Ulysses S. Grant

Battle of Shiloh

Agenda

• Look at Ulysses S. Grant

Why was he more successful than other Union Generals?

• Learn about an important western theatre battle (The Battle of Shiloh)

Ulysses S. Grant• Born Hiram Ulysses Grant

in Point Pleasant, Ohio• He entered the U.S.

Military Academy when he was 17 years old

• Robert E. Lee was also at West Point

• Grant graduated 21st in his class out of 39 cadets.

• He served successfully in the war with Mexico.

Ulysses S. Grant

• When the Civil War started Ulysses S. Grant was retired from the army (business man)

• When the war broke out, Grant quickly volunteered and by September 1861, Lincoln had made him a general

Ulysses S. Grant

• One of the most successful generals in the Civil War

• President Lincoln once said,” I can’t spare this man. He fights.”

Battle of Shiloh

Date: April 6-7, 1862“

“Hornets Nest”

• The Battle of Shiloh was a major battle in the Western Theater.

• Took place in Southwestern Tennessee.• Union Army General- General Ulysses S.

Grant • Confederate Army Generals- General

Albert Sidney Johnston and P.G.T. Beauregard

General Albert Johnston

• Killed in battle

• Shot in the leg and bled

to death

General P.G.T. Beauregard

Shiloh

• On April 6, 1862 the Confederates began the Battle of Shiloh

• The Confederates caught grant by surprise and pushed the Yankees back about 1 mile, but Grant would not retreat!

• Entrenched his men at the “Hornets Nest” (sunken road & trees)

• Grant ordered his troops “Hold you ground at whatever the cost”

• Confederate General Johnston was killed the first day• During the night more Union Soldiers arrived

Shiloh

• On April 7, Grant began a counterattack

• By the evening the Confederates were in retreat

• The Union has won greater control of the Mississippi River Valley

Casualties

• Union – 13,000

• Confederates – 11,000

“It would have been possible to walk across the clearing in any direction stepping on dead bodies without a foot touching the ground”

- U.S. Grant

A Solid Leader• he took initiative, fought

hard, and made decisions quickly.

• Grant and his army had only been surprised or ambushed once, that was at Shiloh, never again was Grant surprised in battle.

• Grant was said to be fearless in battle, and he never lost his nerve, or self-control

Check

• What was Ulysses S. Grant doing when the Civil War broke out?

-store keeper• Academically would you say Grant was a good

student at West Point?-No, he graduated 21st out of 39 cadets• Why did President Lincoln like General Grant?-Solid leader, fighter, would not back down• What was the name of the battle we talked about

today?-Battle of Shiloh

Check

Who fired first at Shiloh?

Confederates

Name one of the two Confederate Generals at Shiloh

Beauregard, and Johnston

Why was Shiloh Important?

(Western Theatre) gave the Union control of the Mississippi River Valley