The Battle of Shiloh was a turning point in the American Civil War and a defining moment in the history of the United States. The two-day conflict, fought on April 6-7, 1862, between General Ulysses S. Grant's Union forces and General Albert Sidney Johnston's Confederate troops, resulted in a Union victory that changed the course of the war. The battle was fought in southwestern Tennessee, along the Tennessee River, and was known by the Union as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, after the landing where Grant's troops disembarked.

The battle was one of the bloodiest of the Civil War--to that time--with nearly 24,000 soldiers killed or wounded. However, despite the heavy losses, it was a turning point in the war as it marked the Union's first major victory in the Western Theater. The victory at Shiloh gave the Union control of crucial railroads and waterways in the region, which was vital for future military operations and supply lines.

In his personal memoirs, Ulysses S. Grant recalls:

"Shiloh was the severest battle fought at the West during the war, and but few in the East equalled it for hard, determined fighting. I saw an open field, in our possession on the second day, over which the Confederates had made repeated charges the day before, so covered with dead that it would have been possible to walk across the clearing, in any direction, stepping on dead bodies, without a foot touching the ground." (Grant 2017, 243)

The battle began when Confederate troops launched a surprise attack on Grant's forces. However, after a day of fierce fighting, the Union forces managed to hold the line and were reinforced overnight by troops under General Don Carlos Buell. The following day, the Union forces launched a successful counterattack and forced the Confederate army to withdraw. The Confederate army suffered a devastating loss, losing their commander, General Johnston, in battle, and this setback would have a significant impact on the morale of the Southern armies.

The importance of the Battle of Shiloh was manifold. Firstly, it was a significant victory for the Union, which had suffered several defeats in the Western Theater of the war. The victory would provide a much-needed morale boost for the Union army and its civilian supporters. It also marked a significant shift in the balance of power in the Western Theater, and Grant's subsequent victories in the region would lead to the eventual fall of important Confederate strongholds such as Vicksburg and Chattanooga.

The Battle of Shiloh also highlighted the importance of logistics and supply lines in modern warfare. The Union victory was due in large part to their ability to quickly reinforce their troops and resupply them during the battle. This logistical advantage would prove crucial in future battles, such as the Siege of Vicksburg, where Grant managed to cut off Confederate supply lines and force the city to surrender.

The Battle was a pivotal moment in the War's Western Theater, one that shaped the course of the Civil War. As one of the bloodiest conflicts of the war, it saw both Union and Confederate soldiers fight with an unparalleled ferocity, resulting in over 23,000 casualties. It was a battle that would be remembered by the nation for generations to come, and President Abraham Lincoln was no exception.

Top Photo: The Battle of Shiloh, or Pittsburg Landing, April 6th & 7th, 1862 / J.H. Bufford's lithograh, Boston. Names: J.H. Bufford's Lithograph. Created/Published: Boston: Published by Oliver Ditson & Co., c1862. Headings: United States, History, Civil War, 1861-1865-Campaigns & battles; Shiloh, Battle of, Tenn., 1862; United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Songs & music. Source: Library of Congress. In the Public Domain.

Bottom photo: Battle of Shiloh. Chromolithograph by Thulstrup de Thure, 1888. Source: War History Network. Click to enlarge.

Lincoln was deeply affected by the outcome of the battle, and he viewed it as a critical moment in the war effort. He understood that this was a turning point, one that could either cement the Confederacy's position in the war or provide the Union with the upper hand. As such, Lincoln was keenly interested in the development of the battle and watched closely as the news of the battle reached him in Washington.

Shiloh was not without its controversy however, as President Lincoln struggled with the leadership of Grant, and his inattention to the Confederate Army's advance to the Union Army's line. Historian Michael Burlingame writes that "... [the] general's record was tarnished by the close call he had experienced at the battle of Shiloh in early April. There he had cautiously allowed his army to be surprised by the Confederates, who almost defeated him before reinforcements from Don Carlos Buell arrived to turn the tide. Lincoln nearly yielded to critics insisting on Grant's removal." In the end, President Lincoln kept Grant in his command. (Burlingame 2008, 320-321)

In the aftermath of the battle, Lincoln spoke out about the conflict in a number of speeches, each of which were characterised by a somber and serious tone. He understood the gravity of the situation and the sacrifices that both Union and Confederate soldiers had made on the battlefield. One particularly famous speech that Lincoln gave shortly after the battle was the Gettysburg Address. In this speech, he highlighted the significance of the battle and the larger implications of the war, stating that it was a testing ground for the idea that a government "of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

President Lincoln's mention of the Battle of Shiloh during his Gettysburg Address was of great significance. In his speech, he referred to the soldiers who had fought and died in the battle as "brave men, living and dead," who had contributed to the cause of preserving the Union. This reference was not just a reminder of the sacrifices made by the soldiers, but it also served to highlight the importance of the Union cause and the fight for freedom.

Furthermore, President Lincoln's mention of the Battle of Shiloh was significant because it served to unite the country. At the time of the Gettysburg Address, the country was still in the midst of the Civil War, and the wounds caused by the conflict were deep. As such, the President's reference to the Battle of Shiloh was an attempt to remind everyone that the Union soldiers who had fought and died in the battle were all Americans, regardless of their political affiliations

Reflecting on the battle, Lincoln noted that "the battle of Shiloh was more than a contest of arms. It was a contest of wills." He recognized that the Union's success hinged on the soldiers' willpower and their determination to see the war through to its conclusion. Lincoln believed that the bravery and sacrifice of the Union soldiers during the Battle of Shiloh would be instrumental in changing the tide of the war and bringing an end to slavery.

Bibliography

Burlingame, Michael. Abraham Lincoln: A Life, Volume Two. Baltimore: JHU Press, 2008.

Catton, Bruce. Bruce Catton: The Army of the Potomac Trilogy (LOA #359): Mr. Lincoln's Army / Glory Road / A Stillness at Appomattox. New York: Library of America, 2022.

Foote, Shelby. The Civil War: A Narrative: Fredericksburg to Meridian. New York: Random House, 2011.

Grant, Ulysses S. The Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant: The Complete Annotated Edition. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2017.

McPherson, James M. Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003.

Meacham, Jon. And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle. New York: Random House, 2022.

Reynolds, David S. Abe: Abraham Lincoln in His Times. New York: Penguin, 2020.

"Shiloh: Pittsburg Landing." American Battlefield Trust. Accessed January 13, 2024. https://www.battlefields.org/learn/civil-war/battles/shiloh.

Thomas, Heather. "Battle of Shiloh: 160th Anniversary." The Library of Congress. Last modified April 5, 2022. https://blogs.loc.gov/headlinesandheroes/2022/04/battle-of-shiloh-160th-anniversary/.