Future Army leaders acquire skills from costly historic battle

Photo By Sgt. William Taylor | Chris Mekow, a United States National Park Service Ranger, explains the order of events at the Hornet’s Nest during a staff ride at Shiloh National Military Park, Tenn., on March 19.  

SHILOH, TN, UNITED STATES

03.19.2016

Courtesy Story

314th Theater Public Affairs Support Element

by Sgt. William J. Taylor, 314th Press Camp Headquarters

SHILOH, Tenn. - On the cold winter morning of April 6, 1862, Americans, divided by sectionalism, engaged in what would be one of the bloodiest American Civil War battles on the fields of Shiloh, Tenn. Both the Confederate and Union armies, commanded by several United States Military Academy graduates, would learn how battlefield preparedness would be the key to victory for future engagements and that the war was far from over.

More than 150 years later, the historical relevance of this battle still provides context as present and future Army leaders reflect on the decisions of the past.

Members of the University of North Alabama Reserve Officer Training Corps, the 20th, 23rd, and 322nd Military History Detachments and UNA military history students participated in a staff ride at the Shiloh National Military Park on March 19, 2016.

Lt. Col. W. Cochran Pruett, professor of military science and chief instructor for senior cadets at UNA, stated that a staff ride is a United States Army Cadet Command pre-commissioning requirement each Army ROTC cadet has to complete.

“From these staff rides, cadets learn about the profession and what it means to be an officer,” said Pruett. “Cadets also learn what it means to lead Soldiers in combat situations, and I believe we can learn a piece of that through the study of military history.”

Cadets and fellow U.S. military history students provided overviews and teaching points at different locations on the battlefield. Cadet Michael Willett, a junior at UNA, briefed those in attendance about the importance of coordination and momentum within the battle.

“Knowing what is going on in real time was very difficult for the officers during this battle,” said Willett. “By completing this staff ride, you get a feel for what officers in the field go through emotionally, mentally and physically.”

Shiloh National Military Park is considered one of the best-preserved American Civil War battlefields. The terrain is very similar to what it was like in 1862, giving visitors a better visual understanding of the events.

“You get to see the terrain and that gives insight into some of the leaders’ decisions,” said Cadet Kyle Zurmuehlen, a sophomore at UNA. “The scale of the battle of Shiloh was extremely large, and this caused information between units to be delayed or non-existent.”
Zurmuehlen expounded further on what he believed was important from the staff ride:

“Not only do we learn from the leaders’ mistakes, but we also learn from the type of leader they were. Whether they led from the front or rear, and whether they had the respect of their men. If the leader was not quick to respond, the unit would fail. It inspires me to make sure I am a competent leader, that I can lead my troops and that they have faith in me.”

The Battle of Shiloh would see different leadership styles clash on both sides. The Confederate Army would lose their leader, General Albert Sidney Johnson to a mortal wound shortly after he charismatically rallied his despondent troops. While the Union Army would underappreciate the decision-making of two officers, Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and Brig. Gen. William T. Sherman, who would both later prove to be instrumental figures in the Union’s strategy to win the war.

“Coming out to this battlefield is not about trying to become experts on the Civil War or Civil War tactics,” said Pruett. “ You do it to learn about how certain leaders had the special or uncanny ability to connect with Soldiers, and how they use that connection to inspire and lead despite enormous odds. It is part of the human dimension of leadership.”

Capt. Tim Collins, a UNA military history instructor and commander of the 322nd MHD, has been on multiple staff rides to the Shiloh National Military Park as part of the UNA ROTC program. Collins discussed how being present serves as both a mnemonic device and a prompt for critical reflection:

“What a cadet takes specifically from each of these teaching points is likely to vary; however, Shiloh is likely to teach them about the complexity of battle, the importance of decisiveness and the value of the human dimension in warfare in terms of sacrifice, courage and judgment.”

As cadets from UNA continue working toward the ultimate goal of serving the country as Army officers, the past still serves as an important reminder of the sacrifices made by military leaders, and how the lessons learned from their actions are still in service today.

• Date Taken: 03.19.2016
• Date Posted: 03.23.2016 17:15
• Story ID: 193312
• Location: SHILOH, TN, US
• Hometown: SHILOH, TN, US