United States History On This Day: April 6

1862 — Civil War: Battle of Shiloh Begins
Union forces under Gen. Ulysses S. Grant are surprised by Confederate troops led by Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston near Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee. The battle erupts with ferocious intensity, marking one of the bloodiest engagements of the war. Johnston is mortally wounded on the first day, and Union reinforcements under Gen. Don Carlos Buell arrive overnight. By April 7, Grant regains the field. The staggering casualties — over 23,000 — shock both North and South, revealing the brutal scale of the conflict to come.
1841 — John Tyler Becomes President
Following the death of President William Henry Harrison just 31 days into his term, Vice President John Tyler is sworn in as the 10th President of the United States. His succession sets a precedent for presidential continuity that will later be codified in the Constitution.
1917 — U.S. Enters World War I
After years of neutrality, the United States declares war on Germany. President Woodrow Wilson cites unrestricted submarine warfare and the Zimmermann Telegram as key provocations. The move marks a turning point in the war and ends American isolationism.
1830 — Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Founded
Joseph Smith formally organizes the Church of Christ (later known as the LDS Church) in Fayette, New York, with a small group of believers. The event marks the beginning of one of America’s most influential religious movements.

Battle of Shiloh At Pittsburgh Landing, Tennessee April 6, 1862