He left Corinth on the 2d of April and was not ready to attack until the 6th.

The distance his army had to march was less than twenty miles.

Beauregard, his second in command, was opposed to the attack for two reasons: first, he thought, if let alone the National troops would attack the Confederates in their intrenchments; second, we were in ground of our own choosing and would necessarily be intrenched.
Johnston not only listened to the objection of Beauregard to an attack, but held a council of war on the subject on the morning of the 5th.

On the evening of the same day he was in consultation with some of his generals on the same subject, and still again on the morning of the 6th.
During this last consultation, and before a decision had been reached, the battle began by the National troops opening fire on the enemy.

This seemed to settle the question as to whether there was to be any battle of Shiloh.