Shiloh Papers

[USS ALASKA]

LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY
Doctor of Philosophy in History
College of Arts and Sciences
Lynchburg, Virginia
2022
© 2022 Jared Williams ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Fog of War; Cloud of Memory: The Fifty-Third Ohio Volunteer Infantry's Shiloh Story
Jared Williams

Abstract
The Fifty-Third Ohio Volunteer Infantry was created on September 6, 1861. Men throughout the southern counties of Ohio flocked to Jackson, Ohio to join the new regiment. Poor leadership, supply issues, and inexperience immediately plagued the Fifty-Third Ohio. The Ohioans first experienced enemy fire on the morning of April 6, 1862 at the Battle of Shiloh. Throughout the war, the Fifty-Third Ohio fought at many battles including Vicksburg, Chattanooga, and Atlanta. More than any other conflict, the regiment's first combat experience remained linked to its reputation and honor. During the opening fight at Shiloh, the regiment was ordered to retreat by its commanding officer, Colonel J.J. Appler. However, two companies remained on the line and order was restored to the majority of the regiment through the efforts of Ephraim C. Dawes, James Percy, Wells S. Jones, and others. Even though the regiment remained heavily engaged in the fight, and continued to engage the enemy the following day, it was publicly berated for cowardice by its division commander, General William Tecumseh Sherman. Union leadership's desire to clear themselves from the accusation of surprise at Shiloh created scapegoats out of regiments like the Fifty-Third Ohio. Due in large part to the concepts of honor and manhood during the Civil War Era, the men of the regiment sought to clear their individual honor and collective reputation from the perceived stain of Shiloh. Newspapers and Union leadership initially derided the regiment for Shiloh. Even after the blame for the early withdraw was attached directly to Appler, the Fifty-Third Ohio was not entirely free from the accusations and innuendos of Shiloh. The regiment's successful service later in the war was unjustly tainted by the lingering perceptions of its first combat experience at Shiloh. Unfortunately, the reputation of the Fifty-Third Ohio remained frozen in negativity due to the lack of major scholarly interpretations on Shiloh during the first half of the Twentieth Century.

https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5152&context=doctoral

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USS ALASKA

 

[wausaubob]

Shiloh was misreported at the time it occurred. The US had reinforcements available. Wallace arrived late on the first day, but Buell's forces were being ferried over the river. The US had unopposed gunboats and transports on the Tennessee river. Either the US would be reinforced or the survivors would be evacuated to the north bank. And as far as embarrassing Grant and expelling him from command, he was still one of several promising commanders in April 1862. Halleck and McClellan could have easily replaced him. And Lincoln rarely completely cast away a general that had accomplished a strategic gain.

 

[wausaubob]

Considering the Confederacy lost A.S. Johnston and both Grant and Sherman survived the battle, it was a bad chess trade for the Confederates.

 

[USS ALASKA]

The Battle of Shiloh and the Organizations Engaged
David W. Reed

The University of Tennessee Press / Knoxville
Copyright © 2008 by The University of Tennessee Press / Knoxville.
All Rights Reserved.

Introduction
At Shiloh, there is no more real presence that David W. Reed. He was the first official historian at the park, and much of what visitors see today is his work. In fact, the staff at Shiloh National Military Park has three main ready sources (without delving into letters, diaries, and manuscript material) to turn to whenever a definitive answer is needed for a detailed or little-known tactical or historic question regarding some action in the battle. David W. Reed produced two of these three seminal sources. Reed did, however, produce the other two main sources decades later. Whenever there is a question about Shiloh that is not easily answerable, the staff looks to see what the various tablets and monuments on the battlefield say. These markers represent troop movements and were placed on the battlefield at the turn of the century when veterans of the battle were establishing the Shiloh National Military Park. Reed wrote the text for the approximately four hundred iron tablets, and he approved the text for the monuments produced by state commissions. Thus, Reed had his hand in telling the story of Shiloh "in letters of iron" on the battlefield itself. These markers are extremely important today because they offer a connection of both time and space to the veterans themselves and to the units they represent. There is a wealth of specific information on these markers, and anyone performing serious research into Shiloh must use them as a seminal source.

https://trace.tennessee.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&context=utk_utpress

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USS ALASKA

 

[SSVilla]

Thanks for sharing all these!

