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

Return to Bell's Farm

— Shiloh National Military Park —

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, October 13, 2021

1. Return to Bell's Farm Marker

Inscription. The second day of fighting saw the Federals retaking ground lost the day before. Here, General Don Carlos Buell's fresh divisions attacked the Confederate right and fighting once again consumed Sarah Bell's farm. Debris from the previous day's battle littered the fields and woods. The Confederates launched a piecemeal counterattack from Union camps they had occupied overnight. Within the southern ranks, confusion lingered as lines of authority, disrupted during the battle's first day, deteriorated further. Commanders had lost touch with their men, entire regiments had seemingly gone missing, and officers had failed to resupply their commands with ammunition. Despite these problems, the hastily reformed Confederates stubbornly resisted and halted Buell's morning advance. At noon, bolstered by reinforcements, Buell once again advanced, driving the Confederate right and center south. By sunset, Buell's troops occupied Union camps lost the previous day.

...all the wretched debris of battle still littered the spongy earth as far as one could see, in every direction. Dead horses were everywhere...ammunition wagons standing desolate behind four or six sprawling mules. Men? There were men enough; all dead...
Sergeant Ambrose Bierce
Co. C, 9th Indiana Infantry

(captions)
General Don Carlos Buell
Army of the Ohio

• 1 Buell's troops comprise the left wing of the Union counterattack.
• 2 The front lines see-saw as the Confederates repulse Buell's morning attacks.
• 3 Reinforced, Buell advances at noon, his attacks driving the Confederates back beyond the Hamburg— Purdy Road.

Erected by National

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. (Marker Number Stop 19.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is April 7, 1862.

Location. 35° 8.004′ N, 88° 19.897′ 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: Bloody Pond (here, next to this marker); Terrill's Battery (within shouting distance of this marker); Willard's Battery (within shouting distance of this marker); Batteries H and M, 4th U.S. Artillery / Battery H, 5th U.S. Artillery

Return to Bell's Farm Marker at Bloody Pond image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, October 13, 2021

2. Return to Bell's Farm Marker at Bloody Pond

(within shouting distance of this marker); Bruce's Brigade (within shouting distance of this marker); 16th Wisconsin Infantry (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Bowen's Brigade (about 300 feet away); Fighting Consumes Bell's Farm (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.)

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 493 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 17, 2021, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.