What do you think?
Rate this book
Attack at Daylight and Whip Them: The Battle of Shiloh, April 6-7, 1862
"Attack at daylight and whip them" —that was the Confederate plan on the morning of April 6, 1862. The unsuspecting Union Army of the Tennessee, commanded by Major General Ulysses S. Grant, had gathered on the banks of its namesake river at a spot called Pittsburg Landing, ready to strike deep into the heart of Tennessee Confederates, commanded by General Albert Sidney Johnston. Johnston’s troops were reeling from setbacks earlier in the year and had decided to reverse their fortunes by taking the fight to the Federals.
Johnston planned to attack them at daylight and drive them into the river.
A brutal day of fighting ensued, unprecedented in its horror—the devil’s own day, one union officer admitted. Confederates needed just one final push.
Grant did not sit and wait for that assault, though. He gathered reinforcements and planned a counteroffensive. On the morning of April 7, he intended to attack at daylight and whip them.
The bloodshed that resulted from the two-day battle exceeded anything America had ever known in its history.
Historian Greg Mertz grew up on the Shiloh battlefield, hiking its trails and exploring its fields. Attack at Daylight and Whip Them taps into five decades of intimate familiarity with a battle that rewrote America’s notions of war."
Johnston planned to attack them at daylight and drive them into the river.
A brutal day of fighting ensued, unprecedented in its horror—the devil’s own day, one union officer admitted. Confederates needed just one final push.
Grant did not sit and wait for that assault, though. He gathered reinforcements and planned a counteroffensive. On the morning of April 7, he intended to attack at daylight and whip them.
The bloodshed that resulted from the two-day battle exceeded anything America had ever known in its history.
Historian Greg Mertz grew up on the Shiloh battlefield, hiking its trails and exploring its fields. Attack at Daylight and Whip Them taps into five decades of intimate familiarity with a battle that rewrote America’s notions of war."
192 pages, Paperback
Published April 4, 2019
12 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 5, 2025
Commemorating Shiloh
The timing was exquisite. My receipt of this study in the Emerging Civil War Series, "Attack at Daylight and Whip Them" by Gregory Mertz coincided with the anniversary of the Battle of Shiloh, fought April 6-7, 1862, at Pittsburgh Landing in Tennessee, 22 miles north of Corinth, Mississippi. The National Park Service holds battle walks and other activities each year to commemorate the battle. I was unable to attend the events but commemorated the battle and thought of the ongoing activities at the Shiloh National Park while reading this study.
The Emerging Civil War Series offers short accounts consisting of texts, photographs and maps of important Civil War battles and events geared both to new readers and to those readers with a broad background in the Civil War. Each book is written to present a fresh view of its subject together with a basic understanding. Greg Mertz, the author of this volume has long been a student of Shiloh and has 38 years experience as a Civil War historian for the National Park Service. I had eagerly awaited this volume on the Battle of Shiloh based upon my fascination with the battle, other reading on the battle I had done, and a trip to the battlefield some years ago. The book did not disappoint. It helped me understand my passion of Shiloh and for the Civil War and it increased my understanding of a complex, crucial battle.
Shiloh was the largest, bloodiest battle of the Civil War at the time it took place and was pivotal in changing the character of the war and in its eventual outcome. After serious earlier reverses, the Confederate Army of the Mississippi (later renamed the Army of Tennessee) commanded by Generals Albert Sidney Johnston and P.G.T Beauregard launched a surprise attack on the Union Army of the Tennessee commanded by Major General U.S. Grant. The attack essentially began near the Shiloh Meeting House about three miles from Pittsburg Landing on the Tennessee River. On the first day of the battle, the South carried the attack to near the river front where Grant had established a powerful last line of defense. Albert Sidney Johnson had been killed at about 2:30 in the afternoon trying to lead troops around the left of the Union defense. The first day of the battle ended at about 6:00 when Beauregard called it off in a decision that remains controversial but seems to me and to I think the majority of students correct.
Grant received reinforcements over the night of April 6 from the Union Army of the Ohio commanded by Major General Don Carlos Buell and from a division of Grant's own army commanded by Major General Lew Wallace which, for reasons which also remain controversial, was slow to reach the battlefield on April 6. On April 7, after further severe fighting, the Union Armies drove the Confederate Army from the field and back to Corinth.
Mertz offers a clear, detailed account of the Battle of Shiloh in a relatively short volume. The book offers some brief, necessary background on the prior events leading to the battle and is at its best in describing the opening Confederate attacks in the early morning of April 6 and the varied ways the Union commanders responded to and met the attacks. The terrain, heroic action by forward Union units and individuals, and cool-headed strong defense by Union General W.T. Sherman among others helped blunt the Confederate attack and buy precious time for defense.
