Hungry Soldiers and Souvenirs

Confederate troops won their first victory of the battle here when General Albert Sidney Johnston personally accompanied the flood of southern soldiers that engulfed General Benjamin Prentiss' frontline Union camp at 9 am. Hungry and tired, Confederate formations melted away as both officers and enlisted men looted tents for food and supplies they lacked. They also seized private possessions abandoned by their opponents. This disorganized break notably delayed the Confederate offensive, forcing Johnston to encourage his men to reform ranks and continue the battle. Still, before the day ended, four of the five Union division camps fell to the Confederates.

Shiloh, Tennessee · United States