Historical Archive
Shiloh, 1862
In the spring of 1862, less than a year after the first shots of the Civil War were fired at Fort Sumter, the Union Army was in control of most of central Tennessee. After victory at Fort Donelson in February, where 14,000 Confederates were taken prisoner, Nashville was occupied and the Federals began a drive into the deep south. Utilizing river transports, over forty thousand bluecoats gathered on a plateau rising along the west bank of the Tennessee River about 20 miles north of the Mississippi state line. An equal number of Confederates were assembling in Corinth Mississippi. Their plan was to strike Grant's army before it united with another force of thirty thousand under Buell, already marching south from Nashville. On Sunday morning April 6th, the Confederates attacked, the fury and fire of the grey tide surprising most of the Federals camped on the outer perimeter near a log cabin which was used a church. Hot breakfasts and tents were abandoned as the Yankees gradually retreated over two miles through a patchwork of woods and fields.
The Manse Cabin, just forward of the eastern end of the Sunken Road. Hurlburts regiment held this position until the Confederates assembled 62 cannon at 2:30 pm and opened fire on the Union position at which point, they hastily retreated.