Table of Contents

Part I – Union Forces
1. Union Forces Overview
2. Army of the Tennessee
3. Army of the Tennessee – Org Chart
4. Army of the Ohio
5. Army of the Ohio – Org Chart

Part II – Confederate Forces
6. Confederate Forces Overview
7. Army of the Mississippi – Corps Structure
8. Confederate Forces – Org Chart
9. I Corps – MG Leonidas Polk
10. II Corps – MG Braxton Bragg
11. III Corps & Reserve Corps

Part III – Artillery Analysis
12. Artillery Comparison
13. Artillery Types & Capabilities
14. Artillery Organization Comparison
15. Key Artillery Actions at Shiloh

Part IV – Analysis & Discussion
16. Force Comparison Summary
17. Strategic Situation – 6 Apr 1862
18. Command Structure Differences
19. Lessons for Staff Ride
20. Questions for Discussion

Part V – Appendices
21. Key Commanders – Union
22. Key Commanders – Confederate
23. Additional Resources

Union Forces Overview

State of Iowa Monument at Shiloh National Military Park

Army of the Tennessee & Army of the Ohio

Total Union Strength: ~68,248 troops (Army of Tennessee ~47,560; Army of Ohio ~20,688), 137–143 artillery pieces

The Union forces at Shiloh consisted of two separate armies under independent command.

Major General (MG) Ulysses S. Grant commanded the Army of the Tennessee with approximately 47,560 troops organized into six divisions. Most of these forces were encamped around Pittsburg Landing, with the exception of MG Lew Wallace’s division at Crump’s Landing.

MG Don Carlos Buell commanded the Army of the Ohio with approximately 20,688 troops in four divisions, arriving as reinforcements during the battle. Strengths are “present” figures from the Staff Ride Handbook; totals are approximate due to some “Unk” (unknown) entries.

Army of the Tennessee

• Commander: MG Ulysses S. Grant
  
• Strength: ~47,560 troops
  
• Artillery: 119 pieces

Divisions:

Division	Commander	Strength	Brigades
1st	MG John A. McClernand	6,941	3
2d	BG W.H.L. Wallace (MW)	8,408	3
3d	MG Lewis Wallace	7,564	3
4th	BG Stephen A. Hurlbut	7,825	3
5th	BG William T. Sherman	8,603	4
6th	BG Benjamin M. Prentiss (C)	6,188	2
Unassigned	–	2,031	–

MW = Mortally Wounded, C = Captured. Strengths summed from brigade data in the Staff Ride Handbook.

Major General Ulysses S. Grant

Army of the Tennessee – Organizational Chart

Army of the Ohio – Organizational Chart

Confederate Forces Overview

Confederate Monument at Shiloh

Army of the Mississippi

Total Confederate Strength: ~43,646 troops, 117 artillery pieces

The Confederate Army of the Mississippi was commanded by General Albert Sidney Johnston with General P.G.T. Beauregard as second-in-command. The army numbered approximately 43,646 troops organized into four corps. The vast majority of these troops were untested in battle.

Johnston was killed in action on April 6th, and Beauregard assumed command. The Confederate plan called for attacking in four successive lines to turn Grant’s left flank and drive the Union army away from the Tennessee River. Strengths are infantry-focused; artillery/cavalry separate.

Confederate Forces – Organizational Chart

I Corps – MG Leonidas Polk

Strength: 8,020 troops

1st Division – BG Charles Clark (4,988 troops)

• 1st Brigade: COL R. Russell
  
• 2d Brigade: BG A. Stewart

2d Division – BG Benjamin F. Cheatham (3,032 troops)

• 1st Brigade: BG Bushrod Johnson
  
• 2d Brigade: COL W. Stephens

II Corps – MG Braxton Bragg

Strength: 15,455 troops (Largest corps)

1st Division – BG Daniel Ruggles (7,672 troops)

• 1st Brigade: COL R. Gibson
  
• 2d Brigade: BG P. Anderson
  
• 3d Brigade: COL P. Pond

2d Division – BG Jones M. Withers (7,783 troops)

• 1st Brigade: BG A. Gladden (KIA)
  
• 2d Brigade: BG J. Chalmers
  
• 3d Brigade: BG J. Jackson

III Corps & Reserve Corps

III Corps – MG William J. Hardee (7,657 troops)

No divisional structure – 3 brigades:
- Hindman’s Brigade: 2,360 troops
- Cleburne’s Brigade: 2,789 troops
- Wood’s Brigade: 2,508 troops

Reserve Corps – BG John C. Breckinridge (7,514 troops)

No divisional structure – 3 brigades:
- Trabue’s Brigade: 2,691 troops
- Bowen’s Brigade: 1,744 troops
- Statham’s Brigade: 3,079 troops

Artillery Comparison

Union vs Confederate Artillery

Modern weapons include 12-pound Napoleons, 10-pound Parrott rifles, and 3-inch ordnance rifles.
Obsolete weapons include 6-pounders and 12-pound howitzers from the 1841 system. Union total includes 18–24 from Ohio.

