NATIONAL MILITARY PARK
SHILOH BATTLEFIELD - April 6 -7, 1862
AMERICAN CIVIL WAR
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Shiloh church near the Tennessee River So. Tennessee
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This hewn log building was General
Grant's headquarters on the 6th of April 1862. It was at about 5 AM
that day, that the Union and Confederate forces began the largest battle
of the Civil War in the west. The numbers of men involved are staggering,
65,000 Union troops and 44,000 Confederate troops. That's a population
equal to a fair sized city. But these men were locked in combat across
an area equal to a small town, only six square miles. When the battle
was over the next afternoon 24,000 men were dead, wounded or missing.
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Common grave containing Confederate dead from Battle of Shiloh This battle is one of the most important battles of the Civil War. There has been much argument as to the mechanics and lack of tactics. But what makes it important is that it was a microcosm of what was to happen throughout the war. The aggressive attack of the South fought off and defended against, until the North could re-enforce their positions and push back the front. All at a terrible cost.attatt |
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Memorials abound - this one is to the
soldiers of the South
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I have stopped questioning motives,
even though we must remember why these things happened. But when I walked
that field, all I could question was the resolve of those who fought.
And that there were only 24,000 casualties. You can learn more about
the Battle from any book, encyclopedia or the
Battlefield site. However, I personally believe the best is to go
see this spot of History for yourself.
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Photos by Michael T. Sherer
SalmonRiverPublishing 1997 -2003