The second day of the battle known as Shiloh was fought on this date in 1862. It was the first great battle of the American Civil War. The following is from a contemporary report in The New York Times:
Gen. Buell having arrived on Sunday evening, in the morning the hall was opened at daylight, simultaneously by Gen. Nelson’s Division on the left, and Major-Gen. Wallace’s Division on the right. Gen. Nelson’s force opened up a most galling fire on the rebels, and advanced rapidly as they fell back. The fire soon became general along the whole line, and began to tell with terrible effect on the enemy. Generals McClernand, Sherman, and Hurlburt’s men, though terribly jaded from the previous day’s fighting still maintained their honors won at Donnelson, but the resistance of the rebels at all points of the attack was worthy a better cause.
But they were not enough for our undaunted bravery, and the dreadful desolation produced by our artillery, which was sweeping them away like chaff before the wind. But knowing that a defeat here would be the death blow to their hopes, and that their all depended upon this great struggle, their Generals still urged them on in the face of destruction, hoping by flanking us on the right to turn the tide of battle. Their success was again for a time cheering, as they began to gain ground on us, appearing to have been reinforced; but our left, under Gen. Nelson was driving them, and with wonderful rapidity, and by eleven o’clock Gen. Buell’s troops had succeeded in flanking them and capturing their batteries of artillery.
They however again rallied on the left, and recrossed another right forced themselves forward in another desperate effort. But reinforcements from General Wood and Gen. Thomas were coming in regiment after regiment, which were sent to Gen. Buell who had again commenced to drive the enemy.
About three o’clock in the afternoon Gen. Grant rode to the left, where the fresh regiments had been ordered, and finding the rebels wavering, sent a portion of his body-guard to the heart of each of five regiments, and then ordered a charge across the field, himself leading, as he brandished his sword and waved them on to the crowning victory, while cannon balls were falling like hail around him.
The men followed with a shout that sounded above the roar and din of the artillery, and the rebels fled in dismay, as from a destroying avalanche, and never made another stand.