U.S. Department of the Interior National Battlefield

General at Fort Donelson, from the painting by Paul Philippoteaux. COURTESY C NIC AGO HISTORICAL SOCIETY From Henry to Donelson

Bells rang jubilantly throughout the North at Confederate commander, that he could not mission before his soldiers, plodding over the news, but they were silent in Dixie. The hold out for long. The plan called for the muddy roads, could reach the vicinity. Less cause: the fall of Fort Donelson in February gunboats to engage the fort until the army than a hundred of the Confederate garrison 1862. It was the North's first major victory of could surround it. The bombardment raged surrendered, including Tilghman; the rest, al­ the Civil War, opening the way into the very for over an hour, with the ironclads taking most 2,500 men, escaped to Fort Donelson, heartland of the Confederacy. Just a month heavy blows and suffering many casualties. Grant's next objective, a dozen miles away on before, the Confederates had seemed invinci­ Most of the casualties came after a Confeder­ the . ble. A stalemate had existed since the South­ ate shell ruptured the boiler aboard Essex, ern victories at First Manassas and Wilson's scalding its commander and killing many of At Donelson the Confederates had a much Creek in the summer of 1861. Attempts to its crew. stronger position. Two river batteries, mount­ break the Confederate western defense line, ing 12 heavy guns, effectively controlled the which extended from southwest Missouri The poorly located fort, however, was no Cumberland. An outer defense line, built and the Indian Territory to the Appalachian match for the gunboats. To Grant's chagrin, largely by reinforcements sent in after Fort Mountains, had achieved little success. A re­ the Confederates evacuated Fort Heiman and Henry fell, stretched along high ground from connaissance in January convinced the Union the ironclads pounded Fort Henry into sub- Hickman Creek to the little town of Dover. command that the most vulnerable places in Within the fort Confederate infantry and that line were Forts Henry and Donelson, artillerymen huddled in the cabins against earthen works guarding the Tennessee and the winter. Aside from a measles epidemic, Cumberland rivers. they lived "quite comfortably," cooking their own meals, fighting snowball battles, work­ Fort Henry stood on land ill-suited for forts. It ing on the fortifications, drilling, and talking was surrounded by higher ground and sub­ about home—until the grim reality of war ject to flooding. The Confederates had begun descended on them. a supporting work, Fort Heiman, on the bluffs across the river, but it was not finished. A It took Grant longer than expected to start joint army/navy operation against Fort Henry his men toward Donelson. Several days had been agreed to by Flag Officer Andrew passed before Fort Henry was secure and his H. Foote and an obscure brigadier general troops ready to march. They finally got un­ named Ulysses S. Grant. The attack was to take derway on February 11. By then the weather place in early February, using the Tennessee had turned unseasonably warm. Lacking dis­ River for transport and supply. It would be the Flag Officer Andrew H. Brig. Gen. Ulysses S. cipline and leadership and believing that the first test of Foote's ironclad gunboats. On Foote presided over Grant commanded the temperature was typical of the South in Feb­ Union naval operations Federal Military District February 4, 1862, Grant began transporting ruary, many of the soldiers cast aside their on the upper Mississip­ of Cairo at the time his army south from Paducah, Ky. He estab­ pi River and its tributar­ the Henry-Donelson heavy winter gear—an act they soon regret­ lished a camp north of Fort Henry and spent ies and oversaw con­ campaign took place. ted. The Confederates were so busy strength­ two days preparing for the attack. struction of the nation's Until January 1862, ening their position that they allowed Grant's first squadron of iron­ when his plan to at­ army to march unchecked from Fort Henry to clad gunboats. His role tack the Confederate On February 6, while Grant's soldiers marched Fort Donelson. By February 13 some 15,000 in the capture of Fort river forts was ap­ Union troops nearly encircled the outerworks overland from their camp downstream, Foote's Henry and in the joint proved, he had fought gunboats slowly approached Fort Henry. These army/navy attack on only one battle, a brief of Fort Donelson. Sporadic clashes broke out included newly constructed ironclads Cincin­ Fort Donelson helped and inconclusive en­ that day without either side gaining ground. nati, Carondelet, and St. Louis, as well as the win him promotion to gagement at Belmont, Nightfall brought bitter weather—lashing converted ironclad Essex. They opened a hot rear admiral. Mo., in November 1861. sleet and snow that caused great suffering. fire that quickly convinced , the

