Civil War Tennessee Summary

Civil War Tennessee: Battles and Leaders Civil War Tennessee is a general overview of the tactics used in and the battles fought in Tennessee and they’re importance. The book also discusses some of the problems both the Union and Confederates faced during this bloody war. Connelly opens up by introducing each region in Tennessee and why they’re important. Upper East Tennessee was one of the largest producers of wheat for the Confederacy, a key railroad ran from Bristol to Chattanooga, copper, and rich deposits of saltpeter and lead lay in East Tennessee. Four critical railroad lines also joined in Chattanooga. Middle Tennessee was one of the richest areas in producing corn, hogs, cattle, mules, and horses in the entire Confederacy. Nashville was one of the largest cities and the leading war production center in the West. The Western Highland area was full of navigable waterways and became known as the “Great Western Iron Belt.” This made Tennessee a major target for the Union to capture.
Nashville soon fell and the Confederates lost Middle Tennessee and the Great Western Iron Belt. Nashville would never be under Confederate authority again. The Confederates retreated to Corinth and built up an army of almost 40,000 troops and planned a surprise attack on Grant at the Pittsburg Landing. The trek took longer than expected and the officers started to argue whether to retreat or attack. The Confederates attacked and the Battle at Shiloh ensued. Johnston, the commander of the Army of Tennessee, was shot and bled to death. It was one of the bloodiest engagements of the war with 24,000 casualties, 11,000 to the Confederates. Corinth was abandoned and the Federals took control in the West. The Union then turned back to the east and