Battle of of fort henry and fort donelson key victory for union general ulysses s. Fort donelson, on the cumberland river, hosted the momentous battle of the western theater where the confederate forces surrendered, giving way to the fall of confederate rule in the. The union victory at the battle of fort donelson made ulysses s. The union army of the tennessee, commanded by major general ulysses s. After the confederate army invaded kentucky in early september 1861, a long but thin line, stretching across southern kentucky from the mississippi river to cumberland gap, protected tennessee from certain federal invasion. Grants first victory outlines the battle of fort donelson and explains how it came about. The flooded fort henry fell to the gunboats on february 6, 1862 and most of the garrison fled to fort donelson, which was eleven miles away.
The capture of forts henry and donelson in tennessee were major victories for. Victories at fort henry and donelson in february 1862 were the first major steps on the norths long, hard road to victory in the western theater. A small detachment of confederate troops made one unsuccessful attempt in 1863 to regain it. Rebelswheeler, forrest, wharton, and woodwardattacked fort donelson yesterday at 2 p. The first major battles in tennessee happened at fort henry and fort donelson in february 1862. Union forces occupied the fort for the remainder of the war. The book details the futile and brief defense of the poorly designed fort henry. Benjamin coolings study brings us gunboats mostly henry handtohand battles mostly donelson and a clear account of grants early rise. An analysis of the fort henryfort donelson campaign, february 1862 380. Lee and the fall of the confederacy, 18631865 timothy smith delivers another outstanding work on the civil war in. Fort henryfort donelson campaign essential civil war curriculum. Forts henry and donelson controlled the tennessee and cumberland rivers, respectively. Foote attacked with the fort with a combined force of infantry and timberclads and ironclads warships.
May 31, 2020 there, the battles at fort henry and fort donelson stand out as momentous ones, which, to a great extent, paved the way ahead for the battle, and even for the war. The unconditional surrender created jubilation throughout the north and shock in dixie. With the surrender of fort henry, the confederates faced some difficult choices. Bibliography of tennessee local history sources stewart. The fort henry evacuees arrived at fort donelson the next day with only their arms and accoutrements, having left their camp equipage behind. Fort henryfort donelson campaign essential civil war.
Grant, it secured the norths hold on kentucky and paved the way for grants attacks deeper into tennessee. Read chapter ii of from fort henry to corinth, free online book, by manning ferguson force, on. Federal success at fort donelson directly resulted in rebel evacuation of nashville and the turning of impregnable fort columbus. Jeremy gilmer, usma 1839, present at both fort henry and fort donelson and wounded at shiloh. The advancements and uproar began when tennessee pulled out of the union. Feb 20, 2012 in its february 19, 1862, issue the hudson north star just has the news of fort henry february 6, while the prescott journal has the very recent news on the union victory at fort donelson february 1116. They also demonstrated how effective properly executed joint operations could be during the civil war and served to catapult an obscure, but eminently able general named ulysses s. Dec 17, 2018 robert henry, in his book story of the confederacy 1931, echoed these thoughts when he wrote, fort donelson, in many ways, may be considered the critical event of the civil war. An analysis of the fort henryfort donelson campaign, february 1862 mechanicsburg. An analysis of the fort henry fort donelson campaign, february 1862. Two weeks later, fort donelson, another confederate. Located in tennessee, fort donelson guarded the cumberland river.
Grant targeted forts henry and donelson, he penetrated the confederacy at one of its most vulnerable points, setting in motion events that would elevate his own status, demoralize the confederate leadership and citizenry, and, significantly, tear the western confederacy asunder. Jul 26, 2019 he had a preference for moving on henry and donelson, but grant and halleck both wanted to attack columbus. The rebels had sited fort henry on low, wet ground and had not completed the work when grants men showed up. May have had involvement in placing torpedoes fort henry and fort columbus and positioning of guns forts columbus, henry and donelson.
The following books are suggested reading for additional insights into the civil war and its key battles. It demonstrates the willingness of general ulysses grant, unlike many of his general officer brethren in the union army at that time, to take action with his immediate move against fort donelson, even though he. Cooling, forts henry and donelson, blue and gray, 93, february 1992. Five books on the battle of fort donelson civil war books. A finely engraved image of the troops landing to the north of fort donelson and attacking the fortifications there. Check out the new look and enjoy easier access to your favorite features. The fall of fort henry left johnston in a desperate situation. An analysis of the fort henry fort donelson campaign, february 1862 mechanicsburg. An analysis of the fort henry fort donelson campaign, february 1862 by kendall d. Defensive earthworks had already been begun at fort donelson, on the left bank of the cumberland, fort henry, on the right bank of the tennessee, twelve miles west of fort donelson, and at columbus, on the mississippi. Under the war department, military historians developed a plan to mark the fort donelson campaign. Grant and flag officer andrew hull foote captured three confederate forts and opened two rivers, the tennessee river and the cumberland river, to. A week after the union victory at fort henry, the two forces would face off again at the battle of fort donelson. The advance guard of the bohemian brigade took its departure from fort henry, about 8 oclock yesterday morning, and after a most.