Artillery Types and Capabilities

Union Artillery (137 pieces)

• Modern: 12-lb Napoleons, 10-lb Parrott rifles, 3-inch ordnance rifles
  
• Range: 1,500–3,000 yards
  
• Heavy guns: 24-lb siege guns at Grant’s Last Line
  
• Command: No formal artillery command structure

Confederate Artillery (117 pieces)

• Mostly obsolete: 6-pounders, 12-lb howitzers (1841 system)
  
• Range: 1,000–1,500 yards
  
• Mixed batteries: Often different calibers in same battery
  
• Notable: Ruggles’ Line massed 53 guns (largest concentration in North America to that date)

Artillery Organization Comparison

Key Artillery Actions at Shiloh

Union Artillery Success

• Grant’s Last Line: 52 guns anchored final defensive position
  
• Webster’s Gun Line: Stopped Confederate final assault on April 6
  
• Naval Support: USS Tyler & Lexington (32-lb and 8-inch guns)

Confederate Artillery Success

• Ruggles’ Line: 53 guns bombarded the Hornet’s Nest
  
• Duration: 1 hour bombardment from 1530–1630 on April 6
  
• Result: Softened Union defenses, leading to surrender of ~2,200 troops

Despite artillery parity (137 Union vs 117 Confederate), the Union had better quality weapons and naval gunfire support. The Confederate artillery suffered from lack of centralized command and mixed calibers.

Force Comparison Summary

Comparative Strengths

Strategic Situation – 6 April 1862

Union Position

• Grant’s Army of the Tennessee concentrated at Pittsburg Landing
  
• Wallace’s division isolated at Crump’s Landing (5 miles away)
  
• Awaiting Buell’s reinforcement from Nashville
  
• Tactical surprise achieved by Confederates

Confederate Plan

• Concentrate forces at Corinth
  
• Attack Grant before Buell arrives
  
• Four-corps attack in successive lines
  
• Objective: Turn Union left, drive them into the Tennessee River

Command Structure Differences

Union Command

• Two independent armies (Grant & Buell)
  
• No unified command on field until after battle
  
• Grant: Department of the Tennessee
  
• Buell: Department of the Ohio
  
• Communication challenges between armies

Confederate Command

• Unified command under Johnston/Beauregard
  
• “Co-command” relationship between Johnston & Beauregard
  
• Corps commanders given sectors during battle
  
• Johnston killed April 6; Beauregard assumed command

Lessons for Staff Ride

Key Organizational Factors

1. Command Unity: Confederate unified command vs Union divided command
   
2. Reinforcements: Buell’s timely arrival proved decisive
   
3. Experience: Green troops on both sides performed unpredictably
   
4. Artillery: Quality mattered more than quantity
   
5. Organization: Corps system gave Confederates better initial span of control
6. Terrain: Wooded terrain negated many organizational advantages

Questions for Discussion

1. How did the lack of unified Union command affect the battle?
   
2. What advantages did the Confederate corps structure provide?
   
3. How did artillery organization impact effectiveness?
   
4. What role did troop and leader experience play in unit performance?
   
5. How did Wallace’s isolation affect Union dispositions?
   
6. Why did Confederate organizational structure break down during the battle?

Appendix: Key Commanders

Union Leadership

• MG Ulysses S. Grant: Overall commander, Army of the Tennessee
  
• BG William T. Sherman: 5th Division commander, key defensive role
  
• MG Don Carlos Buell: Army of the Ohio, reinforcements
  
• BG Benjamin Prentiss: 6th Division, captured at Hornet’s Nest
  
• MG Lew Wallace: 3d Division, delayed arrival on April 6

Confederate Leadership

Army Command

• Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston: Army commander (KIA April 6)
  
• Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard: Second-in-command, assumed command after Johnston’s death

Corps Commanders

• MG Leonidas Polk: I Corps (8,020 troops)
  
• MG Braxton Bragg: II Corps (15,455 troops) & Chief of Staff
  
• MG William J. Hardee: III Corps (7,657 troops)
  
• BG John C. Breckinridge: Reserve Corps (7,514 troops)

Additional Resources

For Further Study

• Handbook: Staff Ride Handbook for the Battle of Shiloh (Combat Studies Institute)
  
• Official Records: War of the Rebellion, Vol. 10, Parts 1–2
  
• Maps: Available at Shiloh National Military Park
  
• Primary Sources: Battle reports and correspondence in Official Records

Contact Information

• Shiloh National Military Park: (731) 689-5275
  
• Combat Studies Institute: Fort Leavenworth, KS
  
• Website: http://www.nps.gov/shil/

Notes on This Presentation

This presentation was generated from the Staff Ride Handbook for the Battle of Shiloh, 6-7 April 1862, prepared by the Combat Studies Institute, US Army Command and General Staff College.

Data Sources:
- Appendix A: Order of Battle, Union Forces
- Appendix B: Order of Battle, Confederate Forces
- Part I: Civil War Armies (Organization and Weapons)
- Part II: Shiloh Campaign Overview ```