Battle of Shiloh

A major Civil War battle fought in southwestern Tennessee on April 6–7, 1862. Union forces repelled a Confederate surprise attack and held the field after heavy losses on both sides.

Surprise attack: An assault launched before an opponent is prepared to respond effectively. Confederate forces struck Grant’s camps early on April 6, catching many Union troops off guard.
Western Theater of the American Civil War: The Civil War campaigns fought west of the Appalachian Mountains, especially in the Mississippi River basin. Shiloh was an early major Union victory in this theater.
Albert Sidney Johnston: A Confederate general who commanded the Army of Mississippi until his death at Shiloh. Johnston led the Confederate assault and was mortally wounded on April 6.
Casualties of the Battle of Shiloh: The killed, wounded, and missing on both sides in the Battle of Shiloh, numbering about 23,700. The losses shocked the public and established Shiloh as one of the war’s bloodiest battles to that date.
Battle of Fort Henry: A Union victory in February 1862 that captured a Confederate fort on the Tennessee River. Its outcome opened the river route used in the campaign that led to Shiloh.
Hornet's Nest: A wooded, sunken-road position defended by Union troops during the Battle of Shiloh. Its prolonged defense delayed Confederate advances and helped Union forces reorganize.
Henry Halleck: A Union general who commanded the Department of the Mississippi during the early Civil War. Halleck directed the campaign that brought Union forces to Pittsburg Landing.
P. G. T. Beauregard: A Confederate general who assumed command of the Army of Mississippi after Johnston’s death at Shiloh. Beauregard called off the attack on April 6 and withdrew after the Union counterattack.
Siege of Corinth: A Union campaign in April and May 1862 that ended with the capture of Corinth, Mississippi. The Union victory at Shiloh cleared the way for the advance on Corinth.
Battle of Fort Donelson: A Union victory in February 1862 that captured a Confederate fort on the Cumberland River. The victory helped push Confederate forces out of much of Tennessee before Shiloh.

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