Consistently with other recent studies of the battle, Mertz tries to downplay the significance of the fighting at the fabled Hornet's Nest/Sunken Road mid-way through the opening day of the battle. Even with this, the Hornet's Nest action assumes a large role in the book. The book gives a good discussion of the significance of the delay in the Confederate attack which allowed Grant time to construct a nearly impregnable line to hold the Union position. Mertz also offers a discussion of the April 7 action that sometimes is slighted in earlier accounts.
The book rightly emphasizes the role of terrain in the fighting and outcome of the battle. Shiloh is crossed by many small creeks, by ravines, and by wooded hills. The terrain worked throughout to assist the Union defense. A visit to Shiloh is the best way to see and understand the importance of terrain to the battle.
The book includes maps and images that assist the reader together with a driving tour and a brief bibliography. In particular, I enjoyed Mertz' detailed discussion of the beautiful Daughters of the Confederacy monument to the battle. Mertz explains the symbolism of the monument and the view it presents of the battle and its outcome.
Tim Smith, who has written several books about Shiloh, wrote a moving Foreword to this book. Smith describes the "mystical" character Shiloh has assumed to those fascinated by the battle and discusses the significance of the battle to the further course of the war. Smith aptly contrasts Shiloh as a place of large violence and death at the time of the battle, with the religious connotations of the place, illustrated by the Shiloh Meeting House. Shiloh today is a place for peace and reflection. Furthermore, the battlefield is a place to relearn and to recover love for the United States, its accomplishments, and its potentialities. As Smith writes: "The patriotism unleashed when coming under the spell of Shiloh also teaches each new generation its history and what it can achieve in the future."
I was grateful for the opportunity to think again about Shiloh and to commemorate the anniversary of the battle through reading this fine study. The publisher of the Emerging Civil War Series, Savas Beatie, kindly sent me a review copy.
Robin Friedman
The timing was exquisite. My receipt of this study in the Emerging Civil War Series, "Attack at Daylight and Whip Them" by Gregory Mertz coincided with the anniversary of the Battle of Shiloh, fought April 6-7, 1862, at Pittsburgh Landing in Tennessee, 22 miles north of Corinth, Mississippi. The National Park Service holds battle walks and other activities each year to commemorate the battle. I was unable to attend the events but commemorated the battle and thought of the ongoing activities at the Shiloh National Park while reading this study.
The Emerging Civil War Series offers short accounts consisting of texts, photographs and maps of important Civil War battles and events geared both to new readers and to those readers with a broad background in the Civil War. Each book is written to present a fresh view of its subject together with a basic understanding. Greg Mertz, the author of this volume has long been a student of Shiloh and has 38 years experience as a Civil War historian for the National Park Service. I had eagerly awaited this volume on the Battle of Shiloh based upon my fascination with the battle, other reading on the battle I had done, and a trip to the battlefield some years ago. The book did not disappoint. It helped me understand my passion of Shiloh and for the Civil War and it increased my understanding of a complex, crucial battle.
Shiloh was the largest, bloodiest battle of the Civil War at the time it took place and was pivotal in changing the character of the war and in its eventual outcome. After serious earlier reverses, the Confederate Army of the Mississippi (later renamed the Army of Tennessee) commanded by Generals Albert Sidney Johnston and P.G.T Beauregard launched a surprise attack on the Union Army of the Tennessee commanded by Major General U.S. Grant. The attack essentially began near the Shiloh Meeting House about three miles from Pittsburg Landing on the Tennessee River. On the first day of the battle, the South carried the attack to near the river front where Grant had established a powerful last line of defense. Albert Sidney Johnson had been killed at about 2:30 in the afternoon trying to lead troops around the left of the Union defense. The first day of the battle ended at about 6:00 when Beauregard called it off in a decision that remains controversial but seems to me and to I think the majority of students correct.
Grant received reinforcements over the night of April 6 from the Union Army of the Ohio commanded by Major General Don Carlos Buell and from a division of Grant's own army commanded by Major General Lew Wallace which, for reasons which also remain controversial, was slow to reach the battlefield on April 6. On April 7, after further severe fighting, the Union Armies drove the Confederate Army from the field and back to Corinth.
