The Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, was a significant engagement in the early stages of the American Civil War. Occurring in April 1862, it represented one of the war's first major engagements in the Western Theater. The Union forces, under the command of Major General Ulysses S. Grant and Brigadier General Don Carlos Buell, faced off against the Confederate Army of Mississippi led by General Albert Sidney Johnston and General P.G.T. Beauregard. The battle erupted on the morning of April 6, when Confederate troops launched a surprise attack on Grant's unprepared forces. As the fighting commenced, the fierce combat resulted in severe casualties on both sides, with the Union suffering approximately 13,047 total casualties and the Confederates totaling around 10,699.By the end of April 7, the Union army had regrouped and counterattacked, bolstered by reinforcements under Buell. The day turned decisively in favor of the Union forces, leading to a retreat for the Confederate army. The battle ended with a Union victory, which was crucial in securing control over western Tennessee and opening the gateway to advancing into the Deep South. The aftermath of Shiloh revealed the brutal reality of the war and foreshadowed the heavy losses that would characterize subsequent battles throughout the conflict.