"No terms except an unconditional and immediate surrender can be accepted." Ulysses S. Grant, February 16, 1862 The

February 14 dawned cold and quiet. Early in Just as it seemed the way was clear, the South­ nurses, women like Mary Ann Bickerdyke the afternoon a furious roar broke the stillness, ern troops were ordered to return to their en­ cared for and comforted sick and wounded and the earth began to shake. Foote's gunboat trenchments—a result of confusion and inde­ soldiers. fleet, consisting of the ironclads St. Louis, Pitts­ cision among the Confederate commanders. burg, Louisville, and Carondelet, and the tim- Grant immediately launched a vigorous coun­ With the capture of Forts Henry and Donelson, berclads Conestoga and Ty/er, had arrived from terattack, retaking most of the lost ground the North had not only won its first great victo­ Fort Henry via the Tennessee and Ohio rivers and gaining new positions as well. The way of ry but gained a new hero—Ulysses "Uncondi­ and were exchanging "iron valentines" with escape was closed once more. tional Surrender" Grant, who was promoted to the 12 big guns in the Confederate river bat­ major general. Subsequent victories at Shiloh, teries. During this 90-minute duel, the Confed­ Floyd and Pillow turned over command of Fort Vicksburg, and Chattanooga would lead to his erates wounded Foote and inflicted such ex­ Donelson to Buckner and slipped away to Nash­ appointment as lieutenant general and com­ tensive damage upon the gunboats that they ville with about 2,000 men. Others followed mander of all Union armies. And Robert E. Lee's were forced to retreat. The hills and hollows cavalryman Lt. Col. surrender at Appomattox would help put Grant echoed with cheers from the Southern soldiers. across swollen Lick Creek. That morning, Feb­ in the White House. ruary 16, Buckner asked Grant for terms of The Confederate generals—John Floyd, Gideon surrender. Grant's answer was short and direct: After the fall of Fort Donelson, the South was Pillow, and Simon Buckner—also rejoiced; but "No terms except an unconditional and imme­ forced to give up southern and much sober reflection revealed another danger. Grant diate surrender can be accepted." Buckner, of Middle and West Tennessee. The Tennessee was receiving reinforcements daily and had ex­ who considered Grant's demand "ungenerous and Cumberland rivers, and railroads in the tended his right flank almost to Lick Creek be­ and unchivalrous," surrendered. area, became vital Federal supply lines. Nash­ yond Dover to complete the encirclement of the ville, a major rail hub and previously one of Southerners. If the Confederates did not move Soon after the surrender, civilians and relief the most important Confederate arms manu­ quickly, they would be starved into submission. agencies rushed to assist the . The facturing centers, was developed into a huge Accordingly, hoping to clear a route to Nashville U.S. Sanitary Commission was one of the first supply depot for the western Union armies. and safety, they massed their troops against the to provide food, medical supplies, and hospital The heartland of the Confederacy was open, Union right and began a breakout attempt on ships to transport the wounded. Many civilians and Federal forces would press on until the . The battle raged all morning, the came in search of loved ones or to offer sup­ Union became a fact once again. Union army grudgingly retreating step by step. port. Although not officially recognized as

John B. Floyd (top), politician turned Con­ federate general, took charge of Fort Donel­ son shortly before the siege began. As his sit­ uation worsened, he turned command over to Brig. Gen. Gideon J. Pillow (center), and es­ caped upriverto Nash­ ville. Floyd wanted to avoid capture, fearing arrest in the North for allegedly transferring arms to southern arse­ nals while secretary of war in the Buchanan administration. Pillow also chose escape over capture and gave com­ mand to Brig. Gen. Simon B. Buckner (bot­ tom), a former West Point classmate of Grant's, who would stay and share the fate of his men. Plan of Fort Donelson, from Atlas to Accompany the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Fort Donelson Today

Lower River Battery IAUESPBAGSBY Confederate Monument JAMESPBAGSBY Fort Donelson National Cemetery EASTERN NATIONAL A Guide to the Park Keyed to the map below, this guide highlights major park sites. ©Confederate Monument Confederate soldiers greater casualties) and fix bayonets. With the more from the northern climate than any oth­ were hastily buried on the battlefield after the Second Iowa Infantry spearheading the attack, er hardship. In September 1862 most of the surrender. The exact location of their graves is Smith led the assault against the Confederate Fort Donelson prisoners were exchanged. unknown. This monument commemorates the lines on this ridge. Smith's captured Southern soldiers who fought and died at Fort and controlled the earthworks here during the On two occasions, once in mid-1862 and again Donelson. The United Daughters of the Con­ night. Before the attack could be renewed the in February 1863, Confederate forces tried to federacy erected the monument in 1933. next morning, Grant and Buckner were al­ drive the Federal troops from the area. Both at­ ready discussing terms for surrender. tempts failed; but the second, led by soldiers ©Fort Donelson Confederate soldiers and slaves commanded by Gens. and Na­ built this 15-acre earthen fort over a period of ©Union Camp This area became a Union camp than Bedford Forrest, cost the town its future. seven months, using axes and shovels to make following Smith's successful attack. During the That skirmish, known as the Battle of Dover, re­ a wall of logs and earth 10 feet high. While a night, while both sides strengthened their po­ sulted in the destruction of all but four of the more permanent fort of brick or stone would sitions, surrender discussions began. White town's buildings. One of those to survive was have been more desirable, earthen walls were flags raised over Confederate positions at day­ the Dover Hotel, which remained in business much quicker to build. Properly constructed break on February 16 saddened the Confeder­ until the 1930s. It has been restored through earthworks can provide better protection than ates and created joy among the Federals. After the efforts of the Fort Donelson House Historical brick or stone. The fort's purpose was to pro­ the surrender, the Union troops camped here Association and the National Park Service. The tect the Cumberland River batteries from land were honored by being the first to march into exterior looks much the same as it did in 1862. attack. At the time of the battle, all trees with­ Fort Donelson. in 200 yards of the fort were felled, clearing ©National Cemetery In 1863, after the Battle of fields of fire and observation. Tree branches ©Graves' Battery Placed here to guard the Dover, the Union garrison rebuilt its fortifica­ were sharpened and laid around the outside Indian Creek Valley, this six-gun batten/ saw tions. Diary accounts by soldiers of the 83rd of the fort to form obstacles called abatis. more action when it was moved to support Illinois Regiment, stationed here after the Bat­ the Confederate breakout attempt near the tle of Fort Donelson, indicate how demanding ©Log Huts Soldiers and slaves built over 400 log Forge Road (see stop 9). soldiering could be. Besides working on the huts as winter quarters for the soldiers garri­ new fortifications, the garrison protected the soning and working on the fort. In addition to ©French's Battery In conjunction with Maney's Union supply line. Soldiers often commented government rations of flour, fresh and cured Battery to the west, this four-gun battery was on the constant threat of attacks by guerrilla meat, sugar, and coffee, every boat brought intended to prevent Union forces from attack­ parties. Sgt. Maj. Thomas J. Baugh wrote in boxes from home filled with all kinds of things ing down Erin Hollow and penetrating the 1863 that the "rebels [had] been trying to a farm or store could provide. Off-duty soldiers Fort Donelson perimeter. blockade the river" again. Pvt. Mitchel Thomp­ from the local area hunted and fished in the son, who was often detailed to repair tele­ same locations they had frequented just ©Forge Road At daybreak on February 15, graph lines, described the area as being filled months before as civilians. Sometime after the Pillow and Johnson's division, along with Col. with "rebel bands of thieves and robbers." surrender, Federals burned the cabins because Nathan B. Forrest's cavalry, attacked Gen. John of a measles outbreak. A. McClernand's troops on the Union right Many enslaved workers from nearby planta­ flank in an attempt to secure an escape route. tions came into the Union lines for shelter, food, ©River Batteries The rivers were vital arteries The attack succeeded in briefly opening the and protection after the 1862 victory. How to that flowed directly through the Confederate Forge Road as an avenue of escape but, due to deal with these refugees, still considered prop­ heartland. Transportation and supply routes indecision and confusion among their com­ erty by the slave owners and individual state depended heavily on these waterways. Both manders, the Confederate troops were or­ laws, presented a problem for both the Union the upper and lower river batteries were dered to return to their entrenchments. Union army and the Lincoln administration. In 1862 armed with heavy seacoast artillery to defend soldiers reoccupied the area the southerners Grant chose to protect the slaves and put them the Cumberland River, the water approach to had fought so hard to control. to work for the army. major supply bases in Clarksville and Nashville, Tenn. It was here that untested Confederate ©Dover Hotel Built between 1851 and 1853, Eventually freedmen camps were set up across gunners defeated Flag Officer Andrew Foote's this building accommodated riverboat travel­ Tennessee, and an estimated 300 slaves win­ flotilla of ironclad and timberclad gunboats. ers before and after the Civil War. During the tered at Fort Donelson in 1864. The army em­ battle General Buckner and his staff used it as ployed men as laborers and teamsters. Women Using the same tactics that succeeded at Fort their headquarters. It later served as a Union commonly served as cooks and laundresses. In Henry, Foote brought his gunboats very close, hospital. After Buckner accepted Grant's sur­ 1863 the Union army also began recruiting hoping to shell the batteries into submission. render terms, the two generals met here to free blacks from Tennessee and Kentucky. Instead the slow-moving vessels became ex­ work out the details. , the first cellent targets for the Confederate guns, Union general to reach the hotel following Soon after the war, this site was selected for which seriously damaged the gunboats and the surrender, did not want his men to gloat the Fort Donelson National Cemetery, and the wounded many sailors. Foote, who was among over the Confederate situation. He instructed remains of 670 Union soldiers were reinterred the wounded, later told a newspaper reporter Capt. Frederick Knefler, one of his officers, to here. These soldiers had been buried on the that he had taken part in numerous engage­ tell the brigade commanders to "take posses­ battlefield, in local cemeteries, in hospital ments with forts and ships "but never was un­ sion of persons and property . . . [but] not a cemeteries, and in nearby towns. The large der so severe a fire before." The roar of this word of taunt—no cheering." number of unknown soldiers—512—can be land-naval battle was heard 35 miles away. attributed to haste in cleaning up the battle­ An estimated 13,000 Confederate soldiers were field and to the fact that Civil War soldiers did ©Smith's Attack On February 15 Grant correctly loaded onto transports to begin their journey not carry government-issued identification. concluded that for the Confederates to hit so to Northern prisoner-of-war camps. Neither Today the national cemetery contains both hard on the right (see Stop 9), they must have the Union nor Confederate governments was Civil War veterans and veterans who have weakened their line somewhere else. Seizing prepared to care for large influxes of prison­ served the since that time. the initiative, he told General Smith to "take ers. The Fort Donelson prisoners were incar­ Many spouses and dependent children are Fort Donelson." Smith had his troops remove cerated in hastily converted and ill-prepared also buried here. the firing caps from their guns (so the men sites in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and as far away fie not be tempted to stop and fire, risking as , Mass. Fort Donelson POWs suffered