Mertz offers a clear, detailed account of the Battle of Shiloh in a relatively short volume. The book offers some brief, necessary background on the prior events leading to the battle and is at its best in describing the opening Confederate attacks in the early morning of April 6 and the varied ways the Union commanders responded to and met the attacks. The terrain, heroic action by forward Union units and individuals, and cool-headed strong defense by Union General W.T. Sherman among others helped blunt the Confederate attack and buy precious time for defense.
Consistently with other recent studies of the battle, Mertz tries to downplay the significance of the fighting at the fabled Hornet's Nest/Sunken Road mid-way through the opening day of the battle. Even with this, the Hornet's Nest action assumes a large role in the book. The book gives a good discussion of the significance of the delay in the Confederate attack which allowed Grant time to construct a nearly impregnable line to hold the Union position. Mertz also offers a discussion of the April 7 action that sometimes is slighted in earlier accounts.
The book rightly emphasizes the role of terrain in the fighting and outcome of the battle. Shiloh is crossed by many small creeks, by ravines, and by wooded hills. The terrain worked throughout to assist the Union defense. A visit to Shiloh is the best way to see and understand the importance of terrain to the battle.
The book includes maps and images that assist the reader together with a driving tour and a brief bibliography. In particular, I enjoyed Mertz' detailed discussion of the beautiful Daughters of the Confederacy monument to the battle. Mertz explains the symbolism of the monument and the view it presents of the battle and its outcome.
Tim Smith, who has written several books about Shiloh, wrote a moving Foreword to this book. Smith describes the "mystical" character Shiloh has assumed to those fascinated by the battle and discusses the significance of the battle to the further course of the war. Smith aptly contrasts Shiloh as a place of large violence and death at the time of the battle, with the religious connotations of the place, illustrated by the Shiloh Meeting House. Shiloh today is a place for peace and reflection. Furthermore, the battlefield is a place to relearn and to recover love for the United States, its accomplishments, and its potentialities. As Smith writes: "The patriotism unleashed when coming under the spell of Shiloh also teaches each new generation its history and what it can achieve in the future."
I was grateful for the opportunity to think again about Shiloh and to commemorate the anniversary of the battle through reading this fine study. The publisher of the Emerging Civil War Series, Savas Beatie, kindly sent me a review copy.
Robin Friedman
May 10, 2019
This is really a lavish tour book, organized more around how to interpret the battlefield and the markers. Indeed, it might be the first battlefield account that is not in chronological order. All told, it works as a guide book. My quibbles are Mertz is too generous to Grant (he even repeats the old lie that Shiloh convinced Grant the South could only be defeated by conquest) and the April 6 fighting at the crossroads is only lightly covered. Indeed, the book is more focused on the Hornet's Nest as compared to recent scholarship. Regardless, this is a superb for what it does right, and it boasts the best brigade level maps of the battle. If you are visiting Shiloh, be sure to get this one. It will not disappoint.
DISCLAIMER: I am contributor to the Emerging Civil War series and their blog.
DISCLAIMER: I am contributor to the Emerging Civil War series and their blog.
July 31, 2020
Excellent and concise overview of the Battle of Shiloh. Provides, directions, viewpoints, and plenty of pictures to enhance the tour of the battlefield.
January 11, 2025
Part of Savas Beatie’s Emerging Civil War series, this book is designed primarily as a tour book, taking the reader through a loosely chronological exploration of the battlefield. While a detailed summary of the battle is not necessarily offered, a strong and well written narrative style provides a good, if not segmented, overview.
Because the controlling feature of the book is the turnout and not the timeline, this is not necessarily the book for an initial exploration of the Battle of Shiloh. Unlike some of the other entries in the ECW series, this is not the summary introduction that inspires further study. Instead, an interested student is the battle should probably look to Smith’s or Sword’s books and use this if headed to Shiloh to explore the field. It’s not a bad book at all, and the author offers enough summary and many personal anecdotes to give value to this work. It’s just serves a more specific purpose than some of the books.
One strength of the ECW series are the appendices that generally include 3-4 good essays on a specific aspect of the battle. This book only contains one; however, it is a good account of the Wallace controversy and does inspire the reader to a more in depth study.
I would probably give this a 3.5 is half points were allowed, but I’ll round up because of the quality of the writing and the personal anecdotes. But this should really only be used of actually touring Shiloh.
Because the controlling feature of the book is the turnout and not the timeline, this is not necessarily the book for an initial exploration of the Battle of Shiloh. Unlike some of the other entries in the ECW series, this is not the summary introduction that inspires further study. Instead, an interested student is the battle should probably look to Smith’s or Sword’s books and use this if headed to Shiloh to explore the field. It’s not a bad book at all, and the author offers enough summary and many personal anecdotes to give value to this work. It’s just serves a more specific purpose than some of the books.
