Found this at a house my daughter is renting in Iuka,MS. Only had a chance to read the first chapter before coming home so ordered a copy and just now finished.

Quite good but frequently bogs down. Also the maps are pretty much worthless for getting a true picture of the size and broken nature of the battlefield. You just can't see more than a couple hundred yards anywhere at Shiloh, fields give way to thickets and forest wherever you look. The Hornet's Nest is dang near impassable. The book really doesn't convey that very well.

Still, glad to have read this. It does a job of dispelling the idea that Grant's forces were completely outclassed on April 6th. Yes, they got severely damaged and were pushed back everywhere, but as their lines contracted they held firm. ( )

I found this a fairly quick, mostly enjoyable read. The author walked some new ground including setting the early stages, months before the battle.

While his maps were somewhat useful, often the areas he mentioned did not well coordinate with maps as presented. This is not just a failing here, this is a problem with a majority of military history.

Perhaps the best thing I can say about this book is that it did add to my knowledge of the battle of Shiloh, so that made it worth the read. ( )

Excellent account of the battle of Pittsburgh Landing ( )