Shiloh-Grant's Last Line

[lrd89]

Do you think that Grant's last line at Shiloh on April 6 would have been taken if Beauregard had attacked? I'm reading Shiloh by Larry Daniel and wondered what you thought.

 

[johan_steele]

That many guns, many of them big seige guns firing canister into the faces of any attacking line as well as the two gunboats w/ their guns... Not to mention how exhausted the assualt troops were already. It would have been a slaughter & a disaster. To add to that was Buells Army coming across the river; fresh troops to man the line and counter attack where needed. It would have been a pretty tough road to cross.

 

[ole]

Ird89:

Ditto on Shane's comment. Of course, there always is a possibility but, in this case, slim and none comes to mind.
Ole

 

[FSPowers]

Maybe if Beau had tried to attack the Federal's right flank, but that might have not been too successfull either.


:shrug:

 

[lrd89]

For anyone who has read Daniel's book "Shiloh" He talks about this episode in a chapter titled "Lost Opportunity?", notice the question mark. Opportunity for a disaster maybe?

 

[ole]

For anyone who has read Daniel's book "Shiloh" He talks about this episode in a chapter titled "Lost Opportunity?", notice the question mark. Opportunity for a disaster maybe?

Without digging up Daniel's book, I think lost opportunity refers to the delay. The longer Beau waited, the stronger Grant's right grew.

If he had any chance, it would have been to immediately attack Grant's right, even before the prisoners at the Hornet's Nest were carted off. However, he was clueless. He couldn't find his commanders, his commanders couldn't find him, and no one knew where his troops were.

So, if my interpretation is even close, there never was an opportunity, was there?
Ole

 

[Admiral_Porter]

Grant's last line was heavily protected by artillery. I highly doubt the rebs would have broken through. Plus, the gunboats were making indirect fire.

There was too much confusion in the confederate ranks after the Union center broke. I don't think AS Johnston's death made that much of a difference.

 

[nbforrest]

The night attack across Dill Branch just showed that the artillery line was too strong. The indirect fire, although ineffective, added to the confusion and made an occupation of Pittsburg Landing impossible.

A bigger what if I think would be if Van Dorn arrived in time for the battle.

Respectfully

 

[Admiral_Porter]

A bigger what if I think would be if Van Dorn arrived in time for the battle.

He could have but was too busy getting whipped at Pea Ridge.

 

[nbforrest]

Van Dorn....just hopeless really. Too bad he didn't find his way into the cavalry sooner.

 

[30th_il]

I think the troops were too green on both sides to have effectively launched a coordinated attack. This was the first major battle for most of the soldiers. As Shelby Foote said, "It was more of a brawl than a battle"

 

[Calicoboy]

Just because the Confederates "won" the first day of Shiloh doesn't mean they were in any position to take advantage of that "win". Both sides suffered mightedly (is that a word?). The temptation of abandoned foodstuffs was too much for a exhausted reb. The threat of two gunboats was real. Naval cannons were HUGE compared to those of the armies. Shiloh was a sobering bloodbath that made both sides realize that the war was for real. Speaking of Pea Ridge....I notice that not many people seem to put much importance to that battle. It solidified Union control of Missouri and Northern Arkansas. To me, that seems pretty important. I would like to see more discussion of that battle. I lived in Fayetteville, Arkansas for many years and had the opportunity to study that battle. Quite the fracas including the marching through Missouri that preceded it. There was also a battle at Prarie Grove, just outside of Fayetteville. Any takers?

Calicoboy

 

[johan_steele]

Start the thread Calicoboy, Pea Ridge is of interest to me and I freely admit my knowledge of the subject is limited. I know litle more than the Order Of Battle and who won. It was a pretty tight fight from all accounts.

y ancestor who was at Shiloh had only been w/ the Regiment a few days... Shiloh was one hell of an intrduction ot the reality of war.

 

[MobileBoy]

Porter,
Was Van Dorn supposed to be present for the Battle of Shiloh and is so with how many more troops?I think most poeple consider the loss of AS Johnson as related to the role he would've played after Shiloh and not necessarily that battle.

 

[ole]

Porter,
Was Van Dorn supposed to be present for the Battle of Shiloh and is so with how many more troops?I think most poeple consider the loss of AS Johnson as related to the role he would've played after Shiloh and not necessarily that battle.

I've read 20 to 25k. Re: AS Johnston. I'd amend that slightly to read: "...the role he might've played ..."

Johnston out-ranked Lee. He had -- arguably -- more military experience than Lee. His actions before the forts and Shiloh left much to be desired -- even given the impossibility of his assigned tasks. There is no reason to expect that, had he survived, he would have been better than a mediocre general. However, there is no reason to deny him the learning curve allowed to Grant, Sherman, and other capable leaders.

Just a thought.

Ole

 

[Admiral_Porter]

Was Van Dorn supposed to be present for the Battle of Shiloh and is so with how many more troops?

Yes he was. Sidney Johnston ordered him to transfer from the Trans-Mississippi and meet his gathering forces in Corinth. Instead Van Dorn disobeyed orders and fought a battle at Pea Ridge.

I'm not sure of the number of troops.

Van Dorn arrived at Corinth after Shiloh was fought. Bory then abandoned the town and Rosecrans sent his men there after Iuka. Van Dorn attacked Corinth and got whipped.

The fact that Van Dorn got killed while dueling a fellow confederate officer indicates his questionable mentality.

 

[ole]

The fact that Van Dorn got killed while dueling a fellow confederate officer indicates his questionable mentality.
Reply With Quote

Van Dorn got shot by a Doctor whose wife was being "pursued." Nothing quite so honorable as a duel.

At least, that's what I heard.:shrug:
Ole

 

[nbforrest]

That is correct, ole.

I think the duel Porter is thinking about is Walker and....Marmaduke maybe?

Respectfully