Edited by Gerald Boerner
Commentary:
When one thinks about the American Civil War, the Battle at Shiloh takes center stage along side of Bull Run and Gettysburg. Its importance lies in the Southwest Tennessee region in the western side of the Appalachian Mountains and the Union’s victory here established the Union’s legitimacy in this region. It also helped to establish the career of Ulysses S. Grant as both a commanding General and as a leader.
Grant would soon be named the Commander in Chief of the Army of the Potomac by President Abraham Lincoln. But at Shiloh he demonstrated the battlefield skulls that had been lacking in previous commanders of the Union Army — the willingness to engage the enemy in battle. One the first day of this battle, the Confederates almost broke through Union lines, but Grant held them off. On the second day, the Union forces would overwhelm the Confederate forces to earn the Union army’s first major victory.
Shiloh turned out to be one of the bloodiest battles f the Civil War. But beyond that, it was the battle that gave the Union forces access to the deep South where some of the largest plantations ere located. So, Shiloh had a two-fold impact on the war: it gave the Union access to the deep South and identified the leader who would eventually provide Lincoln with the strategic victory over the Confederacy and would become President of the U.S.
Now we need to plunge into the exploration of this Civil War battle… GLB
These Introductory Comments are copyrighted:
Copyright©2011 — Gerald Boerner — All Rights Reserved[ 3994 Words ]
Quotations Related to BATTLEFIELD:
“No study is possible on the battlefield.”
— Ferdinand Foch
“I have traveled a long road from the battlefield to the peace table.”
— Moshe Dayan
“There are a couple of roles I haven’t played that I want to. I would love to play Shiloh.”
— David Ogden Stiers