Sixth Division

The U.S. Sixth Division of the Army of the Tennessee, commanded by Brig. Gen. Benjamin M. Prentiss, was being organized from newly arrived troops on April 6, 1862, as the Battle of Shiloh began. Seven regiments of infantry, two batteries of artillery, and two battalions of cavalry had reported, been assigned to brigades, and were encamped across the Eastern Corinth Road. The 15th and 16th Iowa and 23d Missouri, ordered to report to the division, had just arrived by boat at the Landing; the 15th and 16th Iowa were sent to reinforce Gen. McClernand and did not join the division until after the battle, while the 23d Missouri reported to Gen. Prentiss at his third position. A reconnaissance party from the division engaged Hardee's pickets at 4.55 a.m. on April 6, 1862, opening the battle. The division fought the enemy in front of its camp early that morning, fell back to its camp and continued fighting until 9 a.m., then retired to its third position between the 2d and 4th Divisions northwest of the Peach Orchard. At 5.30 p.m. it was surrounded, and its commander and 1008 men were captured. Present for duty, including the 15th and 16th Iowa and the 23d Missouri, were 7545 officers and men of all arms. Its losses were 236 killed, 928 wounded, and 1008 missing, for a total of 2,172.

Shiloh, Tennessee · United States