Shiloh in Hardin County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
Peabody's Hunch
A Chance Union Patrol
— Shiloh National Military Park —
Photographed By Bernard Fisher, October 13, 2021
1. Peabody's Hunch Marker
Inscription.
Peabody's Hunch. A Chance Union Patrol. In the pre-dawn of April 6, 1862, Union forces were unaware of nearly 44,000 Confederate troops ready to march upon them from the southwest. General Ulysses S. Grant was under strict orders not to provoke a battle before General Don Carlos Buell's Union army arrived to join him. Union patrols were instructed to defend themselves only and return to camp if they encountered southern forces. Without orders to do so, an alert Union brigade commander, Colonel Everett Peabody of General Benjamin Prentiss' division, suspicious of increased enemy activity, sent out a patrol of 250 men. Through the darkness, this small force passed well beyond their own picket lines to arrive here around 4:55 am. Three pistol shots shattered the silence and the alarmed Federals watched Confederate troopers gallop away down the Corinth road to your left. Peabody's unauthorized patrol had stumbled upon enemy pickets screening General Albert Sidney Johnston's Confederate army., (caption) A short walk down the path ahead of you leads to Fraley Field where the battle began.
In the pre-dawn of April 6, 1862, Union forces were unaware of nearly 44,000 Confederate troops ready to march upon them from the southwest. General Ulysses S. Grant was under strict orders not to provoke a battle before General Don Carlos Buell's Union army arrived to join him. Union patrols were instructed to defend themselves only and return to camp if they encountered southern forces. Without orders to do so, an alert Union brigade commander, Colonel Everett Peabody of General Benjamin Prentiss' division, suspicious of increased enemy activity, sent out a patrol of 250 men. Through the darkness, this small force passed well beyond their own picket lines to arrive here around 4:55 am. Three pistol shots shattered the silence and the alarmed Federals watched Confederate troopers gallop away down the Corinth road to your left. Peabody's unauthorized patrol had stumbled upon enemy pickets screening General Albert Sidney Johnston's Confederate army.
(caption) A short walk down the path ahead of you leads to Fraley Field where the battle began.
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. (Marker Number Stop7.)
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.
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35° 7.252′ N, 88° 21.427′ W. Marker is in Shiloh, Tennessee, in Hardin County. Marker is at the intersection of Corinth Road and Reconnoitering Road, on the right when traveling south on Corinth Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Shiloh TN 38376, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Reconnoitering party under Major Powell advancing from this position 80 yds. W., attacked Hardcastle's pickets at 4:55 A.M., April 6, 1862.
Photographed By Bernard Fisher, October 13, 2021
4. Confederate Picket Post
Major Hardcastle's picket post in front of Hardee's line of battle was at corner of two fields ¼ mile west, Sunday morning, April 6, 1862.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 19, 2021. It was originally submitted on October 17, 2021, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 309 times since then and 51 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on October 17, 2021, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 3, 4. submitted on October 19, 2021, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.
