Shiloh in Hardin County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Battle Reaches Duncan's Farm

— Shiloh National Military Park —

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, October 13, 2021

1. Battle Reaches Duncan's Farm Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Some of the most severe fighting during the Battle of Shiloh occurred on Joseph Duncan's Farm in front of you. By mid-morning on the first day, General Albert Sidney Johnston's attack on the Union army had advanced the battle lines more than a mile northward from where fighting began at Fraley Field. Under the initial Confederate onslaught, Generals William T. Sherman and Benjamin Prentiss requested assistance from Union divisions camped further north. While General John A. McClernand moved to support Sherman, Generals William H.L. Wallace and Stephen A. Hurlbut encountered Prentiss' scattered remnants retreating north from their abandoned camps. Hurlbut deployed his troops one-half mile southeast of here on Sarah Bell's farm, while Wallace occupied Duncan's farm, his line fronted this field and extended southward through the thicket beyond.

The new Union center had 6,200 men massed along this half-mile sector, with 3,000 more in reserve. Confederate brigades advancing north from Prentiss' captured camps attacked this hastily formed front after 10 am.

(captions)
General William H.L. Wallace

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• Prentiss' troops retreat from their camps under heavy Confederate attack.
2 • Confederates advance north from Prentiss' captured camps to assault Union forces occupying Duncan's farm.
3 • Johnston shifts some of his army east to attack a strong Union force reported to be threatening the Confederate right.

Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. (Marker Number Stop 3.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is April 6, 1862.

Location. 35° 8.29′ N, 88° 20.409′ W. Marker is in Shiloh, Tennessee, in Hardin County. Marker is on Confederate Road east of Eastern Corinth Road, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Shiloh TN 38376, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Battle Returns to Duncan's Farm (here, next to this marker); 2d Iowa Infantry (here, next to this marker); The Hornets' Nest (a few steps from this marker); 6th Indiana Infantry (within shouting distance of this marker); 58th Illinois Infantry (within shouting distance of this marker); 15th Michigan Infantry (within shouting distance of this marker); 1st Ohio Infantry

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, October 13, 2021

2. Battle Reaches Duncan's Farm Marker

(about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); 7th Illinois Infantry (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Shiloh.

Also see . . . Shiloh National Military Park. National Park Service (Submitted on October 17, 2021.)

Duncan's Farm Sunken Road image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, October 13, 2021

3. Duncan's Farm Sunken Road

Credits. This page was last revised on October 17, 2021. It was originally submitted on October 17, 2021, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 219 times since then and 101 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 17, 2021, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.