Prof. Boerner's Explorations

Edited by Gerald Boerner

Commentary:

Day 1 of the Battle of Shiloh ended with the Confederate army having the advantage. Fighting ended an hour before sundown; it was thought that the next morning’s engagement would complete the South’s victory. But unknown to the Confederate Generals, Grant’s beleaguered army would receive reinforcements from Buell’s army. When the Southern forces began their attack the morning of Day 2, they were surprised by the strength of the Union lines.

As the battle progressed, the Union army prevailed and won the battle. This was the first major battle won by the Union Army. But Grant was criticized for his performance during the conflict and Sherman was criticized for his brutality. But Grant demonstrated one trait that was missing from other Generals: he was not afraid to attack! This characteristic eventually resulted un his appointment as the commander of the Army of the Potomac.

Let’s take a look at the second day of the Battle of Shiloh now. We include in this exploration an examination of the Generals that augmented those noted on the first day of this battle…  GLB

These Introductory Comments are copyrighted:
Copyright©2011 — Gerald Boerner — All Rights Reserved

[ 3854 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

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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

continue reading…

Edited by Gerald Boerner

Commentary:

Battles of the American Civil War never seem to end. Of course we have heard of the Battle of Gettysburg, Bull Run, and Antietam. There were many other battles, some major and some minor, that took place during the various campaigns. The Confederacy had the advantage of General Robert E, Lee as head of the Army of Northern Virginia; Lee had been offered the position of head f the Union Forces, the Army of the Potomac by Lincoln, but this offer was rejected.

Unfortunately for the Confederates, that was one of the few things going for thr secessionist states. The faced a naval blockade the prevented the export of their tobacco and cotton and the importation of supplies. The lack industry and standardization in the south put the armies of the south at additional disadvantages. When they tried to break the siege of Petersburg and Fort Stedman, The were in their final attempt to keep up their fight. Concurrently Sherman was inflicting his terror campaign on the Carolinas. The South needed a victory.

But it would not come at Fort Stedman. The North held their lines and this was the beginning of the end of the Appomattox Campaign. The Army of Northern Virginia would soon surrender to Grant to end this bloody conflict. Too many would die in the brutal methods of fighting practiced at that time.

But it is time to proceed with our exploration of this final battle of the Civil War…  GLB

These Introductory Comments are copyrighted:
Copyright©2011 — Gerald Boerner — All Rights Reserved

[ 4263 Words ]
    

Quotations Related to CONFEDERATE:

“Note to secessionist Texans: now is the time to wave the Confederate Flag.”
— Melissa Harris-Lacewell

“This is said to us, even as this counterfeit president has legalized the Confederate Flag in Mississippi.”
— Amiri Baraka

“The flag that was the symbol of slavery on the high seas for a long time was not the Confederate battle flag, it was sadly the Stars and Stripes.”
— Alan Keyes

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