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Battle of Shiloh Facts & Worksheets

One of the significant battles that broke out during the American Civil War was the Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing.

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One of the significant battles that broke out during the American Civil War was the Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing. It was fought April 6-7, 1862, in the Western Theater of the American Civil War, in the southwestern part of Hardin County, Tennessee. The Battle of Shiloh resulted in the Union Army’s victory.

See the fact file below for more information on the Battle of Shiloh or alternatively, you can download our 22-page Battle of Shiloh worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

SUMMARY

  • The Army of Tennessee, led by Major General Ulysses S. Grant, entered Tennessee through the Tennessee River.
  • The Army of Tennessee set camp on the west bank of the river, known as Pittsburg Landing.
  • Coming from Corinth, Mississippi, the Confederate Army of Mississippi launched a surprise attack on the Union Army’s camp at Pittsburg Landing.
  • General Albert Sidney Johnston was fatally wounded in their surprise attack.
  • General Beauregard had to take over and commanded an attack later in the evening of April 6, 1862.
  • Overnight, the Army of Tennessee received reinforcements, as the Army of Ohio led by Major General Don Carlos Buell arrived to help.
  • On the morning of April 7, the Union forces unexpectedly counterattacked and defeated the Confederate forces.

FORCES INVOLVED, LEADERS, AND CASUALTIES

  • The Battle of Shiloh was a battle fought between the Union and the Confederate States of America.
  • The Union was led by U.S. Major General Ulysses S. Grant and Major General Don Carlos Buell.
  • Ulysses S. Grant eventually became the 18th President of the United States.
  • The units they commanded were members of the Army of Tennessee and the Army of Ohio.
  • There were an estimated 63,000 Union soldiers deployed at the Battle of Shiloh.
  • The Union forces suffered a total of 13,047 casualties.
  • The Confederate Army was led by General Albert Sidney Johnston and General P.G.T. Beauregard.
  • They commanded the units belonging to the Army of Mississippi.
  • There were a total of 40,335 Confederate soldiers that fought at the Battle of Shiloh.
  • The Confederate force dealt with 10,699 casualties.

BACKGROUND

  • Six months before the Battle of Shiloh broke out, the Union forces were already scoring key victories.
  • The Union forces were already controlling Tennessee’s majority, including its capital, Nashville.
  • The state of Kentucky already belonged to the Union.In February, the leader of the Union Army, General Ulysses S. Grant, had fought major victories at the Battles of Fort Henry and Fort Donelson in Tennessee.
  • Due to the Union’s consecutive significant victories, General Albert Sidney Johnston was forced to gather the scattered Confederate and Rebel Armies and set up camp at Corinth, Mississippi.
  • Major General Ulysses Grant was already planning to seize Corinth, Mississippi, given that it was a vital rail center. If Corinth was successfully seized, the Union would gain total control of the region.
  • Grant, who had 42,000 soldiers, met up with General Don Carlos Buell, who commanded 20,000 troops, and asked for their forces to be combined.
  • General Johnston did not wait for Major General Grant and General Buell’s forces to team up.
  • The Confederate Army planned to attack early.
  • As early as April 3, Johnston commanded his troops to march up to Grant’s camp.
  • They were delayed by rain and muddy roads.

IMPORTANT

  • The area of the battlefield where the Confederate forces launched repeated attacks on the Union forces was located on a small, seldomly-used farm road. This area was called the Hornet’s Nest.
  • The name of the area was derived from the description of the Southern soldiers who heard the zipping bullets that sounded like “angry hornets”.
  • According to an old, circulating story, one man said “It’s a hornet’s nest in there.”
  • The largest grand battery of artillery was assembled during the Battle of Shiloh. It was the largest artillery ever seen in North America during the time. It was called Ruggle’s Battery.
  • Around 4 p.m. on April 6, 1862, Confederate Brigadier General Daniel Ruggles assembled the battery, so it was named after him.
  • Despite its size and the noise it made, Ruggle’s battery was said to have inflicted only a few casualties.

AFTERMATH

  • The performance of Major General Ulysses S. Grant was negatively criticized by the Northern Newspapers after the Battle of Shiloh, as he ended up battling surprised and unprepared.
  • The press spread allegations that he might have been drunk.
  • General Don Carlos Buell’s performance was valorized in contrast to the press’s perception towards Grant.
  • It was believed that the Union’s victory was duly credited to Buell, as he took control of the broken Union forces.

Battle of Shiloh Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the Battle of Shiloh across 22 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Battle of Shiloh worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing. It was fought April 6-7, 1862, in the Western Theater of the American Civil War, in the southwestern part of Hardin County, Tennessee. The Battle of Shiloh resulted in the Union Army’s

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Battle of Shiloh Facts
  • Who, What, Where?
  • Background Blanks
  • Map Narrative
  • Correct Sequence
  • Union Leaders
  • Confederate Leaders
  • Image Narrative
  • Aftermath Article
  • Stamp Design
  • A Battle Plan

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Link will appear as Battle of Shiloh Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, July 15, 2020

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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