Wilcox County soldiers fought at the Battle of Shiloh in April 1862

View across Duncan Field from Ketchum's Battery.

The Battle of Shiloh was one of the most epic and bloody battles in American history and resulted in over 23,000 casualties – more than all previous American wars combined up to that point. This important two-day battle took place on April 6-7, 1862 on the west bank of the Tennessee River in Hardin County, Tenn. An estimated 103,000 soldiers took part in this historic battle, including a number of Confederate soldiers from Wilcox County.

Albert Sidney Johnston

Last Thursday morning, my young son and I found ourselves in Tennessee and took a few hours to explore the old battlefield, which is now Shiloh National Military Park. The 4,000-acre park is managed by the National Park Service and receives over 300,000 visitors per year. Our first stop last Thursday was the park’s Visitors Center, where we watched a 32-minute movie about the battle and picked up a brochure that outlined the 12.7-mile driving tour of the battlefield.

This driving tour took us to some of the most famous locations in Civil War history, including the Hornets’ Nest, the death site of General Albert Sidney Johnston, the Peach Orchard, Bloody Pond, Pittsburg Landing and Shiloh Church (that gave the battle its name). I’d never set foot on this battlefield prior to last Thursday, and I was excited to visit locations that I’d previously only read about in history books. I was especially interested to visit Duncan Field for I knew that it was there that Wilcox County soldiers played a part in the battle.

If you visit the west side of Duncan Field today, just inside the wood line, you’ll see a long row of cannons facing east toward former Union positions across the field. Between the first two cannons, you’ll find a historical marker that tells readers that it was here that Ketchum’s Alabama Battery fought on the afternoon of April 6, 1862. It was from this location that Rebel cannons bombarded the famous Hornets’ Nest, allowing Confederate infantry to encircle and capture General Benjamin Prentiss and nearly 2,100 Union soldiers.

General Benjamin Prentiss

According to Ouida Starr Woodson’s outstanding book, “Men of Wilcox: They Wore the Gray,” the Wilcox Rangers (also known as Co. C of the 3^rd Alabama Cavalry) were “actively engaged in the Battle of Shiloh, where they protected Ketchum’s Battery as it opened the battle. Co. C also figured in the capture of Union officer, Prentiss, and his men. They guarded the prisoners until they were boarded on the train for prison.”

Woodson notes that the Wilcox Rangers were originally organized by Josiah Robbins at Clifton in September 1861, about seven months before the Battle of Shiloh. According to historical maps, the Clifton community was located in northwest Wilcox County and was also known as Upper Peach Tree. A post office operated there between 1853 and 1896.

Despite my best efforts, I was unable to determine if any of the Wilcox Rangers were killed, wounded or captured at Shiloh, but given the heavy overall losses, I think it’s very likely that the unit did suffer at least some casualties. I also think it’s likely that other Wilcox County soldiers in other units were at the Battle of Shiloh, but I was unable to find any information about those men. If anyone in the reading audience can provide more information about Wilcox County units and men at Shiloh, please let me hear from you.

In the end, if you ever find yourself in Southwest Tennessee, I highly recommend that you take the time to visit the Shiloh National Military Park. Not only will you see some of the most famous locations in Civil War history, but you’ll also be walking in the footsteps of soldiers from Wilcox County.