The American Civil War: The Western Campaign--Shiloh (April 6-7, 1862)


Figure 1.--

The war began in earnest in 1862. The battle at Shiloh was the first of the great killing fields of the war. Almost all Americans, north and south, were sure it was going to be a short war. There had been only one majoe battle in 1861--Bull Run (Manasas) just south of Washingto, D.C. After the Winter hiatus this was about to change, but the general attitude was that the War would be over by Christmas. Then shocking news came over the telegraph wires about a major engagement being fought in the back country of southern Tennesse (April 6). This was about remote as you could get. A place ironically called Shiloa (Pittsburgh Landing). Few had ever heard of it and among those that had, no ever thought it would be the site of an important battle. And as reports from the battlefield came filtering in, one aspect became all too clear. The caualties were horendous. One historian writes, As he ran back through the brigade camps, McGuire reported that the Confederates 'were sweeping the ground with cannister; the musket fire was awful. The striking of the shot on the ground threw up little clouds of dust, and the falling of men all around impressed me with the desire to get out of there. The hair commenced to rise on the back of my neck. I felt sure that a cannon ball was close behind me, giving me chase. I never ran that fast before, and never will again. It was a marvel that any of us came out alive.' Thus, the collapse of the Prentiss' line was complete." [Groom] There were an incredible combined casualties of 24,000 out of the 110,000 combatants. The deadliest day was the first day when the Confederates attacked Grant's encampment. He an Sherman with timely reinforecements counter attacked the next day an managed to salvage a narrow victory. Shiloh was a nominal Federal victory, but the public was agast at the scale of the losses. It almost cost Grant his career had Lincoln not intervened, but more importantly than any other single battle, it suddenly became clear to most Amerivans that the War would not be short. And Shiloh was a battle fought out in a virtually meaningless locale. Many wondered what would happen in battles for important posutions and cities. After Shiloh Americans finally knew what civil war meant. Shiloh also had important consequences on how the War was to be fought. Sherman more than most commanders at the time grasped the meaning that the War would be a long brutal contest and not the quick engagement that had been widely expected on both sides. Sherman conceived the idea of attacking the Condederacy's economy and morale. Conderate Commander Nathan Bedford Forrest was also at Shiloh. He concluded that the South's only chance was audacity and ruthlessness, characteristics of his command and after the War a factor in his leadership of the Ku Klux Klan. [Hanson] It was at Shiloh that Johnny Clem, the "Drummer Boy of Shiloh" became known to the country.

Early 1862 Developments

The war began in earnest in 1862. The battle at Shiloh was the first of the great killing fields of the war. Almost all Americans, north and south, were sure it was going to be a short war. There had been only one majoe battle in 1861--Bull Run (Manasas) just south of Washingto, D.C. After the Winter hiatus this was about to change, but the general attitude was that the War would be over by Christmas. Then shocking news came over the telegraph wires about a major engagement being fought in the back country of southern Tennesse (April 6). This was about remote as you could get. A place ironically called Shiloa (Pittsburgh Landing). Few had ever heard of it and among those that had, no ever thought it would be the site of an important battle. And as reports from the battlefield came filtering in, one aspect became all too clear. The caualties were horendous.

First Day (April 6)

One historian writes, As he ran back through the brigade camps, McGuire reported that the Confederates 'were sweeping the ground with cannister; the musket fire was awful. The striking of the shot on the ground threw up little clouds of dust, and the falling of men all around impressed me with the desire to get out of there. The hair commenced to rise on the back of my neck. I felt sure that a cannon ball was close behind me, giving me chase. I never ran that fast before, and never will again. It was a marvel that any of us came out alive.' Thus, the collapse of the Prentiss' line was complete." [Groom] There were an incredible combined casualties of 24,000 out of the 110,000 combatants. The deadliest day was the first day when the Confederates attacked Grant's encampment.

Second Day (April 7)

Grant and Sherman with timely reinforecements counter attacked the next day and managed to salvage a narrow victory.

Impact

Shiloh was a battle with enormous consequences. The nominal Federal victory in military terms, but in strategic terms in solidified the Federal position deep in Confedearate territoty. The public was agast at the scale of the losses. It almost cost Grant his a career had Lincoln not intervened, but more importantly than any other single battle, it suddenly became clear to most Amerivans that the War would not be short. And Shiloh was a batte fought out in a virtually meaningless locale. Many wondered what would happen in battles for important posutions and cities. After Shiloh Americans finally knew what civil war meant. Shiloh also had important consequences on how the War was to be fought. Sherman more than most commanders at the time grasped the meaning that the War would be a long brutal contest and not the quick engagement that had been widely expected on both sides. Sherman conceived the idea of attacking the Condederacy's economy and morale. A historian writes, "When the recognition of the Confederate failure finally sank in, many southerners turned against Beauregard. They blamed him for having smatched defeat from the jaws of victory by refusing to order a final twilight assault on the first day. About the time this shift occurred in southern opinion, Illnoisians began coming to Grant's defense. When a prominent Pennsylvanian Republican went to Lincoln and said that Grant was incompetent, a drunkard, and a political liability, the president heard him out and replied: 'I can't spare this man; he fights.'" [McPherson] Conderate Commander Nathan Bedford Forrest was also at Shiloh. He concluded that the South's only chance was audacity and ruthlessness, characteristics of his command and after the War a factor in his leadership of the Ku Klux Klan. [Hanson]

Johnny Clem

It was at Shiloh that Johnny Clem, the "Drummer Boy of Shiloh" became known to the country. Figure 1.--A HBC reader informs us that the boy in this Civil War portrait is Johnny Clem. He was the drummer for the 22 Michigan Infantry. He went on to become a "lance seargent" on Generals Thomas's staff. Our reader believes he stayed in the Army after the War and retired as a General. Click on the image to learn more about him. John Joseph Klem, often refered to as Johnny Clem, was probably the most famous boy who served in the Civil War, if not the most famous boy in American history. He is known to hostory as the "Drummer Boy of Chickamauga" and also "Johnny Shiloh." He was one of the youngest, but not the youngest to do so. Like most younger boys who participated in the War, he served as a musician. The Federal Army alone had places for 40,000 muscians. Many of the boys given the turmoil of battle became involved in the actual fighting. Johhny was the most famous Union boy soldier. He became a drummer in the 22nd Michigan Infantry at age 11 years. He fought in the battles of Shiloh, Perryville, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, and Atlanta. He was eventually promoted to serve as a mounted orderly on the staff of General George H. Thomas, with the "rank" of lance sergeant.

Sources

Groom, Winston. Shiloh: The First Great and Terrible Battle of the Civil War (2012).

Hanson, Victor Davis. Ripples of Battle: How Wars of the Past Still Determine How We live and How We Think (Doubleday, 2003), 278p.

McPherson, James. M. Battle Cry of Freedom (reprint 2011), 952p.






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Created: 8:58 PM 2/9/2013
Last updated: 8:58 PM 2/9/2013