77th Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania only had one regiment represented at Shiloh, in fact this is the only Eastern regiment at Shiloh. It was part of Buell's army and arrived on the field on the morning of April 7th. Its supreme moment at Shiloh came near the end of the battle when it captured two cannon plus received the surrender of Colonel Battle of the 20th Tennessee. Both of these moments are detailed on the monument.

When they erected their monument they published a book, as most state organizations did, detailing their efforts in the battle and in getting the monument. This book does double duty as a regimental history, a copy of the book can be found here. This book is also interesting because it includes a copy of David W. Reed's history of Shiloh. Reed was the first historian at Shiloh, he was the man responsible for the cast iron plaques one sees today when they visit the park. He also wrote a history of the battle which is difficult to obtain. The University of Tennessee Press will be coming out with reprint of Reed's work, with the help of Tim Smith (I'm not sure what editorial changes/additions Smith is providing). In the meantime you can see Reed's work for yourself in the 77th Pennsylvania's regimental history.

1st Minnesota Battery

Minnesota only had one unit at Shiloh, the 1st Minnesota Battery. I think this is a very nice monument, and it looks out into Duncan Field so it provides nice views too. Another thing I like about the monument is that this unit was one of the voices in Shelby Foote's novel "Shiloh" I love that book, I've read it many times. I've read the parts of it that deal with this battery while at this monument. I know its a novel but it gives me a connection to the unit that I cannot get any other way. If I had some letters from the battery that might do the same thing but since I don't the novel is my substitute.

First Minnesota Battery Light Artillery,
Capt. Emil Munch,
Brig. Gen. B. M. Prentiss' Division,
Army of the Tennessee.
Engaged from early in the morning, when Capt. Munch was wounded and disabled, in the first day's battle of Shiloh, April 6, 1862. The right and left sections under command of 1st Lieut. William Pfaender participated in the struggle of the "Hornets' Nest" where this monument stands. The two guns of the center section were disabled early in the day, but one of them took part in the evening in repelling the last charge of the Confederates. Capt. E. Munch and 1st Lieut. F. E. Peebles wounded; three men killed and six men wounded.

Michigan state monument

Michigan's regiments seemed to catch a lot of bad luck at Shiloh. The 15th Michigan met the Confederate advance near Spain Field with empty cartridge boxes. The ended up fighting well later in the day but had a very rough start. On the other side of the coin Ross' Battery did good service during the day but near the close of the battle on the first day they were captured. Oddly Michigan choose to place its state monument right were this sad even took place. Some disagree with me but I think they chose this spot (on the edge of Cloud Field) because no visitor can come to Shiloh and not see the monument. You would have to plan your visit around not seeing this monument to miss it. It was put up before such things as an audio driving tour but if you take that tour or follow the park's suggestion you cannot escape seeing this monument. Which is fine, its well done as soldier monuments go, I've just always thought it was odd to put it near where the worst moment for Michigan was in the battle.

Michigan
E Pluribus Unum Tuebar Siquaris Peninsulam Amoenam Circumspice
This monument is erected and dedicated by the people of Michigan to the memory of her soldiers who fought and fell in the battle of Shiloh. The 12th Michigan Infantry met the first Confederate line in the early morning of April 6, 1862, and helped to resist its sudden advance. 27 killed, 54 wounded, 109 missing - total, 190 men. The 15th Michigan Infantry, unassigned, although not supplied with ammunition, moved to the front as the battle opened, endeavoring to meet the Confederates with bayonets, but was forced to return to the Landing for ammunition, after which it "fought with conspicuous gallantry" until the close of the battle. Losing 23 killed, 74 wounded, 5 missing - total, 102 men. Ross' Battery B, Michigan Light Artillery was conspicuous in the desperate struggles of the first day in the "Peach Orchard" and near the "Bloody Pond", fighting until ordered to retire. While preparing to execute this order, it was changed and captured by Confederate cavalry within a few feet of this monument, losing four of its six guns. Losses: 5 wounded, 56 missing - total, 102 men. More enduring than this granite will be the gratitude of Michigan to her soldiers of Shiloh.

Here is a picture of the monument from when it was dedicated.

