Fort Donelson NATIONAL MILITARY PARK . TENNESSEE Brig. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant Brig. Gen. Simon B. Buckner

Bells rang jubilantly throughout the North at the diers arrived, and most of the Confederate garri­ Creek to complete the encirclement of the South­ news, but they were silent in Dixie. The cause? son escaped before the surrender on February 6. erners. If the Confederates did not move quickly, The fall of Fort Donelson in February 1862. It was The Tennessee was open to Muscle Shoals. Now they would be starved into submission. Accord­ the North's first major victory of the Civil War, and for the Cumberland and Fort Donelson. ingly, they massed their troops against the Union it opened the way into the very heart of the right, hoping to clear a route to Nashville and The weather turned unseasonably warm as the Confederacy. safety. The battle on February 15 raged all morn­ Union troops marched on Fort Donelson a few ing, the Union army grudgingly retreating step by In January, the Confederates had seemed invinci­ days later. Along the way, believing that the tem­ step. Just as it seemed the way was clear, the ble. A stalemate had existed since the Southern perature was typical of the South in February, Southern troops were ordered to return to their victories at Manassas and Wilson's Creek in the many of the soldiers cast aside their heavy over­ entrenchments—a result of confusion and indeci­ summer of 1861. Attempts to break the Confeder­ coats—an act they would soon regret. By Febru­ sion among the Confederate commanders. Grant ate defense line, which in the west extended from ary 13, some 15,000 Union troops nearly encircled immediately launched a vigorous counterattack, the Mississippi River to the Appalachian Moun­ the outerworks of Fort Donelson. retaking most of the lost ground and gaining new tains, had achieved little success. Sporadic clashes broke out that day without either positions as well. The way of escape was closed A reconnaissance in January convinced the Union side gaining ground. Nightfall brought bitter once more. command that the most vulnerable places in the weather—lashing sleet and snow that caused Floyd and Pillow turned over command of Fort Confederacy's western line were Forts Henry and great suffering. The morning of February 14 Donelson to Buckner and slipped away to Nash­ Donelson, earthen works on the Tennessee and dawned cold and quiet. Early in the afternoon, the ville with about 2,000 men. Seven hundred others Cumberland Rivers. In early February, the Fed­ stillness was broken by a furious roar, and the followed cavalryman Col. Nathan Bedford Forrest erals launched their attack on Fort Henry using earth began to shake. The Union gunboats were across swollen Lick Creek. That morning, Febru­ the Tennessee River for transport and supply. An exchanging "iron valentines" with the 11 big guns ary 16, Buckner asked Grant for terms. Grant obscure brigadier general, Ulysses S. Grant, was in in the Southern water batteries. During this 1V - 2 answered, "No terms except an unconditional and charge of the expedition. This was to be the first hour duel the Confederate guns inflicted such immediate surrender can be accepted." Buckner test of the Union ironclad gunboats, commanded extensive damage upon the gunboats that they surrendered. by Flag Officer Andrew H. Foote. The plan called were forced to retreat. The hills and hollows for the gunboats to engage Fort Henry until the echoed with cheers from the Southern soldiers. The North had won its first great victory and army could surround it. The battle raged for more gained a new hero—"Unconditional Surrender" The Confederate generals—John Floyd, Gideon than an hour, but the little fort was no match for Grant. The heartland of the Confederacy was Pillow, Simon Buckner, and Bushrod Johnson — the gunboats. To the army's chagrin, the ironclads open, and the Federals would press on until the also rejoiced; but sober reflection revealed an­ pounded the fort into submission before the sol­ "Union" became a fact once more. other danger. Grant was receiving reinforcements daily and had extended his right flank to Lick Fort Donelson NATIONAL MILITARY PARK . TENNESSEE

REV 1973

TOURING THE PARK In fierce hand-to-hand combat, the Confederates were driven back to the ridge at stop 5. 1. Fort Donelson. Soldiers and slaves built this 15-acre fort over a period of 7 months, using axes 8. Confederate Monument. Erected by the Ten­ and shovels to make a wall of logs and earth 10 nessee Division of the United Daughters of the feet high. The fort's purpose was to protect the Confederacy in 1933, it commemorates the Cumberland River batteries from land attack. Southern soldiers who fought and died at Fort Donelson. 2. Log Huts. The reconstructed log huts are rep­ resentative of some 400 huts that stood on or 9. Graves' Battery. From this spot Confederate near this site at the time of the battle. The huts artillery hurled shells into the Union lines about were constructed by the Confederates for use as 1 mile away. winter quarters. 10. Maney's Battery. Exposed Confederate gun­ 3. River Batteries. Here inexperienced Confed­ ners, picked off one by one on February 13 during erate gunners faced Federal ironclad gunboats the Union attack on this battery, resolutely stuck and defeated them in a land-naval battle that was by their guns until the Federals were driven off by heard 35 miles away. Confederate infantry. ABOUT YOUR VISIT 4. Stankieuriz's Battery. The odd-looking gun in 11. French's Battery. In conjunction with Maney's the middle is an 8-inch siege howitzer. The Con­ Tennessee Battery to the west, the four-gun bat­ Fort Donelson is 1 mile west of Dover and 3 miles federates used it to lob shells at the Union soldiers tery emplaced here was to prevent Union forces east of Land Between the Lakes on U.S. 79. The sheltered from ordinary artillery behind the hills. from attacking down Erin Hollow and penetrating visitor center is open daily except December 25. the Fort Donelson perimeter. Uniformed interpreters conduct rifle- and cannon- 5. Buckner's Final Defense. After the Confederate firing demonstrations in summer and upon special breakout attempt. Grant ordered Gen. C. F. Smith 12. Forge Road. The Confederate massed attack request during the rest of the year. to attack the far right flank of the Southern lines. on February 15 opened this avenue of escape, Smith's troops drove the Confederates back to only to have it closed again through blunders and ADMINISTRATION indecision on the part of the Southern generals this ridge, where they valiantly held their posi­ Fort Donelson National Military Park and Cemetery are adminis­ tion until reinforcements arrived. and by a Union counterattack. tered by the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. A superintendent, whose address is Box F, Dover, TN 37058, is in 6. Jackson's Virginia Battery. Ordered to support 13. Dover Hotel. Here Buckner surrendered about immediate charge. the Confederate right wing, Jackson's four-gun 13,000 Confederate troops. On the riverbank at As the Nation's principal conservation agency, the Department of battery moved up to this position on the night of the foot of this street, they were loaded onto the Interior has responsibility for most of our nationally owned pub­ the 13th. It was held in reserve here throughout steamboats for the long trip north to Federal lic lands and natural resources. This includes fostering the wisest the following day. Early on the morning of the 15th prison camps. use of our land and water resources, protecting our fish and wild­ life, preserving the environmental and cultural values of our national the battery was ordered to the Wynn's Ferry Road parks and historical places, and providing for the enjoyment of life 14. National Cemetery. After the battle, many of sector. through outdoor recreation. The Department assesses our energy the dead were buried on the battlefield. In 1867, and mineral resources and works to assure that their development 7. Smith's Attack. Union troops swarmed up these 670 Union dead (512 of which were unknown) is in the best interests of all our people. The Department also has a major responsibility for American Indian reservation communities snow-covered slopes on February 15 in a deter­ were reburied here. Soldiers of other wars and and for people who live in Island Territories under U.S. administration. mined assault against the Confederate rifle pits. their dependents are also buried in this cemetery.

T7GP0 1975-211-313 /I REPRINT 1975 National Park Service U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR