What was the Hornet's Nest at the Battle of Shiloh?
Why was the Hornet's Nest important?
April 6, 1862. Albert Sidney Johnston moves the Confederate Army of the Mississippi against Ulysses S. Grant's Army of the Tennessee at Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee.
William Tecumseh Sherman and Benjamin Prentiss are surprised as Hardee, Bragg, Polk, and Breckinridge hit. McClernand, WHL Wallace, and Hurlbut advance to meet the confederates.
WHL Wallace moves Sweeny and Tuttle into a sunken road near Duncan Field. Hurlbut moves Williams and Lauman to Sarah Bell Field.
Withers division advances with Gladden (Adams), Jackson, and Chalmers. They hit Hurlbut. However, they are diverted by Stuart's brigade further to the right.
Rebels move across Duncan field, but they are stopped by Union artillery and Tuttle's Iowans.
Braxton Bragg orders Gibson's brigade to storm up the Eastern Corinth Road. They are stopped by Hickenlooper's cannons, Prentiss men, and Tuttle's brigade.
Albert Sidney Johnston moves his men back to the Sarah Bell field. However, McArthur's brigade is now up. A standstill occurs here. However, Johnston brings up Breckinridge's brigades under Bowen and Statham. Stephens (Maney) also comes up.
Johnston takes the peach orchard, but he himself is killed. Beaureguard is now the commander of the rebel army.
Ulysses S. Grant tells Prentiss to hold the Hornet's Nest at all hazards.
Daniel Ruggles brings up artillery, and a massive artillery duel occurs. The Hornet's Nest defenders are now enfiladed.
Prentiss and WHL Wallace's divisions are now isolated. The confederates surround the defenders at the Hornet's Nest.
The rebels are surrounding the defenders. WHL Wallace will attempt to lead the defenders out the Pittsburg Corinth Road. However, the rebels close the road.
WHL Wallace is mortally wounded. Tuttle leads the 2nd Iowa and 7th Iowa out of the trap, but 2200 Union soldiers are taken prisoner.
A documentary by Jeffrey Meyer, historian and librarian