Map sketch showing the relative positions of fort henry and fort donelson. On february 16, 1862, general buckner surrendered fort donelson. If youve heard folks talk about how beautiful is the. On february 6th 1862, union soldiers under general grant attacked fort henry on the tennessee river. An analysis of the fort henry fort donelson campaign, february 1862, mechanicsville. He knew fort henry was untenable but was determined to make a stand against the gunboats. Grant, captured the fort in february 1862 from the confederate army in the battle of fort donelson.
Five books on the battle of fort donelson civil war. On february 4 and 5, grant landed two divisions just north of fort henry on the tennessee river. Read from fort henry to corinth by manning ferguson force. The rebels retreated east to fort donelson and grant followed. Stabilization and reconstruction in tennessee and kentucky, 18641866 which i have not read. Feb 16, 2012 the battle of fort donelson is a story of geography as much as it is one of military blunder and cowardice.
Compellingly written and thoroughly researched, this is not only the new standard study of fort henry and fort donelson, but a work that belongs on the bookshelf of every civil war enthusiast. The fort henry fort donelson campaign brought grant into the forefront as he began his work to reunite the fractured nation. The combined victories at forts henry and donelson propelled grant into the national spotlight. Fort henry kingston attractions things to do national. Grant and flag officer andrew hull foote captured three confederate forts and opened two rivers, the tennessee river and the cumberland river, to control by the union navy. There are no known photographs of fort heiman, fort henry, or fort donelson from the time of the american civil war.
Tennessee, near the border of kentucky, erected by the confederates late in 1861, and captured by the union forces in february, 1862. Ulysses grant followed that up with the donelson victory. The battle of fort henry was fought on february 6, 1862, in donelson, stewart county, tennessee, during the american civil war. These two outposts, fort donelson and fort henry, were the two confederate. The next day, a union gunboat opened fire on the fort. Not content to simply fortify fort henry and wait, as his immediate superior maj. On the other hand, i couldnt gin up more than two stars for the books misspellings, typographical errors, amateurish maps, and minor errors of fact. Grant took the first big step that would take he and his. It was the first important victory for the union and brig. Civil war maps, available online, fort donelson library. You will quickly meet the main participants, understand union and confederate troop movements, and learn how the victories at fort henry and fort donelson launched ulysses s. Visit kingston, ontarios historic site and living history museum, fort henry, where visitors enter the realm of the 19th century military life in the beautiful fortification originally built in the 1830s. Floyd and pillow turned over command of fort donelson to buckner and slipped away.
Nashville to fort donelson national battlefield 3 ways. No attempt would be made to push mcclernand and smith from their camps into the river. Ulysses grants letter from fort donelson smithsonians. It was the norths first major victory of the civil war, opening the way into the very heart of the confederacy. This was my first time visiting the area, and i certainly hope it wont be my last. Winning reluctant permission from his superior, major general henry w. The railroads to the north from mississippi ended, not on the ohio, but at columbus, on the mississippi. Grant was hoping his ironclad gunboats would be as successful at fort donelson as they had been at fort henry. Fort henry was also one of the first major union victories in the war and had a significant impact on union morale in the bleak months following the rout at bull run and the defeat at wilsons creek.
But it was at fort donelson in tennessee, during his first negotiated surrender. In the midst of observing the 145th anniversary of the civil wars first full year of combat, it is worth noting that during those first 12 months, the confederacy was making a strong military statement to back up its bid for. An analysis of the fort henry fort donelson campaign. These battles were important because they opened the door for the union army to invade middle tennessee. Lew wallace, grant marched 15,000 men to a position west of fort donelson beginning on february 11. The union army scored its first major victories at forts henry and donelson in 1862. Only the cumberland river toward nashville was still open for possible confederate reinforcements. Fort henry, badly situated on a low bank of the tennessee river, represented the weakest point in confederate general albert sidney johnstons defensive line in the western theater in early 1862. Visiting fort henry fort henry shiloh discussion group.
Near the point where this parallel course begins, fort henry was built. Sketch showing the relative positions of fort henry and fort. Civil war maps, available online, fort henry, tennessee. This modern painting, circa 2006, was done by artist andy thomas, and interprets the riveredge of fort heiman, on the west bank of the tennessee river.
This event at the fort donelson national battlefield visitor center was part of the. The situation was perilous, with few troops to cover such a wide expanse. Tilghman, once his scouts announced the presence of the enemys soldiers and gunboats, sent most of the garrison over land to fort donelson. Fort donelson and fort henry, two fortifications in n. Even though poorly located, fort henry was impressive to those yankee soldiers who saw it.
