Confederate artillery opens up on the Hornet's Nest, in one more attempt to take the famous sunken road.

The Battle of Shiloh was the follow on of Gen. Grant's victories at Fort Henry and Donelson, Gen. Halleck, the theatre commander, ordered Gen. Grant and his Army of Tennessee to Pittsburg landing and Gen. Buell's Army of Ohio to Savannah. The plan called for these two armies to combine against Gen. Johnston and his Army of Mississippi now stationed in Corinth.

Gen. Johnston had no intention of waiting and decided to attack. Very early on the morning of the 6th of April Gen. Grant's army was attacked while many troops were still in their tents. Throughout the day they were forced back to Pittsburg Landing. A stiff defence was organized at the Hornet's Nest, a convenient sunken road.

That day Gen. Johnston was killed by a bullet that hit him in his leg (he bled to death). If he had not been killed it is very likely that the Confederates would have won the Battle of Shiloh and the civil war have taken a very different path.

TIPS

This is perhaps the biggest "cat and mouse" battle Tower Games has. Both sides have roughly the same number of men and artillery. However, the South is in battle formation and concentrated whereas the North is not (some units were attacked while still in bed).

The Battle of Shiloh is surprisingly simple. The Confederates must attack from turn one, and not let up. Any units in charge range must be given Charge orders. If you contact isolated Union brigades before they get together you have an excellent chance of destroying them and giving yourself the advantage in numbers.

As the Union player you have to do the opposite and withdraw (run away) from the Confederates while bringing up your forces from the rear. Your objective is to form a solid line of defence. Be careful though. The Confederate player may try to send some units around your flank. One option for you is to keep a brigade far out on one or both flanks. Then you might flank the flanker.

A disadvantage for the Confedearte player is that your brigades and corps are inter-mingled, which is exactly how they were historically (it made for a very messy battle). It's very tempting to spend a couple of turns getting your forces organised; DON'T DO THIS. You will allow the Union player time to withdraw and form a solid line. Sort out your men as you go. You must attack from turn one.

It is also tempting to form field columns and march around the flanks of the Union player. Again this costs time and allows the Union player to concentrate his forces. Plus if you send too many brigades on a flank march it will greatly weaken your centre, which can have disastrous results. Sending one or two brigades on a flank march is fine, but just be careful you don't send your whole army that way.

The Union player can, and most likely will, defend the Hornet's Nest. Of course the Confederate player knows this, and so will most likely attack the flanks. So keep a reserve back of at least one division. When you know where the Confederate player is going, throw them in.

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