Hornet's Nest
by American Landscapes
Title
Hornet's Nest
Artist
American Landscapes
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
There is perhaps no more famous Civil War icon than the Hornet’s Nest at Shiloh. Ranking with Pickett’s Charge at Gettysburg, Bloody Lane at Antietam, and the Stone Wall at Fredericksburg, Shiloh’s Hornet’s Nest is well known to even the most amateur of Civil War enthusiasts. Shiloh’s Hornet’s Nest lies in the center of the battlefield and was the scene of heavy combat, especially on the first day of the battle, April 6th, 1862. On that day, elements of three Union divisions ( primarily from Union General Prentiss' and W. H. L. Wallace's divisions ) manned the line along a little-used farm road, "Sunken Road," that ran through the J.R. Duncan's and widow Sarah Bell's land. With its open fields of fire, tree line, fence line and road cover, there is little wonder that this section became one of the most important localities on the battlefield because of it's easily defendable position.
As the day went on, Union forces became surrounded by the Confederates all the while enduring a 50 cannon bombardment from Brig. Gen. Daniel Ruggles and losing General W. H. L. Wallace to mortal wounds while he attempted to lead a breakout from the encirclement. After seven hours of intense fighting General Prentiss surrendered himself and the remains of his division to the Confederates, but their sacrifice bought time for Commanding General Ulysses S. Grant to establish a final defensive line near Pittsburg Landing.
Attesting to the fury in the area, Confederates so named the location because, they said, the enemy’s bullets sounded like swarms of angry hornets.
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December 22nd, 2021
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