The American Cyclopædia (1879)/Shiloh (Tenn.)

SHILOH, a locality, so called from a church situated there, near Pittsburgh Landing, on the Tennessee river, in Hardin co., Tenn., where a battle was fought, April 6, 7, 1862, between the Union forces under Gen. Grant and the confederates under Gens. A. S. Johnston and Beauregard. The battle is sometimes called that of Pittsburgh Landing. After the evacuation of Nashville, the confederate forces in the west were concentrated near Corinth, Miss., while Grant was preparing to move so as to cut off their communications in western Tennessee. On April 1, with about 32,000 men, he reached Pittsburgh Landing, where he was to be joined by Gen. Buell. Johnston, who had about 45,000 men, moved from Corinth and attacked Grant on the morning of the 6th. The attack fell first upon the divisions of W. T. Sherman and Prentiss, both of which were driven back, three regiments of the latter being captured and the whole army forced back almost to the landing. In the afternoon Buell's advance appeared on the opposite bank, and a single division crossed while the battle was going on. Gen. Johnston was mortally wounded, and the command devolved upon Beauregard, who assailed the Union centre and left, on which most of the artillery had been concentrated, and which were also covered by two gunboats. The attack was repelled, and at night a bombardment was opened, which compelled the confederates to retire a little.

The remainder of Buell's command crossed during the night, raising the Union force to about 45,000. Grant opened the action early on the morning of the 7th, by an artillery fire, before which the confederates fell back. This was followed by a general assault, which was obstinately resisted. The action continued till 4 P. M., when the confederates retreated. The Union loss, as officially reported, was 1,700 killed, 7,495 wounded, and 3,022 prisoners; in all, 12,217. The confederate loss, as reported by Beauregard, was 1,728 killed, 8,012 wounded, and 959 missing; in all, 10,699. (See .)