What tactics were used in the Battle of Shiloh?

Answer 1

A year into the Civil War, on April 6, 1862, a battle of major importance took place. The tactics used in the Battle of Shiloh were the use of a surprise attack by the Confederate's against the forces of the Union led by General Grant. Grant was not prepared for battle and the South's surprise attack was nearly successful as his army camped along the Tennessee River near Pittsburg Landing. The tactic of forming entrenchments were not used by Grant,
The Confederates, with an army of 40,000 men led by General Albert Sidney Johnston, the second highest ranking soldier in the Confederacy, attempted to advance against Grant's left flank. Grant took adefensive position to halt the South's advance. The Confederates were impeded by tough resistance by Union troops shooting under the cover of the forest trees. Southern delays in positioning troops created more problems for the South. It should be noted that the Confederate General Johnston died at Shiloh due to a serious wound suffered in battle.
Shiloh became at the time one of the bloodiest confrontations of the War. The South took heavy losses inattempting to outflank Grant.
The lack of having not enough troops was another negative factor to the South.
Grant had followed a path of least resistance by pushing south. He followed the Cumberland & Tennessee Rivers. He received reinforcements and the next day began a counter offensive as he now had a 3-2 advantage. The Confederates took heavy losses in their earlier offensive.
Grant later had much to say in his defense as he was roundly criticized in the Northern Press for his tactics that seemed to accelerate the deaths of Union soldiers.
For the Confederate's, the use of heavy artillery was another factor in favor of Confederate General Ruggles.
He was able to concentrate the fire power of 62 canon of Grant's positions.
The end result however was a terrible Confederate loss of troops. The Union's losses were equally as bad.
Grant was not expecting a battle, so initially he had no strategy. The Confederates believed they had a good chance of destroying the Union army, by pushing it into a swamp. Then they changed tactics and decided to push it into the Tennessee River. But strong Union reinforcements arrived from north of Pittsburg Landing during the night. Grant was then able to drive-off the Confederates on the second day of the battle.

Answer 2

The Confederate Army used the tactic of shock, while the Unionist army opposed that of the fire.