Shiloh

**Scenario briefing**

*When the Civil War started, Kentucky declared itself a neutral state. Its neutrality allowed a natural buffer between the Confederate heartlands and the Union, but in September 1861 Confederate General Leonidas Polk occupied Columbus, Kentucky, prompting the state to join the Union, which quickly moved forces into the state.*

*Confederate General Albert Sidney Johnston, one of the most respected antebellum U.S. Army officers, was appointed to command the forces in the Western Theater. Under his command the Confederates built fortifications along the Mississippi, Cumberland and Tennessee rivers to block any Union movement along them, while troops were stationed in Bowling Green Kentucky and Cumberland Gap.*

*Union General Henry Halleck was given command of the Union forces in the Mississippi Valley in late 1861. Under his command the Union started a series of campaigns in early 1862. During these operations General Ulysses S. Grant's Army of West Tennessee captured forts Henry and Donelson and General Pope's Army of the Mississippi captured New Madrid and Island Number 10. This breach allowed the Union forces to move deeper south into Southern territories.*

*In March 1862 Halleck ordered Grant's newly named Army of the Tennessee up the Tennessee river to Savannah, where he established his headquarters. General Don Carlos Buell's Army of the Ohio, in Nashville, Tennessee, was ordered to march to Savannah to link up with Grant. Halleck's plan was to lead the armies in person south to seize Corinth, Mississippi; a major railroad junction and a supply line for the Confederates.*

*On the Confederate side, Johnston assembled his forces under the name the Army of Mississippi. He concentrated his forces around Corinth, and on April 3 moved to attack Grant's forces before Buell could join forces. The army of Mississippi  was ill-trained and poorly equipped with mostly obsolete smoothbore muskets of numerous kinds, and poor-quality artillery, but he had the element of surprise. Johnston's plan was to attack Grant's left, cutting off the Union army from the Tennessee river, the supporting gunboats, and their supply route. The attack was delayed for 48 hours due to a heavy rainstorm, turning the roads into mud and causing traffic congestions. Some units got lost in the woods and were delayed. Finally, when ready to attack, Johnston's army was already short on rations and Buell's army was drawing close. At this point Johnston's second in command, General P.G.T. Beauregard thought the element of surprise was lost, the enemy entrenched, and the army not in condition to attack. Johnston on the other hand ignored Beauregard's caution, and decided to attack.*

*While Johnston's move to attack Grant faced severe setbacks, and even though his army had to skirmish with Union troops due to the lack of sound and marching discipline, the Federals were not prepared for a major battle. On early Sunday, April 6, Johnston's army was deployed to attack, with Grant's army not entrenched and unaware of the imminent danger. Before 6 a.m. Union Colonel Everett Peabody's men ran into Confederates while out on reconnaissance patrol. The sound of gunfire alerted Grant's army near Pittsburg Landing, still in camp, with Lew Wallace’s Division at Crump’s Landing and Buell still hours away. Soon after, the Confederates emerged from the woods along the Corinth Road.*

## Set-up

### Battlefield

For a more in depth look at the Shiloh battlefield, see its associated battlefield page.