When did the Battle of Shiloh get its name?

As info:
Why do some Civil War battles have two names?
Barbara Maranzani

(snip)


Northern soldiers, far more likely to hail from cities or urbanized areas, are believed to have been impressed with the geography of the south, including its mountains, valleys and abundant rivers and streams. In unfamiliar territory, they named many of their battles after these natural features. For Confederate troops, familiar with the rural, natural terrain, towns and buildings were more memorable, and in the south many of the same battles were referred to after the man-made structures nearby.

(snip)

Today, the brutal April 1862 battle fought in southwestern Tennessee is most commonly known by its Confederate name, Shiloh (a small log church located on the battlefield) rather than the name Union commander Ulysses S. Grant used, Pittsburg Landing (his location on the Tennessee River). And the deadliest day in American history, September 17, 1862, is alternately known in the south as the Battle of Sharpsburg (the local Maryland village that witnessed much of the fighting) or as the Battle of Antietam in the north (thanks to its proximity to a nearby river).

https://www.history.com/news/why-do-some-civil-war-battles-have-two-names
 
Here is a list of battles with two names. The first is the southern followed by the northern name.

First Manassas/ Bull Run

Oak Hills/Wilson's Creek

Leesburg/Ball's Bluff

Mill Springs/Logan's Cross Roads

Elkhorn Tavern/Pea Ridge

Shiloh/Pittsburg Landing

Gaines's Mill/Chickahominy

Second Manassas/Second Bull Run

Ox Hill/Chantilly

Boonsboro/South Mountain

Sharpsburg/Antietam

Perryville/Chaplin Hills

Murrfreesboro/Stones River

Mansfield/Sabine Cross Roads

Winchester/Opequon Creek
 
Here is a list of battles with two names. The first is the southern followed by the northern name.

First Manassas/ Bull Run

Oak Hills/Wilson's Creek

Leesburg/Ball's Bluff

Mill Springs/Logan's Cross Roads

Elkhorn Tavern/Pea Ridge

Shiloh/Pittsburg Landing

Gaines's Mill/Chickahominy

Second Manassas/Second Bull Run

Ox Hill/Chantilly

Boonsboro/South Mountain

Sharpsburg/Antietam

Perryville/Chaplin Hills

Murrfreesboro/Stones River

Mansfield/Sabine Cross Roads

Winchester/Opequon Creek

Interestingly, the US Army acknowledges both names for the battles of Bull Run/Manassas. The battle in July 1861 is the Battle of Bull Run and the fight in August 1862 is the Battle of Manassas.

Ryan
 
I agree with the posters that for whatever reason the name Shiloh was very quickly given to the battle. It intrigued me and I think I at one time did a search for reports and letters written right after the battle. Maybe Beauregard was the one who used it and it stuck?
 
A Union soldier wrote home soon after the battle and used both names:

The men express their feelings in regard to the Battle and censure Grant severely for not being better prepared for the surprise. A gloom is cast over the entire Army. And Grant's laurels won at Donaldson are forgotten in our late disaster here at Pittsburgh Landing or as the Rebels call "Shilow"
 
I always assumed it was because of the name of the church.
 
The first official use of Shiloh as the name for the battle comes in the official report of Col. Eli S. Shorter, 18th Alabama Infantry. The report is dated April 9, 1862 and refers to "the great historic battle at Shiloh Church." OR vol. 10, part 1, page 557.

The first to use the term "Battle of Shiloh" was Lt. Col. O.F. Strahl, 4th Tennessee Infantry who refers to the "battle of Shiloh" in his report dated April 10, 1862. OR vol. 10, part 1, page 431.

The first general officer to use the name in an official document appears to be Brig. Gen. Sterling A.M. Wood, who reports on the activities of his brigade, in his report dated April 15, 1862.OR vol. 10, part 1, page 590.
 
The first official use of Shiloh as the name for the battle comes in the official report of Col. Eli S. Shorter, 18th Alabama Infantry. The report is dated April 9, 1862 and refers to "the great historic battle at Shiloh Church." OR vol. 10, part 1, page 557.

The first to use the term "Battle of Shiloh" was Lt. Col. O.F. Strahl, 4th Tennessee Infantry who refers to the "battle of Shiloh" in his report dated April 10, 1862. OR vol. 10, part 1, page 431.

The first general officer to use the name in an official document appears to be Brig. Gen. Sterling A.M. Wood, who reports on the activities of his brigade, in his report dated April 15, 1862.OR vol. 10, part 1, page 590.
Thank you! This is a big help!
 
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