[FB] Shilo (April 6th 1862)

Author: [HWK]Bud, [FB American Civil War Map], Shilo April 6th 1862, One of the greatest battles of the War Between the States near the banks of the Tennessee River. Johnston began marching from Corinth on On April 2, 1862 towards the suspected location of the Union forces. By the evening of the 5th, Johnston was prepared to attack. Grant wired his superior, General H.W. Halleck, with slight suspicion of attack. Halleck ordered Grant to stay at Shiloh and await reinforcements from General Beull. It was believed that the nearest Confederate forces were at Corinth. The following morning, April 6, 1862, Johnston launched his attack. The Union forces were quickly driven back to the north and east. They found themselves rapidly approaching the Tennessee River to the east and Owl Creek to the north. However, the Union troops finally established a line at a area know as "the sunken road". Confederate forces launched eleven attacks against the position, but the line would not break. The area became known as the "Hornets Nest" because of the intensity of gun fire and grazing of bullets. Finally the southern troops brought sixty-two artillery pieces to bear on the Hornets Nest, many at point blank range. After holding the position for six hours, the Union forces surrendered.

[FB] Antietam (15 September 1862)

Author: [HWK]Bud, [FB American Civil War Map], 15 September 1862 Lee's first invasion of the North came to a halt in the small town of Sharpsburg.Many have questioned Lee's wisdom in choosing this spot to stand and fight due to his inferiornumbers and the lack of escape avenues. The Potomac River in the Confederates' rear offered theonly major escape avenue available to Lee's forces. Lee's boldness was influenced by the crescent-shaped ridge that ran from the northwest to the southeast of Sharpsburg. It should benoted that General Longstreet objected to this site, while General Jackson endorsed it. The three mile long Confederate line used the Potomac to anchor their left and Antietam Creek to anchor the right. Many believe that General McClellan failed to take advantage of a golden opportunity on September 16. Instead of attacking Lee, McClellan used this day to prepare his lines and placehis artillery. His delay in attacking allowed Lee to quickly bring up General Jackson and hismen. The night of the 16th both armies spent in anticipation of the fight that would surely Come at dawn. McClellan's plan was to begin the battle by attacking Lee's left flank, occupied by General Jackson's men, with the I and XII Corps. Support would be provided by two additional corps. It was hoped that this intense attack would result in the collapse of the Confederate left, forcing them into the Confederate center held by Hill. At the same time the IX Corps would attack Lee's right, occupied by General Longstreet, and prevent Lee from being able to access his escape route. The remaining Federal forces would then attack the center, crushing the Confederates in this three prong assault.

[FB] Gettysburg (April 6th 1862)

Author: [HWK]Bud, [FB American Civil War Map], 01 July 1863 General Lee's Army Of Northern Virginia of 75,000 men and the 97,000 man Union Army Of The Potomac under General George G. Meade met, by chance, when a Confederate brigade sent forward for supplies observed a forward column of Meade's cavalry. Of the more than 2,000 land engagements of the Civil War, Gettysburg ranks supreme. Although the Battle of Gettysburg did not end the war, nor did it attain any major war aim for the North or the South, it remains the great battle of the war. Here at Gettysburg on July 1, 2, and 3, 1863, more men actually fought and more men died than in any other battle before or since on North American soil.