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. COURTFSV CHICAGO HISTORICAL SOCIETY From Henry to Donelson Bells rang jubilantly throughout the North at the Confederate commander, that he could before the soldiers, plodding over muddy the news, but they were silent in Dixie. The not hold out for long. The plan called for the roads, could reach the vicinity. Less than a cause: the fall of Fort Donelson in February gunboats to engage the fort until the army hundred of the Confederate garrison surren­ 1862. It was the North's first major victory of could surround it. The bombardment raged dered, including Tilghman; the rest, almost the Civil War, opening the way into the very for more than an hour, with the ironclads tak­ 2,500 men, escaped to Fort Donelson, Grant's heart of the Confederacy. Just a month before, ing heavy blows and suffering many casualties. next objective, a dozen miles away on the the Confederates had seemed invincible. A Most of the casualties came after a Confeder­ Cumberland River. stalemate had existed since the Southern vic­ ate shell ruptured the boiler aboard Essex, tories at First Manassas and Wilson's Creek in scalding its commander and killing many of At Donelson the Confederates had a far strong­ the summer of 1861. Attempts to break the its crew. er position. Two river batteries, mounting Confederate defense line, which in the West some 12 heavy guns, effectively controlled the extended from southwest Missouri and the The poorly located fort, however, was no match Cumberland. An outer defense line, built large­ Indian Territory to the Appalachian Moun­ for the gunboats. To Grant's chagrin, the Con­ ly by reinforcements sent in after Fort Henry tains, had achieved little success. A reconnais­ federates evacuated Fort Heiman and the fell, stretched along high ground from Hick­ sance in January convinced the Union com­ ironclads pounded Fort Henry into submission man Creek on the right to the little town of mand that the most vulnerable places in the Dover. Within the fort Confederate infantry Confederacy's western line were Forts Henry and artillerymen huddled in the cabins against and Donelson, earthen works guarding the the winter. Aside from a measles epidemic, Tennessee and Cumberland rivers. they lived "quite comfortably," cooking their own meals, fighting snowball battles, working Fort Henry stood on land not particularly suit­ on the fortifications, drilling, and talking ed for forts. It was surrounded by higher ground about home—until the grim reality of war and subject to flooding. The Confederates had descended on them. begun a supporting work, Fort Heiman, on the bluffs across the river, but it was not yet com­ It took Grant longer than expected to start his pleted. A joint army/navy operation against D men toward Donelson. Several days passed Fort Henry had been agreed to by Flag Officer before Fort Henry was secure and his troops Andrew H. Foote and an obscure brigadier gen­ ready. He finally got underway on February 11. eral named Ulysses S. Grant. The attack was to When his soldiers stepped out briskly over the p take place in early February, using the Tennes­ rolling terrain, the weather had turned un­ see River for transport and supply. It would be Flag Officer Andrew H. Brig. Gen. Ulysses S. seasonably warm. Lacking discipline and lead­ the first test of Foote's ironclad gunboats. On Foote presided over Grant commanded the ership and believing that the temperature was naval operations on Military District of February 4, 1862, Grant began transporting typical of the South in February, many of the the upper Mississippi Cairo at the time the his army south from Paducah, Ky., to Fort River and its tributaries Henry-Donelson cam­ soldiers cast aside their heavy winter gear—an Henry. He established a camp north of the fort and oversaw construc­ paign took place. Until act they would soon regret. The Confederates and spent two days preparing for the attack. tion of the nation's January 1862, when were so busy strengthening their position that first squadron of iron­ his plan to attack the they allowed Grant's army to march unchecked clad gunboats. His role Confederate river forts On February 6, while Grant's soldiers marched from Fort Henry to Fort Donelson. By February in the capture of Fort was approved, he had 13 some 15,000 Union troops nearly encircled overland from their camp downstream, Foote's Henry and in the joint fought only one bat­ gunboats slowly approached Fort Henry. These army/navy attack on tle, a brief and incon­ the outerworks of Fort Donelson. Sporadic clash­ included the newly constructed ironclads Cin­ Fort Donelson helped