serious fighting for several days.

But the Union commander, who had studied his opponents with such
good results at Fort Donelson, made a terrible mistake in failing
to do so on this occasion, for he knew, or ought to have known,
that General Albert Sidney Johnston and General Beauregard, the
Confederate commanders were bold and energetic officers who were
well advised of the military situation and ready to take advantage
of every opportunity. Indeed, their sharp eyes had already noted
the gap between Grant's and Buell's armies and at the moment Sherman
was penning his dispatch to his superior, informing him that all was
well, a force of 40,000 men was preparing to crush his unprotected
advance guard before Buell could reach the field.

It was Sunday morning, April 6, 1862, when the ominous sound of
firing in the direction of Shiloh Church smote Grant's ears. For
a few moments he could not believe that it indicated a serious attack,
but the roar of heavy guns soon convinced him that a desperate
battle had begun and, directing his orderlies to lift him into
the saddle, he dashed to the nearest boat landing and proceeded to
the front with all possible speed. Before he reached the ground,
however, the Confederates had driven the Union outposts from
the field in frightful disorder and were hurling themselves with
ferocious energy upon those who still held fast. The surprise had
been well-nigh complete and the first rush of the gray infantry
carried everything before it, leaving the foremost Union camp
in their hands. Indeed, for a time the Federal army was not much
more than a disorganized mob, completely bewildered by the shock
of battle, and thousands of men blindly sought refuge in the rear,
heedless of their officers who, with a few exceptions, strove