what was the battle of shiloh

The Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, was a major battle fought during the American Civil War. It took place from April 6 to April 7, 1862, in southwestern Tennessee, near the Tennessee River.

The Confederate Army, led by General Albert Sidney Johnston, launched a surprise attack on the Union Army, commanded by General Ulysses S. Grant. The Confederates initially gained success on the first day, pushing the Union army back and forcing them to take a defensive position near the Pittsburg Landing.

However, reinforcements arrived overnight for the Union, and they counterattacked the next day. The Union forces managed to repel the Confederates and gain the upper hand. The battle was fierce and resulted in heavy casualties for both sides, with over 23,000 soldiers killed, wounded, or missing.

Ultimately, the Union forces emerged victorious, securing a critical victory in the Western Theater of the war. The Battle of Shiloh was a turning point in the war as it proved to the Union that Confederate forces could be defeated and also led to Grant's rise as a prominent Union general.