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

Grant's Last Line

Photographed By Craig Swain, March 16, 2009

1. Grant's Last Line Marker

Inscription. The first day of fighting had been disastrous for General Grant's Union Army of the Tennessee. At daybreak the Confederates surprised many of the Federals in their tents. Hastily-formed lines of defense broke. Casualties multiplied. More than 2,000 men surrendered. Reinforcements arrived late. At day's end, Grant's army had fallen back to this high ground - his last line.

That evening Union reinforcements arrived, and on the second day fortunes reversed. Grant's desperate "last line" became a strong attack position. The bolstered Union forces pushed the Confederates back to the southwestern end of the battlefield near Shiloh Church.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #18 Ulysses S. Grant series list.

Location. 35° 9.029′ N, 88° 19.567′ W. Marker is near Shiloh, Tennessee, in Hardin County. It is in Pittsburg Landing. Marker is on Pittsburg Landing Road, on the right when traveling east. Located south of the visitor center, along Grant's Last Line, in Shiloh National Military Park. 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. Schwartz's Battery (a few steps from this marker); Lauman's Brigade

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

(a few steps from this marker); End of a Long, Hard Day (within shouting distance of this marker); Richardson's Battery (within shouting distance of this marker); Battery A, 1st Ohio Light Artillery (within shouting distance of this marker); 65th Ohio Infantry (within shouting distance of this marker); 5th Ohio Cavalry (within shouting distance of this marker); Welker's Battery (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Shiloh.

More about this marker. In the center is a wartime photo, one of the few taken at the battlefield. Union 24-pounder seige guns helped to defend "Grant's Last Line." The photo was taken here shortly after the battle.

In the right center is a portrait of Gen. Grant. Maj. Gen. U.S. Grant commanded the Union Army of the Tennessee at Shiloh. After securing the "unconditional surrender" of Fort Donelson in February, Grant narrowly escaped defeat at Shiloh.

To the far right is a map showing the dispositions long Grant's Last Line - April 6, 1862 - p.m. The cannon you see today mark the location of Grant's
Photographed By Craig Swain, March 16, 2009

2. Grant's Last Line Map
The north seeking arrow points to the bottom of the map.
last line on the evening of April 6. At the top of the marker is a time line of the battle. The times of the Union army withdrawal to the last line on April 6 and the start of the counter attack on April 7 are indicated.

Also see . . . Shiloh National Miltary Park. (Submitted on August 12, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

Photographed By Craig Swain, March 16, 2009

3. Grant's Last Line Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 12, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,334 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 12, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.