 

[USS ALASKA]

THE BATTLE OF SHILOH
JOSEPH W. RICH

EDITOR'S INTRODUCTION
In the Battle of Shiloh there is much to interest the student of Iowa history. This State had more men in the conflict, in proportion to its population, than any other. Eleven Iowa regiments of infantry were engaged, namely: the Second, the Third, the Sixth, the Seventh, the Eighth, the Eleventh, the Twelfth, the Thirteenth, the Fourteenth, the Fifteenth, and the Sixteenth. Besides these regiments there were in the Twenty-fifth Missouri, which was the regiment that furnished the reconnoitering party sent out on Sunday morning, April 6th, three Iowa companies, namely: Company F, Company I, and Company K. The Sixth Iowa Regiment claims the distinction of being the first regiment to disembark at Pittsburg Landing, and the Eighth claims the distinction of being the last regiment to retire from the line in the Hornets Nest. Five Iowa regiments were in the Hornets Nest; and three of the number, the Eighth, the Twelfth, and the Fourteenth, were captured. All of the other Iowa regiments were in the thick of the conflict on Sunday.

https://publications.iowa.gov/12085/1/Battle_of_Shiloh.pdf

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USS ALASKA

 

[CSuniforms]

This is what they call a deep dive in Civil War research. The search for new and unusual, never used Memoirs, Letters, or papers by Officers and Soldiers who were there and sat down and wrote about it. For many folks to have one or two books on Shiloh or Hardcore Folks --six or seven is enough for them. They are happy with that-- Like the Park Ranger at Gettysburg who asked a bunch of people why they do not come to the Park Presentations or Seminars? Their answer, "I watched the Movie Gettysburg six times already so I know all there is to know." Well, no you do not... Thanks for doing this-- and there are more out there new research for sure. Merry Christmas.

 

[wausaubob]

I continue to suspect that Henry Halleck wanted the battle to occur at Pittsburg Landing. There were two other operations pending that were more important than the Army of the Tennessee and US Grant. One campaign was to isolate the garrison at Island No. 10 and clear the Mississippi River as far as Fort Pillow. The other operation, which was at that time the top US priority, was the capture of New Orleans. Due to the Confederate concentration of force in Tennessee, both US operations were successful. The Confederates also had abandoned the town of Pensacola. Porter re-occupied the town which an added benefit. Merry Christmas.

 

[CSuniforms]

I continue to suspect that Henry Halleck wanted the battle to occur at Pittsburg Landing. There were two other operations pending that were more important than the Army of the Tennessee and US Grant. One campaign was to isolate the garrison at Island No. 10 and clear the Mississippi River as far as Fort Pillow. The other operation, which was at that time the top US priority, was the capture of New Orleans. Due to the Confederate concentration of force in Tennessee, both US operations were successful. The Confederates also had abandoned the town of Pensacola. Porter re-occupied the town which an added benefit. Merry Christmas.

Yes, Often we forget about Island No. 10 or Pea Ridge-- as real turning points for the War in the Western Theatre. The capture of New Orleans put the cork in the bottle. The Western Confederates fought on for another 3 years but could never take back any of the land they lost in 1862. The capture of New Orleans, the Governor of Louisiana stated it was the taking of the troops necessary to defend the place and sending them to Corinth to fight at Shiloh.

 

[wausaubob]

At Shiloh, TN Grant formed a stationary camp of instruction near an enemy force. He never did that before Shiloh nor after. He never let his army become stationary without having the enemy bogged down in a siege after Shiloh. It could have been an error which he never repeated. More likely it was a deliberate baiting of a trap which Henry Halleck never admitted.

 

[USS ALASKA]

OHIO AT SHILOH
REPORT OF THE COMMISSION
T.J. LINDSEY, WASHINGTON C. H., OHIO
SECRETARY TO THE COMMISSION

THE following short historical sketches are given of each organization that is represented by a monument in the Shiloh Park. These have been principally taken from "Ohio in the War." The services of each are only given up to the Battle of Shiloh. The photo-engravings of the monuments give the fronts of each, and the inscriptions which appear on them are in raised letters and can be easily read. Where the name of more than one oflB.cer appears in connection with the regiment or brigade it denotes that each had command of the organiziation in some part of the battle. The historical inscription or legend is cut in sunken letters on the back of each monument. This is given at the close of the historical sketches.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9c/Ohio_at_Shiloh%3B_report_of_the_commission_%28IA_ohioatshilohrepo01lcohio%29.pdf

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USS ALASKA

 

[CSuniforms]

At Shiloh, TN Grant formed a stationary camp of instruction near an enemy force. He never did that before Shiloh nor after. He never let his army become stationary without having the enemy bogged down in a siege after Shiloh. It could have been an error which he never repeated. More likely it was a deliberate baiting of a trap which Henry Halleck never admitted.

