Shiloh Civil War Battlefield

Today we went to Shiloh Civil War Battlefield.
The Battle of Shiloh
April 6-8, 1862
One of the greatest battles of the War Between the States erupted near the banks of the Tennessee River at Shiloh, Tennessee. Following the battles of Ft. Henry and Donelson, Union General Ulysses S. Grant moved his troops south along the river to Pittsburg landing for training and field exercises. Many of his men were raw ruits. Grant did not fortify his position. Following the losses of Ft. Henry and Donelson Confederate forces under the command of General Sidney Johnston established a new line that covered the Memphis to Charleston Railroad. Johnston concentrated his forces near Corinth, Mississippi in hopes of engaging Grant's army before it could be reinforced. Johnston began marching from Corinth on On April 2, 1862 towards the suspected location of the Union forces. By the evening of the 5th, Johnston was prepared to attack. Grant wired his superior, General H.W. Halleck, with slight suspicion of attack. Halleck ordered Grant to stay at Shiloh and await einforcements from General Beull. It was believed that the nearest Confederate
forces were at Corinth.
The following morning, April 6, 1862, Johnston launched his attack. The Union forces were quickly driven back to the north and east. They found themselves rapidly approaching the Tennessee River to the east and Owl Creek to the north. However, the Union troops finally established a line at a area know as "the sunken road". Confederate forces launched eleven attacks against the position, but the line would not break. The area became known as the "Hornets Nest" because of the intensity of gun fire and grazing of bullets. Finally the southern troops brought sixty-two artillery pieces to bear on the Hornets Nest, many at point blank range. After holding the position foe six hours, the Union forces surrendered.
Fighting also occurred near the Hornets Nest on a peach orchard. General Johnston personally led the final Confederate assault. He emerged with clothes torn from grazzing bullets. He was moved to a nearby tree where it was discovered that he had been shot in the back of the leg. He refused medical attention and bled to death even though a tounique would have saved his life.