Shiloh, Battle of

During the American Civil War, Confederate defeat by Union forces under General Ulysses S Grant 6–7 April 1862 near Shiloh Church, about 150 km/95 mi east of Memphis, Tennessee. The Confederate failure to stop Grant's army gave the Union control of the Mississippi valley.

A Confederate force of 40,000 under General Albert Sidney Johnston which was concentrated in this area was approached by a Grant's army of 42,000. The Confederates attacked the Union right flank 6 April, a division commanded by General William T Sherman and in a few hours threw back the entire Union line toward the river behind them; during this phase of the battle Johnston was killed and replaced by General Pierre Beauregard.

The fighting died away at nightfall, as both sides were exhausted, but General Grant reinforced his left with three fresh divisions during the night and threw in an attack at 6 a.m. next morning. By this time the Confederates had lost more than a quarter of their original force and in spite of tenacious fighting were slowly forced back some 8 km/5 mi before the battle again died down and Beauregard was able to disengage and make his escape. Confederate losses were 10,690 killed and wounded and 960 prisoners; Union losses 10,150 killed and wounded and 4,045 prisoners.