The Civil War Book

On this day in the Civil War, the battle of Shiloh begins in Tennessee. After several hours of fighting General Grant’s troops fall back and the day concludes with no conclusive victory for either side. The following day, awaited reinforcements for the Confederates fail to arrive and General Beauregard orders a retreat to Corinth, Mississippi. The Federals maintain a hold on positions they had previously taken and achieve a splitting of Confederate forces along the Mississippi River. Casualties of the battle of Shiloh are 13,047 for the North and 10,694 for the South.

Shiloh Battlefield

On this day in the Civil War, General Joseph Johnston’s Confederate troops continue to gather reinforcements for the imminent conflict at Yorktown, Virginia. McClellan’s Army of the Potomac far outnumbers the Confederates.

Joseph Johnston

(Photo Credit: Library of Congress)

On this day in the Civil War, President Lincoln writes to Major Anderson to inform him of the upcoming relief of Fort Sumter.

Fort Sumter 

Circa 1861

(Photo Credit: Library of Congress)

On this day in the Civil War, the United States Senate passes a bill that calls for slavery to be abolished in the District of Columbia.

The Senate Chamber

Circa 1860

(Photo Credit: Library of Congress)

On this day in the Civil War, the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia is the site of a bread riot, instigated by many factors, the main one being the problem of hunger facing many in that city and other parts of the Southern nation.

Richmond, Virginia

(Photo Credit: Library of Congress)