Historical Markers StoppingPoints.com Historical Markers, Sightseeing & Points of Interest Scenic Roads & Points of Interest
About Us | Photo Gallery | Free Widgets | Featured States | Search Site
Register or Edit LoginRegister
Home Tennessee Hardin County Shiloh National Military Park Historical Markers Invasion of the Union Camps

Invasion of the Union Camps

at the intersection of Peabody Road and Reconnoitering Road, Shiloh National Military Park, TN , USA
  Tennessee TN State Historical Marker
Tennessee State
Historical Marker

 
As the sun rose, Union soldiers camped here and at nearby sites looked forward to a peaceful and leisurely Sunday. A flood of Rebel infantry, however, was about to engulf them from the southwest.

Whitelaw Reid, a Northern reporter, described the lack of preparation in the Union camps, Some, particularly among our soldiers, were not yet out of bed. Others were dressing, others washing, others cooking, a few eating their breakfasts. Many guns were unloaded, accouterments lying pell-mell, ammunition was ill-supplied - in sort, the camps were virtually surprised....

By the end of the day, the Southerners had overrun most of the camps. Many Union soldiers spent the night without food, bedding, or other supplies left behind in haste.

Shells were hurtling through the tents while, before there was time for thought of preparation, there came rushing through the woods the lines of battle sweeping the whole fronts of the division-camps.....
-Whitelaw Reid
War Correspondent, Cincinatti Gazette

Last updated: 2/14/2015 15:17:00
 
    Related Themes: C.S.A., Confederate States of America, Confederacy, Union States
 
Explore other
Tennessee Civil War Historical Markers.