Following his victory at fort henry on the tennessee river, grant marched his troops to fort donelson. Dec 31, 1987 the february 1862 victory at fort henry was the first major union victory in the west. Victory at fort donelson amassed a giddy disparity in casualties. Without a commanding general the combined garrison at fort donelson languished in place and did not appreciably improve the defenses. The battle of fort donelson was the first major union victory in the civil war and a major victory for ulysses s. Shows the forts, roads, outwork fortifications in the vicinity of the forts, fortifications in the vicinity of the town of dover, outlying buildings, and streams. Sketch showing the relative positions of fort henry and fort donelson. By february 14, grants army had grown to 27,000 men and fort donelson was surrounded on the land side. History comes alive at fort henry, home of the award winning sunset ceremonies. As an alternative, the kindle ebook is available now and can be read on a. The following excerpt from the book describes the unions tactical. Winter of 186162 the union army was still sitting at cairo il and paducah kentucky while confederate forces had invaded kentucky and were holding a line with leonidas polk at cairo, as johnston at bowling green and a force of 16000 under floyd an. An analysis of the fort henry fort donelson campaign, february 1862 four stars for being a comprehensive account of the civil war campaign against forts henry and donelson. Halleck wished, grant elected to move his army overland to fort donelson.
Grant was against this, as his absence from the fort henry recce shows see feis. This was a great strategic victory for the union forces, and part of grants campaign to gain control of the mississippi river. A series of battles takes place that put the entire confederate line in the west at riskfrom mill springs to forts henry and donelson. Abrahart, terrain and its affect on the use of artillery in the american civil war. The stories from forts henry and donelson can be found in volume 1. Grant, forrest, and the campaign that decided the civil war new york. The confederate command during the fort henryfort donelson. More recently 1987, frank cooling, in a study of the fall of the two forts, wrote of the expedition that broke open the west. The cumberland and tennessee rivers run nearly parallel, at a distance of about 10 m.
Grant advanced 12 miles to invest fort donelson on the cumberland river. The fort looks over the cumberland river guarding it from enemy advancement. The book begins at the beginningwhen albert sidney johnston took over confederate forces in the west. Forts heiman, henry, and donelson american battlefield trust. Discussing the long shadow of fort donelson in a variety of contexts, this volume is the expansive sequel to coolings donelson study referenced above. Foote won the first laurels by capturing fort henry while grants forces were. Union forces occupied the fort and much of tennessee for the remainder of the war. An analysis of the fort henryfort donelson campaign, february 1862. Fort donelson, tennessee, was built on top of a hill near dover, tennessee, and just to the east of fort henry and fort heiman. Vicksburg, has to lift the siege of chattanooga, has to get push onward through the overland campaign, etc. May 05, 2015 the first real victory for the north comes in february of 1862, when forces led by general ulysses s. After two hours of heavy fighting, pillows men, including lt. This fort was 12 miles east of fort henry near dover, tennessee, on the cumberland river.
Grants plan was to advance upon the fort on february 6 while it was being simultaneously attacked by union gunboats commanded by flag officer andrew hull foote. Buckner, who had left kentucky and entered the confederate service, to seize and occupy bowling green, in kentucky, with a force. Civil war maps, available online, fort donelson library of. The authors multilevel exploration of the civil war in the tnky heartland would eventually reach trilogy status with 2011s to the battles of franklin and nashville and beyond. Fort heiman, in particular, has a lack of visual history. On february 6, union gunboats launched an attack on confederate fort henry which stood on the bank of the tennessee river.
The 1862 battles for forts henry and donelson modern. Fort donelson national battlefield preserves fort donelson and fort heiman, two sites of the american civil war forts henry and donelson campaign, in which union army brigadier general ulysses s. The losses of fort henry and fort donelson were disasters for the confederates. Mcclellans 3rd january orders were definite feint at columbus and then attack henry and donelson. What were the causes and effects of the battle of fort henry. After capturing fort henry on the tennessee river on february 6, 1862, brig.
Following the surrender of forts henry and donelson. Grant moved up the tennessee river to attack fort henry, which surrendered to. Operations against donelson were part of an amphibious campaign launched in early 1862 to push the confederates out of middle and western tennessee, thereby opening a path into the. Metal iron signs with raised text describe troop movements during the civil war. Dec 18, 2016 the day after the fort donelson hike with historian tim smith, a few of us ventured out to the site of fort henry along the tennessee river now kentucky lake. While fort henry split johnstons department in two, fort donelson robbed him at. A novel of the battle of shiloah, and chain of thunder. Feb 17, 2021 killed at fort donelson on feb 1862 by round fired from uss carondelet. February federal field fight finally fire floyd foote force fort donelson fort henry forts grant gunboats guns halleck harris heiman.
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