US Regular Infantry monument

The Regular infantry units though did see some combat. They were part of Buell's army so they didn't see service until the second day but when they did they acquitted themselves well. There is a good book on the Regular brigade in the west that I recommend to anyone wanting to learn more about this fine unit. It is That Body of Brave Men by Mark Johnson. This brigade served with the army that was commanded by Buell, Rosecrans and Thomas (with nearly as many different names for the army as it had commanders). The 19th Regulars would exit the war with perhaps the best nickname of all the regular infantry regiments, Rock of Chickamauga.

On front of monument:
15th U. S. Infantry. 1st Battalion,
Capt. Peter Swain.
16th U. S. Infantry. 1st Battalion,
Capt. Edwin F. Townsend.
19th U. S. Infantry, 1st Battalion,
Maj. Stephen D. Carpenter.
Maj. John King, Commanding.
4th Brigade (Rousseau),
2nd Division (McCook),
Army of the Ohio.

On back of monument:
These battalions of U. S. Infantry, acting as a regiment, under the command of Maj. John H. King, were engaged here from about 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., April 7, 1882. Casualties 15 killed, 141 wounded, total 156.

US Regular Cavalry monument

Unfortunately for the cavalry aficionados out there the cavalry (Regulars or state service) did not do much at Shiloh. The woods were too think to permit much. These two companies lost 6 men, which testifies to how little combat they saw.

On front of monument:
2nd U. S. Cavalry Company "C."
4th U. S. Cavalry Company "I."
Lieut. James Powell, Commanding.
2nd Division (W. H. L. Wallace).
Army of the Tennessee.

On back of monument:
These companies were engaged all day April 6, 1862, in front of their camp, as skirmishers on the right of the Union army. Casualties: 1 killed, 5 wounded, total 6.

US Regular Artillery monument

The US Regulars were among the very first to get monuments on the battlefield. That is because their monuments were erected by the national government. Since the battlefields were originally intended to be training and teaching tools for the army it made sense for them to be among the first to have monuments.

Even though Mendenhall's unit is listed as two batteries he actually had a smaller force than Terrill's battery. Both men go on to some fame following Shiloh. Terrill was promoted to brigadier general the month before the battle of Perryville and would be killed during that battle. Mendenhall would become chief of artillery for Crittenden and be instrumental in the repulse of the final attack at Stones River. I know he survives the army and stays in the artillery but I've never read much more on him that what appears in battle histories. I'd love to know more about him.

On front of monument:
4th U. S. Artillery.
U. S. Batteries "H" and "M."
Capt. John Mendenhall.
5th Division (Crittenden).
5th U. S. Artillery.
Battery "H."
Capt. Wm. R. Terrill.
2d Division (McCook).
Army of the Ohio.

On back of monument:
These batteries were engaged near here from about 9:00 A.M., to 1:30 P.M., April 7, 1862. Casualties: 3 killed, 19 wounded, total, 22.

Missouri state monument

This one of the more modern monuments. Like the Kentucky monument it is for men who served on both sides. Its pretty simple, basically a listing of units at Shiloh. I like the engraving on the back of the "hornets' nest"

On front of monument:
Union Army of the Tennessee.
2nd Division, 2nd Brigade,
13th Mo., Col. Crafts Wright;
14th Mo., Birge Sharp Shooters,
Col. B. Compton;
1st Mo. Light Artillery,
Batty. D., Capt. Henry Richardson;
Batty. H., Capt. Frederick Welker;
Batty. K., Capt. George Stone.
3rd Division,
1st Brigade, Col. Morgan Smith, 8th Mo.;
8th Mo., Lt. Col. James Peckman;
1st Mo. Light Artillery, Batty. I., Lt. Charles Thurber;
4th Division, 1st Mo. Light Artillery,
Mann's Batty. C., Lt. Edward Brotzmann.
6th Division, 1st Brigade,
Col. E. Peabody, Lt. Col. H. Woodyard;
21st Mo., Col. David Moore;
25th Mo., Lt. Col. Robert Vanhorn;
2nd Brigade, Col. Madison Miller, 18th Mo.;
18th Mo., Lt. Col. Issac Pratt.
Unattached Infantry 23rd Mo.,
Col. Jacob Tindall, Lt. Col. Quin Morton.
Confederate Army of the Mississippi.
Reserve Corps, 2nd Brigade,
1st Mo. Col. Lucius Rich. Missouri

On back of monument:
In memory of her sons who fought and died to preserve those freedoms in which they believed. Battle of Shiloh April 6th and 7th, 1862.