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

Fighting Consumes Bell's Farm

— Shiloh National Military Park —

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, October 13, 2021

1. Fighting Consumes Bell's Farm Marker

Inscription. At the time of the battle, the fields and woods surrounding you were part of the Widow Sarah Bell's farm. This sector of the Union line, under the command of General Stephen A. Hurlbut, ran parallel with the far side of the peach orchard in front of you, extending along both sides of the Hamburg-Savannah Road on your left. Beginning in the late morning, the Confederate right, under the personal command of General Albert Sidney Johnston, tried to dislodge Hurlbut, making several futile attempts to cross the large cotton field beyond the orchard. After three hours of intense fighting, a massive Confederate attack, during which Johnston was fatally wounded, finally forced the Union left to retire into the woods behind you. Heavy fighting continued for two more hours until Hurlbut again was forced to retire, back through his camps, toward Pittsburg Landing. The Confederates on this front now moved against the Federals defending the Hornets' Nest.

We crossed a little ravine and up a slope, and relieved a regiment on the left of Hurlbut's line. This line was desperately engaged, and had been at this point, as we afterwards learned, for fully four hours.
Private Leander Stillwell
61st Illinois Infantry

(caption)
• 1 Johnston's attack forces the Union left to fall back into the woods, except for one brigade, which retires to Pittsburg Landing.
• 2 Slightly reinforced from the Hornets' Nest, Hurlbut continues to defend the Union left for two more hours.
• 3 Union troops under Prentiss and W.H.L. Wallace continue to hold as Hurlbut retires toward Pittsburg Landing.

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Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. (Marker Number Stop 18.)

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° 7.947′ N, 88° 19.913′ W. Marker is in Shiloh, Tennessee, in Hardin County. It is on Hamburg Savannah Road north of Hamburg Purdy Road, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Shiloh TN 38376, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in West Tennessee.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Peach Orchard (here, next to this marker); 61st Illinois Infantry (within shouting distance of this marker); Bowen's Brigade (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct

Fighting Consumes Bell's Farm Marker at The Peach Orchard image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, October 13, 2021

2. Fighting Consumes Bell's Farm Marker at The Peach Orchard

line); Return to Bell's Farm (about 400 feet away); Bloody Pond (about 400 feet away); 28th Illinois Infantry (about 400 feet away); 2nd Iowa Infantry (about 400 feet away); Mann's Battery (about 500 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.)

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 808 times since then and 95 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 17, 2021, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.