April 6th, 1862
Shiloh, Day 1
Overview of fighting
Afternoon to Sundown
With the confederate reshuffling done, they begin to pressure the federal line. On the Union side, from left to right are: Jackson's division, McClernand's division, W.H.L. Wallace's division, Prentiss's division, and Hulburt's division. In the rear, Lew Wallace's division had arrived and was marching toward the front. Facing the Federals were four corps,from left to right were: Cleburne (commanding Hardee's corps), Polk, Lee (commanding Bragg's corps), and Breckinridge. The fighting started in the center where Robert E Lee was massing his men with those of Polk's to assault the Federal line. Bringing up artillery, the rebels pounded the federals for a half an hour and then attacked in force. The resulting carnage bent the federal line, but did not break it. On the left, Cleburne directed the assaults against Jackson's and then McClernand's divisions. Although the assaults on McClernand dove him back a little, against Jackson they had no effect. Cleburne was heard to mutter, "attacking Jackson is like attacking a stonewall." Thus, Thomas Jonathan Jackson became known as Stonewall Jackson.
Meanwhile, Breckinridge, after several asaults, suceed in pushing back Hulburt's men away from the peach orchard. It seemed as if the rebels needed a miracle in order to break the federal line. That miracle came in the form of McClernand. He saw what he believed to be an opening in the rebel line. Attacking with his whole division and not telling either Jackson or Wallace, he pushed back Cleburne's men. Cleburne pulled back his men and let McClernand's division come into the trap set for him. Polk and Lee had sent 3 brigades to the left in order to hit Wallace, but instead, they wheeled left and slammed into McClernand's men. This, along with a counterattack from Cleburne, routed the yankee division. McClernand himself was killed as he tried to rally his men. With McClernand's division gone, Jackson's postion was unhindged along with rest of the army.