Ruggles’ Battery of 62 cannon aimed at the Hornet’s Nest

SHILOH BATTLEFIELD TOUR STOP #4

The Ruggles’ Battery stop on the battlefield tour of Shiloh National Military Park gives you a view of Duncan Field from the Confederate perspective. After eleven charges with no success against the Union troops located in the forest across the field—today known as the Hornet’s Nes—it was time for something different. It is at this location that Brigadier General Daniel Ruggles lined up eleven batteries of cannon (62 in all according to Ruggles, 53 according to other sources) and bombed the hell out of the Union troops for nearly an hour beginning at 4:30 PM on April 6th. At the time, this was the greatest concentration of artillery pieces on a North American battlefield.

About a half hour before the bombardment commenced, the Union left and right flank along the Sunken Road retreated, leaving only the troops in the center to fight the Confederates. Now, with no protection on their flanks, and having sustained Ruggles’ artillery blast, Confederate troops were able to circle around and begin to envelope those remaining in the Hornet’s Nest. Union troops began a chaotic retreat and many were able to escape. However, about 2,250 men remained trapped, and surrender became the only option. Among those now prisoners was General Benjamin Prentiss. Among the dying was General William H. L. Wallace. He had been shot in the head and died four days later on April 10th.