburg Landing. Union troops were taken by surprise, though some had modern weapons and fences for shelter. Grant noted that a different commander might have moved Wallace's division to the battlefield earlier, highlighting the initial disorganization and heavy losses suffered by the Union on the first day.

Second Day Counterattack. Following Johnston's death on April 6, P.G.T. Beauregard assumed command of the Confederate forces. On April 7, Union reinforcements arrived, enabling a counterattack. The battle concluded on April 7, 1862, marking a significant engagement in the Western Theater, though the legacy claim of a simple defeat oversimplifies the costly two-day nature of the conflict.