Interesting take on Shiloh. Grant for the record had little or nothing to do with Pittsburg Landing chosen as a camp site for the Union Army. That was C. F. Smith he chose the site and Sherman commanded the Camps. The lay out was first come first served. The Veteran Divisions camped near the Landing and the less experienced, newly recruited Regiments and Divisions moved out and away and made camp where there was an abundance of water, open space and lumber for fires. Sherman said many times that the Camps were laid out to resist an attack, but for the Officers they did not see it that way. No real defenses were considered.

 

[wausaubob]

Interesting take on Shiloh. Grant for the record had little or nothing to do with Pittsburg Landing chosen as a camp site for the Union Army. That was C. F. Smith he chose the site and Sherman commanded the Camps. The lay out was first come first served. The Veteran Divisions camped near the Landing and the less experienced, newly recruited Regiments and Divisions moved out and away and made camp where there was an abundance of water, open space and lumber for fires. Sherman said many times that the Camps were laid out to resist an attack, but for the Officers they did not see it that way. No real defenses were considered.

That seems correct. I think Smith and Sherman did not think there would be a battle there. It was reasonable to estimate that the Confederates did not have the manpower to leave Corinth and fight on the offensive. The Confederates only gathered that strength by stripping most of their other garrisons in the west. That led to the tactical draw at Shiloh, which was a strategic disaster for the Confederacy. The Confederates were fortunate that Henry Halleck became very conservative about gaining Corinth and Memphis without causing another big battle in which he would be responsible for the casualties.

 

[CSuniforms]

That seems correct. I think Smith and Sherman did not think there would be a battle there. It was reasonable to estimate that the Confederates did not have the manpower to leave Corinth and fight on the offensive. The Confederates only gathered that strength by stripping most of their other garrisons in the west. That led to the tactical draw at Shiloh, which was a strategic disaster for the Confederacy. The Confederates were fortunate that Henry Halleck became very conservative about gaining Corinth and Memphis without causing another big battle in which he would be responsible for the casualties.

They kept telling Halleck in correspondence the Confederates had 80,000 men in Corinth. Johnston was lucky he could gather 43,000.

 

[USS ALASKA]

The Filson Club History Quarterly
"AT THE MOMENT OF VICTORY..." THE BATTLE OF SHILOH AND GENERAL A. S. JOHNSTON'S DEATH AS RECOUNTED IN WILLIAM PRESTON'S DIARY
PETER J. SEHLINGER

THE BATTLE OF SHILOH
The battle of Shiloh was one of the most important of the Civil War and continues to attract the interest of both historians and the reading public. The crucial engagement fought in 1862 in southwestern Tennessee foretold the dominance of the Union army in the west. After acrimonious debate between the Confederate commander, General Albert Sidney Johnston, and some members of his staff concerning the timing of the encounter, the southern attack took place on the morning of 6 April. The gray troops finally carried the field that day in one of the most brutal and fiercely-contested struggles in the annals of war. General Johnston's death at the head of his forces in the afternoon and subsequent events turned Shiloh into a pyrrhic victory. The next day the reinforced Union army made a successful counterattack, and the Confederates under the command of General Pierre G. T. Beauregard of Louisiana began their retreat into northern Mississippi. The closeness of the South to complete victory on 6 April and the reversal of fortunes the following day caused immediate controversy among the officers of both the Union and Confederate armies. The northern commander, General Ulysses S. Grant, and General William T. Sherman, whose troops were surprised by the Confederate offensive, were forced to go to great lengths in their attempts to defend their actions at Shiloh and to explain the South's initial success. Confederate officers loyal to Johnston blamed Beauregard for their defeat. Succeeding generations of historians and military enthusiasts have continued to debate the decisions made at Shiloh and have made this encounter one of the most controversial of the Civil War.

https://filsonhistorical.org/wp-content/uploads/publicationpdfs/61-3-4_At-the-Moment-of-Victory-..-The-Battle-of-Shiloh-and-General-A.S.-Johnstons-Death-as-Recounted-in-William-Prestons-Diary_Sehlinger-Peter-J..pdf

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[13 IL Cav & 64 GA Inf]

Mississippi State University
Scholars Junction
Theses and Dissertations
12-9-2011

A Terrain And Meteorological Analysis Of The Battlefield At Shiloh, Tennessee
Charles Blakely McClendon

This Graduate Thesis - Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses and Dissertations at Scholars Junction. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Scholars Junction. For more information, please contact [email protected].