One strength of the ECW series are the appendices that generally include 3-4 good essays on a specific aspect of the battle. This book only contains one; however, it is a good account of the Wallace controversy and does inspire the reader to a more in depth study.
I would probably give this a 3.5 is half points were allowed, but I’ll round up because of the quality of the writing and the personal anecdotes. But this should really only be used of actually touring Shiloh.
December 14, 2025
Another great entry to the Emerging Civil War Series, this title focuses on the events leading up to and the battle of Shiloh, Tennessee in April 1862. Around 170 pages, I have used this book on a battlefield tour and like many things about the title:
- Easy to carry around while on a battlefield tour.
- Includes a hand order of battle, list of suggested reading for further study, good photographs, and some well-made and easy to read maps.
- Includes many stops in addition to the ones listed on the National Park Service's brochure on Shiloh.
- The reading style is easy to understand and flows smoothly from chapter to chapter and stop to stop.
- Greatly helps the reader better understand how the battle was fought and what happened at each stop.
I have used this book on past trips to Shiloh and will use again. Highly recommended!
- Easy to carry around while on a battlefield tour.
- Includes a hand order of battle, list of suggested reading for further study, good photographs, and some well-made and easy to read maps.
- Includes many stops in addition to the ones listed on the National Park Service's brochure on Shiloh.
- The reading style is easy to understand and flows smoothly from chapter to chapter and stop to stop.
- Greatly helps the reader better understand how the battle was fought and what happened at each stop.
I have used this book on past trips to Shiloh and will use again. Highly recommended!
September 20, 2019
Solid tour book that is an detailed yet entertaining history of the Battle of Shiloh, only hampered by the tour guide directions. Mertz does a good job balancing tales from both the Union and Confederacy sides, along with dealing with controversies and myths surrounding the battle, such as whether some generals were cowards or just lost. The one downside is the the tour guide, as this is meant as a book for the battle ground site, complete with directions on specific parts of the battlefield. While it no doubt works if you are at Shiloh, as regular book, it is a bit distracting. Overall, a solid read for anyone interested in Civil War history.
December 7, 2019
I received this book when I donated money to help the American Battlefield Trust save land at Shiloh. I think this would have been most helpful if I was driving the battlefield which I was not. That being said it was a very good overview of the battle and the command decisions made. The next time I go visit the battlefield I will bring it along.
December 10, 2024
Yet another good tour based book by ECW. The Battle of Shiloh was conducted over a two day period and criss crossed many of the same fields repeatedly. The author uses a different technique to tell the story and view the field.
There are numerous photos and some maps to support the text. The touring directions are supported by GPS coordinates.
There are numerous photos and some maps to support the text. The touring directions are supported by GPS coordinates.
March 24, 2020
Disjointed outline does not follow events of the battle as they actually occurred. More of a battle field guide than story of the conflict.
May 11, 2021
Good guide to the field
Greg Mertz provides a very readable account on how the battle unfolded and how key points can be best seen.
Greg Mertz provides a very readable account on how the battle unfolded and how key points can be best seen.
January 12, 2025
Decent book to tour the battlefield with.
July 20, 2021
Très bon ouvrage d'introduction sur la bataille de Shiloh.
L'auteur donne une bonne vision globale du déroulement de cette bataille capitale sur le front de l'ouest durant la guerre de sécession.
Affrontement meurtrier, mort d'A.S. Johnston, assaut du Hornet's Nest, gestion de l'armée confédérée très discutable de la part de P.G.T. Beauregard, etc.
Les conseils bibliographiques pour approfondir le sujet sont excellents.
L'auteur donne une bonne vision globale du déroulement de cette bataille capitale sur le front de l'ouest durant la guerre de sécession.
Affrontement meurtrier, mort d'A.S. Johnston, assaut du Hornet's Nest, gestion de l'armée confédérée très discutable de la part de P.G.T. Beauregard, etc.
Les conseils bibliographiques pour approfondir le sujet sont excellents.
October 2, 2021
Like many books in the Emerging Civil War series, it tends to do a good job giving a "bare bones" overview of the battle and the larger campaign. However, the description of the battle was built around a tour guide to the battlefield, rather than have the tour guide in a separate appendix. This means that parts of the second day are mixed in with description of the first day, rather than in chronological order. Personally, I wouldn't recommend this book as a "first read" for Shiloh.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews