Shiloh, 1862

Archival Summary & Scope

In spring 1862, the Battle of Shiloh shattered American illusions of a swift Civil War. Winston Groom's account vividly details the dramatic April 6-7 events near Southwest Tennessee, where a surprise Confederate assault led to unprecedented carnage: 23,000 casualties in a single day—more than the entire American Revolution. Groom recounts how Ulysses S. Grant's forces, initially driven back, regrouped and, aided by timely reinforcements, secured a hard-won Federal victory, rehabilitating William Sherman's reputation. More than a battle narrative, this book reveals how Shiloh permanently altered the nation's psyche, exposing the brutal, inconclusive nature of the war to come. A main selection of the History Book-of-the-Month Club and alternate selection of the Military Book-of-the-Month Club.