A terrain analysis of the Shiloh Battlefield is presented in conjunction with a meteorological assessment of the conditions prevalent during the battle. The intent of the analysis was to ascertain the effect that conditions might have played upon the strategic and tactical actions prior to, and during the Battle of Shiloh, 1862. The significance of this study was to determine the influence of meteorological and geographical factors upon the two armies. Values for temperature and precipitation were estimated using the PDSI and data from NOAA. According to the model it was a very wet year. Weather and geography clearly played a role in how and when the Battle of Shiloh was fought. Due to the high number of casualties, however, the Battle of Shiloh would change how warfare would be conducted in the United States.

https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1325&context=td

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USS ALASKA

Good one @Alaska. I didn't have time to read it right now, so I SAVED it as a file to read and study later. I like some of the maps and data.

 

[USS ALASKA]

Journal Article
Braxton Bragg at Shiloh
Grady McWhiney
Tennessee Historical Quarterly
Vol. 21, No. 1 (MARCH 1962), pp. 19-30
Tennessee Historical Society

https://www.jstor.org/stable/42621552

Full article at above link on JSTOR with Google sign-in (In the upper right-hand corner of the linked page, there is a 'Log in' button. If you have a Gmail account, you have a Google sign-in and this will allow for free reading of 100 articles a month).

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USS ALASKA

 

[CSuniforms]

Journal Article
Braxton Bragg at Shiloh
Grady McWhiney
Tennessee Historical Quarterly
Vol. 21, No. 1 (MARCH 1962), pp. 19-30
Tennessee Historical Society

View attachment 554647

https://www.jstor.org/stable/42621552

Full article at above link on JSTOR with Google sign-in (In the upper right-hand corner of the linked page, there is a 'Log in' button. If you have a Gmail account, you have a Google sign-in and this will allow for free reading of 100 articles a month).

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

I have the above in my notes and bookmarks-- This is what you and I and everyone associated with Shiloh since 1862 are saying and have said.. That most of the Early History of Shiloh is based on the Arguments the "What ifs" the "Controversies on the "Surprise" accusations against Sherman and Grant and anyone else in Command who was there and Halleck too!!! and were answered by the Generals and the Colonels for their own defense and possible personal defamation and loss... Period. Lew Wallace one of them. That men were bayoneted in their tents-- that Breakfast was on the table when the Confederates showed up just 10 feet away--- etc., etc., that is what they were fighting against at first in the Newspapers--and they "DID FIGHT!" That Buell saved the day for Grant-- that the Hornet's Nest" did or did not save Grant's Army-- that the Confederates could have never won the Battle-- that they went anyway-- that Beauregard called off the attack that Evening and would have won the day!! etc., etc.,-- That Johnston messed up with Beauregard-- that the Battle plans were changed and formations changed-- that not enough reconnaissance was done by Johnston or Sherman to find the enemy or know the ground to be attacked-- That we have read and reviewed many many times with Shiloh. Makes for a good brain exercise-- The Veterans knew this too-- and wrote how they would correct the record on Shiloh with their own writings and remembrances-- In the MOLLUS Papers, Society of the Army of Tennessee, the Newspapers, Confederate Veteran, etc., in books and Papers they would write the story of Shiloh from a "On the Ground" perspective and they did-- I have their words in my Book- and why they did it too!. The Hornet's Nest Association was just one of those places where the Infantry told the story-- and it is wonderful!!!!!!! One old Historian wrote-- that Shiloh is the hardest Battle to write about when he could only find arguments among the Generals and not a complete Battle History and Research done.. We have the OR's but they are all over the place on times-- who, what, and where, went where??? Were there 3 assaults or 10 assaults on the Sunken Road?? Yes- there was a problem with that-- and still is... A lot of interpretation of what is written in the OR's and those are confusing as to times and places-- BELIEVE ME!! Reed started it and did a great and wonderful job-- but his papers were lost in 1909 in a tornado and only a very few survived-- His personal correspondence and letters from the Veterans-- Batchelder had a ton of letters and notes on Gettysburg- [I have the two volume set]-- of his papers that were save and printed-- Imagine if we had those from Reed!!!??? We do not-- What is left is thousands of letters, papers, Reports that are scattered all over the Earth and we have to find them. Gems I call them and buried Gems they are------ All I can ask is keep going on Shiloh and when you find something neat-- share it-- Dan Masters does all the time-- and others. Me I am writing a book and for now those Gems are with me... people take them you know and use them in their writing-- and I know that from experience-- BELIEVE ME! AMEN. [Photo 41st Tennessee armed with Shotguns and Flintlocks-- Did make a Difference over Rifles--- We shall see in time.