Thesis Statement: The Confederate Army lost the Battle of Shiloh because of ineffective leadership in planning and executing operations. Discussion: The Battle of Shiloh lasted only two days. Many times during this period, Confederate leaders exhibited ineffective leadership. Their inability to lead properly contributed directly to their eventual downfall. Conclusion: The Confederate Army had many highly qualified senior officers, but they lacked important leadership skills. Their failure to plan properly, indecisiveness, and poor communications resulted in this major turning point in the Civil War.

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.