clusive engagement es broke out that day without either side gain­ cinnati, Carondolet, and St. Louis, as well as win him promotion to at Belmont, Mo., in ing ground. Nightfall brought bitter weather— the converted ironclad Essex. They opened a rear admiral. November 1861. lashing sleet and snow that caused great suf­ hot fire that quickly convinced Lloyd Tilghman, fering. "No terms except an unconditional and immediate surrender can be accepted." Ulysses S. Grant, February 16, 1862 The Battle of Fort Donelson The morning of February 14 dawned cold and grudgingly retreating step by step. Just as it offer support. Although not officially recog­ quiet. Early in the afternoon a furious roar broke seemed the way was clear, the Southern troops nized as nurses, women such as Mary Ann the stillness, and the earth began to shake. were ordered to return to their entrench­ Bickerdyke cared for and comforted sick and Foote's Union gunboat fleet, consisting of the ments—a result of confusion and indecision wounded soldiers. caiaotaioieLouis, Pittsburgh, Louisville, and among the Confederate commanders. Grant Carondolet, and the timberclads Conestoga immediately launched a vigorous counterat­ With the capture of Fort Donelson and its sis­ and Tyler, had arrived from Fort Henry via the tack, retaking most of the lost ground and ter fort, Henry, the North had not only won Tennessee and Ohio rivers and were exchanging gaining new positions as well. The way of es­ its first great victory but gained a new hero— "iron valentines" with the 12 big guns in the cape was closed once more. "Unconditional Surrender" Grant, who was Confederate river batteries. During this 90-minute promoted to major general. Subsequent victor­ duel, the Confederates wounded Foote and in­ Floyd and Pillow turned over command of ies at Shiloh, Vicksburg, and Chattanooga flicted such extensive damage upon the gun­ Fort Donelson to Buckner and slipped away to would lead to his appointment as lieutenant boats that they were forced to retreat. The Nashville with about 2,000 men. Others fol­ general and commander of all Union armies. hills and hollows echoed with cheers from the lowed cavalryman Col. Nathan Bedford Forrest And Robert E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox Southern soldiers. across swollen Lick Creek. That morning, Feb­ would help put Grant 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, Simon Buckner, and Bushrod Johnson— "No terms except an unconditional and imme­ forced to give up southern Kentucky and much also rejoiced; but sober reflection revealed diate surrender can be accepted." Buckner, of Middle and West Tennessee. The Tennessee another danger. Grant was receiving reinforce­ who considered Grant's demand "ungenerous and Cumberland rivers, and railroads in the ments daily and had extended his right flank and unchivalrous," surrendered. area, became vital Federal supply lines. Nash­ almost to Lick Creek to complete the encircle­ ville, a major rail hub and previously one of ment of the Southerners. If the Confederates Soon after the surrender, civilians and relief the most important Confederate arms manu­ did not move quickly, they would be starved agencies rushed to assist the Union army. The facturing centers, was developed into a huge into submission. Accordingly, they massed their U.S. Sanitary Commission was one of the first supply depot for the western Union armies. troops against the Union right, hoping to clear to provide food, medical supplies, and hospi­ The heartland of the Confederacy was open, a route to Nashville and safety. The battle on tal ships to transport the wounded. Many and Federal forces would press on until the February 15 raged all morning, the Union army civilians came in search of loved ones or to Union became a fact once again. John B. Floyd (top), politician turned gener­ al, took charge of Fort Donelson shortly before the siege began. As his situation grew more hopeless, he turned com­ mand over to Brig. Gen. o Gideon J. Pillow (center), and escaped upriver to Nashville. Floyd sought to avoid capture because he feared arrest in the North for allegedly transferring arms to southern arsenals while secretary of war in the Buchanan administra­ o tion. Pillow also chose o escape over capture and gave command to Brig. I Gen. Simon B. Buckner (bottom), West Point < graduate and former Q classmate of Grant's. Buckner, who came to 6 Fort Donelson early in 1862 with reinforce­ ments from Kentucky, s 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 Reconstructed Confederate Log Hut Dover Hotel EASTERN NATI0NAL Lower River Battery JAMES P BAGSBY Confederate Monument JAMES P.