Many battles had been fought in America, but they were all skirmishes
compared with Shiloh. Napoleon fought but few battles on the Continent
of Europe that were more destructive of human life.
In the beginning of April, 1862, General Albert Sidney Johnston was in
command of 40,000 Confederate soldiers at Corinth, Miss., about twenty
miles from Pittsburgh Landing, on the Tennessee River; the next in
command was General Beauregard, who had fought at Bull Run, and had
come to reënforce Johnston; General Bragg, of Buena Vista fame, was
there, to whom, at Buena Vista, General Taylor had given the famous
command, "A little more grape, Captain Bragg." General Leonidas Polk
was with Johnston also. He was called the "Fighting Bishop," for he had
been a bishop in the church after leaving West Point.
Meanwhile the Union army was gathering at Pittsburgh Landing, under the
command of General Grant, and by April 5th numbered 40,000 men. Grant's
plan was to attack the Confederates at Corinth, within a few days, and
at this time was little expecting an immediate battle, and had left his
army in command of his subordinate officers, and on the night of the
5th was some miles down the Tennessee from where his army was encamped.
In the meantime Johnston was moving on the Federals at Pittsburgh
Landing, and on the night of April 5th encamped within a mile of the
Federal lines.
At the break of day Sunday, April 6th, the Confederate battle-lines
moved from the woods on the surrounding hills, and the greatest battle
yet fought in the Western Hemisphere was at hand.
General Grant was at breakfast when he heard the roar of the cannon,
and made haste by boat to take charge of his army.
General Hardee led the first Confederate attack against the outlying
division of the Federals under General Benjamin Prentiss, of West
Virginia. Very soon a Confederate attack was made all along the Federal
line, led by Bragg, Polk and Breckinridge. A determined stand was made
by the Federal division under General W. T. Sherman, but was finally
pushed back after inflicting great slaughter to the Confederates. About
two and a half miles from the Landing, in a grove of trees, stood a log
church, known to the country people as Shiloh, at which they gathered
on Sunday to worship, but on this particular Sunday the demon of war
reigned supreme, and it goes without saying that the regular service on
this fateful Sunday was dispensed with. About this church the battle
raged furiously. Near the same was a dense undergrowth, which was
held by General Prentiss until late in the afternoon of the 6th, when
his entire division was surrounded and compelled to surrender, after
repulsing the Confederate attack time after time with great slaughter.
This spot has since been known as the "Hornet's Nest."
It was near this place that General Albert Sidney Johnston received his
death wound while leading his troops, and in his death the Confederates
suffered irreparable loss. He was struck in the leg by a minie ball,
and if surgical attention had been given him at once his life would
have been saved.
It is the belief of many that the death of Johnston changed the result
at Shiloh. Beauregard succeeded to the command and continued the
battle. The utter rout of Grant's army was saved only by the gunboats
in the river. Beauregard gave orders to suspend operations until
morning.
[Illustration: GENERAL ROBERT E. LEE]
The Confederates were left in charge of the field on the first day and
were in good hope of victory. But ere long their hopes were mingled
with fear, for Beauregard had been expecting General Van Dorn with
20,000 men to reënforce him, but he had not arrived. On the other hand,
Generals Buell and Wallace arrived during the night with 25,000 fresh
troops to reënforce Grant. Everyone knew the battle would be renewed
at the dawn of day. At the break of day, April 7th, all was astir on
the field of Shiloh, and the dawn was greeted with the roar of the
cannon and the rattle of the musketry.
The Confederates were at a great disadvantage as Van Dorn had not
arrived, and they were confronted by Grant's overwhelming numbers.
Shiloh church was again the storm center, and was used by Beauregard as
his headquarters.
During the afternoon Beauregard became convinced that the battle
was lost, and ordered a retreat, which was skillfully made, for he
maintained a front firing-line, and the Federals did not suspect his
retreat for some time.
The Federals were left in possession of the field, while Beauregard's
troops were wading through mud on their way to Corinth.
Nothing yet on the American continent had ever been witnessed by any
human being that would equal the agony and woe that was endured on this
retreat; the road was almost impassable, and the Confederate army,
extending along this road for six to eight miles, was struggling along
through a downpour of rain, which, ere long, as night hovered over
them, turned to hail and sleet. There were wagons loaded with wounded,
whose wounds had not yet been attended. The wounded that died on the
way were left by the wayside.
Some days after the battle Beauregard reported to his government at
Richmond as follows: "This army is more confident of ultimate success
than before its encounter with the enemy."
In his address to his soldiers he said: "You have done your duty. Your
countrymen are proud of your deeds on the bloody field of Shiloh:
Confident of the ultimate result of your valor."
The two days at Shiloh were astonishing to the American people. Bull
Run was a skirmish in comparison with Shiloh. The loss on each side was
more than 10,000 men. General Grant said that after the battle there
was an open field so covered with dead that it would have been possible
to walk across it in any direction stepping on dead bodies without the
foot touching the ground.
This proved a great victory for the Federals, as it left them in full
possession along the Tennessee and in the surrounding country.