6 April 1862: First day at the Battle of Shiloh

Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant’s Army of the Tennessee had six divisions (two filled with new and inexperienced troops) encamped between Shiloh Church and the Tennessee River. Grant also had two wooden gunboats, the USS Tyler and USS Lexington, at Pittsburg Landing available for artillery support. None of the divisions had prepared entrenchments as they did not expect a fight in the area. His army had nearly 49,000 men. Maj. Gen. Don Carlos Buell was headed south with more than 17,000 more troops in four divisions of his Army of the Ohio. They were expected to arrive about 7 April.

Advancing from the southwest was Maj. Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston’s Army of Mississippi with four small corps and consisting of nearly 45,000 troops. They were unaware Buell’s army had left from the Nashville area.

Action began early when a detachment from Brig. Gen. Benjamin Prentiss’ division that had been sent forward to scout in response to reports of rebel forces in the Shiloh area encountered the better part of a Confederate brigade advancing near Fraley’s Field. These two smaller forces battled for nearly an hour.

In the meantime, General Johnston ordered a general advance and ordered Brig. Gen. P. G. T. Beauregard to remain in the rear and manage resupply and reinforcements as needed while Johnston went forward to lead the attack, which called for the Confederates to concentrate on the Union left and try to force the Union troops to the northwest into swampy land bordered by two nearby creeks/

Instead, the attack went forward as a frontal assault, focused on Brig. Gen. William Sherman’s and Prentiss’ inexperienced divisions on the Union right flank. Neither Johnston nor Beauregard reinforced the rebel right, which meant no effort was given to rolling up the Union left flan

Although Sherman’s division was the least experienced, it had the advantage of having the only West Point graduate in command. During the course of the day, fighting wound up gradually moving to the southeast to an area called the “Hornet’s Nest.” Here, the Confederates spent the better part of six hours trying to breakthrough, suffering thousands of casualties and losing their commander, General Johnston, who bled out from a bullet wound in the popliteal vein in his lower right leg. Johnston had spent most of the morning and early afternoon riding as much as 40 yards ahead of the rebel line and his uniform was shredded by bullets that narrowly missed him and the heal of one of his boots had been shot off. Johnston ignored his leg wound until an officer saw him leaning forward in his saddle and inquired if he had been hit.

“Yes,” he replied softly, “and I fear seriously.” He died shortly after–the highest ranking officer killed in action during the Civil War.

To be continued tomorrow.

ILLUSTRATIONS: (1) Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston confers with subordinate commanders before attacking Union forces at Shiloh. (2) Union troops fire on attacking Confederate troops early on the first day of the Battle of Shiloh. (3) Arkansas soldiers prepare for an assault on the "Hornet's Nest." (4) The charge through the peach orchard on the first day at Shiloh. (5) Maj. Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston shouts out orders in the chaos around the "Hornet's Nest." (6) The 8th Iowa Vol. Inf. hold's fast at the "Hornet's Nest." (7) Men of the 6th Miss. Inf. assault Sherman's line on the first day at Shiloh. (8) Brig. Gen. Braxton Bragg orders a wounded regimental CO to lead his men on a third assault on the "Hornet's Nest." (9) Union and rebel troops engage in hand-to-hand combat at the "Hornet's Nest." (10) Attended by Tennessee Gov. Isham G. Harris, General Johnston lies dying after being shot and leaving his leg wound untreated on the first day at Shiloh.