About Your Visit Fort Donelson is one Trails Fort Donelson insects, and spider webs. firearms laws and poli­ Drivers should observe the National Park Sys­ mile west of Dover, has two principal Do not disturb or remove cies see the park web­ speed limits and park tem. To learn about Tenn., and three miles trails: the three-mile any vegetation. Be pre­ site. Picnic in designat­ only in pull-offs. Keep parks and National east of Land Between River Circle Trail and pared for strenuous ed areas only. Relic close watch over your Park Service programs the Lakes on U.S. 79. the four-mile Donel­ walking in some areas. hunting and/or use of children. Use caution in America's communi­ The visitor center is son Trail. Both trails Service animals are wel­ metal detectors is pro­ when near the river ties, visit www.nps.gov. open from 8 am to begin and end at the come. hibited. And please and on trail bridges, 4:30 pm daily. It is visitor center. Guides don't walk on earth­ which can be slippery. More Information closed Thanksgiving to natural and histori­ Regulations Build fires works. Do not walk or stand Fort Donelson Day, December 25, and cal features along the only in the picnic area on rock walls, cannon, National Battlefield January 1. Park tour trails are available. (grills only). Pets must For Your Safety Hikers or earthen mounds. Be P.O. Box 434 roads are closed sea­ always be physically using park roads should alert to uneven ground Dover, TN 37058-0434 sonally, sunset to sun­ Please remain on the restrained and are not walk facing traffic and surfaces. 931-232-5706 rise. See park website trails. Be alert for poi­ allowed in buildings. bikers should ride in www.nps.gov/fodo

for current informa­ son ivy, poisonous Obey traffic signs. Hunt­ the direction of traffic Fort Donelson is one AGPO:2010—357-940/80565 Reprint 2010 tion and closures. snakes, ticks, stinging ing is prohibited. For in single file. of over 390 parks in Printed on recycled paper.