What were two Civil War battles fought in Tennessee?

Answer 1

There were more than two battles in Tennessee during the course of the US Civil War. They were important ones for several reasons, but before the subject is entered, two battles of note were:

A. The victories of US Grant at Forts Henry and Donelson; and

B. The Battle of Shiloh.

Tennessee was a Confederate State that bordered the Union slave State of Kentucky. Capturing Tennessee was an important part of the Union's plans for winning the Civil War because of such reasons as:

A. Nashville was a large supplier of products the South needed for the War. It's capture and control of its railway links to other parts of the South impeded the Confederacy;

B. The Tennessee city of Memphis was on the Mississippi River. Taking over Memphis helped the Union's efforts to control this vital waterway;

C. Earlier the battle of Shiloh was mentioned. Sadly, both sides lost many men at this very bloody that began on April 6, 1862. It was one of the Civil War battles that made anyone aware of it, realize what a serious conflict the Civil War was & was going to be. In the battle, the South's 2nd highest ranking general, general Albert Sidney Johnston was wounded and died. This was a great military leader loss.

As an aside, reportedly, Johnston was wounded as he personally led a force of his soldiers into the face of Union fire. Not all generals in that era would risk their lives like he did.

Reportedly, he died from his wounds because he earlier sent his personnel medical staff to help wounded Union soldiers.

D. In order to win the War, it was important that Confederate forces in the "West" were reduced or destroyed in order for combat tin the East to be successful. And, in the East, the Union had much trouble with the Army of Northern Virginia, led by Robert E. Lee. Both Lee and Johnston resigned their commissions in the US Army to fight for their home Southern States.

E. Further along in the War, having Tennessee out of Confederate hands helped in other ways:

1. Kentucky, bordering northern Tennessee, was no longer a possible recruiting area for the South; and

2. Victories in Tennessee eventually helped the Union to capture the "hard to defeat" Confederate stronghold of Vicksburg in Mississippi.

There is much to say about Tennessee in the war. Not to be overlooked was that US Grant was brought to Lincoln's attention due to Grant's victories there. Grant was not always successful, his problems can be dealt with at another time.

Also, there were politics involved with the military efforts in Tennessee, that in part were caused by Lincoln himself. But that too can be dealt with at another time.