National Park Service Fort Donelson U.S. Department of the Interior National Battlefield Tennessee General Grant 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 Cumberland River. 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 Lloyd Tilghman, the "No terms except an unconditional and immediate surrender can be accepted." Ulysses S. Grant, February 16, 1862 The Battle of Fort Donelson 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. Nathan Bedford Forrest 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 Kentucky 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 Union army. 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 February 15. 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.