Where was the Battle of Fort Donelson located?
TennesseeStewart CountyBattle of Fort Donelson/Locations
Where are Fort Henry and Fort Donelson?
central TennesseeLocated in central Tennessee, Forts Henry and Donelson guarded the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers with interconnecting roads and telegraph lines between the two Confederate fortifications. In the first week of February, 1862, General Ulysses Grant led a massive assault composed of more than 15,000 troops and gunships.
When did the Battle of Fort Donelson take place?
February 11, 1862Battle of Fort Donelson / Start date
Where did the Battle of Shiloh take place?
Hardin CountyBattle of Shiloh / LocationHardin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, the population was 26,831. The county seat is Savannah. Hardin County is located north of and along the borders of Mississippi and Alabama. Wikipedia
Why did the Battle of Fort Donelson?
On February 13, one of Ulysses S. Grant's (1822-85) officers, Brigadier General John McClernand (1812-1900), initiated the Battle of Fort Donelson when he tried unsuccessfully to capture a rebel battery along the fort's outer works.
Does Fort Donelson still exist?
Fort Donelson National Cemetery is open 7:00 am until 5:00 pm daily. The road gate will remain open during these hours.
Where did Fort Henry take place?
Calloway CountyStewart CountyHenry CountyBattle of Fort Henry/Locations
When was the Battle of Fort Henry?
February 6, 1862Battle of Fort Henry / Start dateTennessee | Feb 6, 1862. The Battle of Fort Henry, Tennessee occurred as part of a Union plan to open a water route into the Confederate heartland by capturing Forts Henry and Donelson.
Is there a fort in Tennessee?
Byington, Fort, Tennessee at Knoxville. Calvert, Camp, Tennessee, in London County. Cameron, Fort, Tennessee, at Chattanooga. Campbell, Camp, Tennessee, at Nashville.
Where did the Battle of Shiloh start?
The battle began when the Confederate Army launched a surprise attack on Union forces under General Ulysses S. Grant (1822-85) in southwestern Tennessee. After initial successes, the Confederates were unable to hold their positions and were forced back, resulting in a Union victory.
Where was the Civil War fought in Tennessee?
Shiloh, Fort Donelson, Chickamauga/Chattanooga, and Stones Rivers are significant Tennessee battles now interpreted by the National Park Service as National Military Parks. Tennessee State Parks has preserved the Civil War battlefields at Fort Pillow and Johnsonville.
What Civil War battles were fought in Tennessee?
Tennessee Civil War BattlesFort Henry (February 6, 1862)Fort Donelson (February 11-16, 1862)Shiloh (April 6-7, 1862)Plum Run Bend (May 10, 1862)Memphis (June 6, 1862)Chattanooga (August 21, 1863)Murfreesboro (July 13, 1862)Hatchie's Bridge (October 5, 1862)More items...
What happened at Fort Henry and Donelson?
Union victory. The capture of forts Henry and Donelson in Tennessee were major victories for Ulysses S. Grant. Grant received a promotion to major general for his success and attained stature in the Western Theater, earning the nom de guerre “Unconditional Surrender Grant.”
What were the names of the 2 ironclads that fought and how did that Battle change naval history?
When Ironclads Clashed: How Hampton Roads Changed Naval Warfare Forever. On March 9, 1862, the ironclad warships USS Monitor and CSS Virginia squared off in the most influential naval battle of the Civil War.
Where did the Battle of Hampton Roads take place?
Hampton RoadsSewell's PointBattle of Hampton Roads/Locations
Where Is Fort Donelson?
Fort Donelson National Battlefield is now part of the National Park Service. The entrance to the park is in Dover, Tennessee, though parts of the battlefield extend to Kentucky.
Why Is The Battle of Fort Donelson Significant?
The Battle of Fort Donelson was the first major Union victory in the Civil War and a major victory for Ulysses S. Grant. The losses of Fort Henry and Fort Donelson were disasters for the Confederates. Kentucky was lost and Tennessee lay wide open to the Yankees. The Cumberland River and Tennessee River became integral parts of Union supply lines. Nashville would fall to Union troops within a matter of days.
What was the name of the battle that led to the Confederacy's victory in the Civil War?
The Battle of Fort Donelson (February 11-16, 1862) was one of the Union’s first major victories in the American Civil War (1861-65). A week after capturing Fort Henry on the Tennessee River, Union Brigadier General Ulysses Grant began his assault on Fort Donelson on the Cumberland River, a key gateway to the Confederacy.
How did Grant tighten the noose around Fort Donelson?
Over the next three days, Grant tightened the noose around Fort Donelson by moving a flotilla up the Cumberland River to shell the fort from the east.
What were the losses of Fort Henry and Fort Donelson?
The losses of Fort Henry and Fort Donelson were disasters for the Confederates. Kentucky was lost and Tennessee lay wide open to the Yankees. The Cumberland River and Tennessee River became integral parts of Union supply lines. Nashville would fall to Union troops within a matter of days.
What was the significance of Fort Donelson?
A map of Fort Donelson. The fall of this heavily fortified fort on the Tennessee River was deep in the heart of the confederacy. It ensured that Kentucky would stay with the Union.
When did Fort Donelson surrender?
The Surrender of Fort Donelson, on February 16, 1862. Archive Photos/Getty Images. When the rebels asked for terms of surrender, Grant replied that no terms “except unconditional and immediate surrender” would be acceptable. This earned him the nickname “ Unconditional Surrender .”.
Who was the General who evacuated the Confederate troops to Fort Donelson?
After a fierce naval bombardment, Confederate Brigadier General Lloyd Tilghman secretly evacuated the bulk of his troops to nearby Fort Donelson before surrendering to Union forces. The fall of Fort Henry, followed 10 days later by the capture of Fort Donelson, opened up both the Cumberland and Tennessee rivers to Union control, ...
Where is Fort Henry located?
Fort Henry was named for Confederate Senator Gustavus Henry and built in 1861 during the Civil War. Located on the Tennessee River, it was a critical point of defense for the Confederacy, protecting Nashville, Tennessee and the railroad route between Bowling Green, Kentucky and Memphis.
What was the first major battle of the Civil War?
The Battle of Fort Henry on February 6, 1862, was the first significant Union victory of the American Civil War (1861-65). In an effort to gain control of rivers and supply lines west of the Appalachians, Union Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant and Commodore Andrew Foote launched an attack on the lightly defended Fort Henry in Tennessee. After a fierce naval bombardment, Confederate Brigadier General Lloyd Tilghman secretly evacuated the bulk of his troops to nearby Fort Donelson before surrendering to Union forces. The fall of Fort Henry, followed 10 days later by the capture of Fort Donelson, opened up both the Cumberland and Tennessee rivers to Union control, cutting off Confederate access to two key waterways for the remainder of the war.
How many Confederate officers were on the Cincinnati?
The Confederate surrender was received onboard the Cincinnati, with 12 Confederate officers and 82 men present. Foote’s fleet suffered 32 casualties, while battle damage to the ironclad Essex left it out of commission for the rest of the war.
What battle did the Union win in the Civil War?
A week after the Union victory at Fort Henry, the two forces would face off again at the Battle of Fort Donelson. In addition to marking the first major Union victory in the Civil War, the Battle of Fort Henry, along with the subsequent Union victory at the Battle of Fort Donelson, restored Western and middle Tennessee and most ...
Was Fort Henry flooded?
The fort had been partially flooded by recent rainstorms, and the bad weather had left many of the troops left to defend it ill. To make matters worse, much of the Confederate weaponry dated from the War of 1812.
When was Fort Henry and Donelson?
Click here for a map of the Fort Henry and Donelson campaign of February, 1862. Dramatic artistic interpretation of the storming of Fort Donelson, February 15, 1862. Ed Bearss, Historian Emeritus of the National Park Service, created a series of definitive troop placement maps for the park back in the 1950s. You can access them here.
When was Fort Donelson stormed?
Dramatic artistic interpretation of the storming of Fort Donelson, February 15, 1862.
What was the South forced to do after the fall of Fort Donelson?
After the fall of Fort Donelson, the South was forced to give up southern Kentucky and much of Middle and West Tennessee. The Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers, and railroads in the area, became vital Federal supply lines. Nashville was developed into a huge supply depot for the Union army in the west. The heartland of the Confederacy was opened, and the Federals would press on until the "Union" became a fact once more.
Who were the Confederate generals who were in the encirclement of the Southerners?
The Confederate generals-John Floyd, Gideon Pillow, Simon Buckner and Bushrod Johnson-also rejoiced; but sober reflection revealed another danger. Grant was receiving reinforcements daily and had extended his right flank almost to Lick Creek to complete the encirclement of the Southerners.
Who was the cavalryman who slipped away from Fort Donelson?
Floyd and Pillow turned over command of Fort Donelson to Buckner and slipped away to Nashville with about 2,000 men. Others followed cavalryman Col. Nathan Bedford Forrest across swollen Lick Creek. That morning, February 16, Buckner asked Grant for terms.
Who made the map of Fort Donelson?
This map of Fort Donelson and its environs was done by Lt. Col. J.B. McPherson after the battle. The Official Records provide tremendous documentation and are essential reading. Among the most precious documents from the American Civil War is the "Official Records of the War of Rebellion.".
What happened on February 14th?
The morning of February 14 dawned cold and quiet. Early in the afternoon a furious roar broke the stillness, and the earth began to shake. Andrew H. Foote's Union gunboat fleet, consisting of the ironclads St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Louisville, and Carondolet, and the timberclads Conestoga and Tyler, had arrived from Fort Henry via the Tennessee and Ohio Rivers and were exchanging "iron valentines" with the eleven big guns in the Southern water batteries. During this one and one-half hour duel the Confederates wounded Foote and inflicted such extensive damage upon the gunboats that they were forced to retreat. The hills and hollows echoed with cheers from the southern soldiers.
Where was the Battle of Fort Henry?
For other uses, see Battle of Fort Henry (disambiguation). The Battle of Fort Henry was fought on February 6, 1862, in Donelson, Stewart County, Tennessee, during the American Civil War. It was the first important victory for the Union and Brig. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant in the Western Theater .
Why did Fort Henry and Donelson get neglected?
General Polk also neglected Forts Henry and Donelson in favor of defending Columbus, Kentucky.
How long did it take for Tilghman to surrender?
After the bombardment had lasted 75 minutes, Tilghman surrendered to Foote's fleet, which had closed to within 400 yards (370 m) for a close-range bombardment. Before the battle, Tilghman told his men that he would offer an hour of resistance to allow his men additional time to escape. With only one cannon still working, down to the last few rounds due to the powder magazine being underwater, and the rest of the guns destroyed or knocked out, Tilghman ordered the Confederate flag at Fort Henry lowered and a white sheet raised on the fort's flagpole. Upon seeing the white flag, the Union gunboats immediately ceased fire. A small launch from the flotilla sailed through the sally port of the fort and picked up Tilghman for the surrender conference and ceremony on Cincinnati. Twelve officers and 82 men of the garrison surrendered; other casualties from the fort's garrison were estimated to be 15 men killed and 20 wounded. The evacuating Confederate force left all of its artillery and equipment behind. Tilghman was imprisoned, but exchanged on August 15.
How many crewmen were killed in the Battle of Essex?
The USS Essex was seriously damaged when a 32-pound shot from Fort Henry penetrated the ironclad, hitting the middle boiler and sending scalding steam through half the ship. Thirty-two crewmen were killed or wounded, including commander William D. Porter. The ship was out of action for the remainder of the campaign.
How many guns were in Fort Henry?
Seventeen guns were mounted in Fort Henry by the time of the battle, eleven covering the river and the other six positioned to defend against a land attack (18-pounder smoothbores). There were two heavy guns, a 10-inch (250 mm) Columbiad and a 24-pounder rifled cannon, with the remainder being 32-pounder smoothbores.
What river did the Union raid on Fort Henry open?
The surrender of Fort Henry opened the Tennessee River to Union traffic south of the Alabama border. In the days following the fort's surrender, from February 6 through February 12, Union raids used ironclad boats to destroy Confederate shipping and railroad bridges along the river.
Where did Grant land in the Tennessee River?
On February 4 and 5, Grant landed two divisions just north of Fort Henry on the Tennessee River. (The troops serving under Grant were the nucleus of the Union's successful Army of the Tennessee, although that name was not yet in use.) Grant's 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. A combination of accurate and effective naval gunfire, heavy rain, and the poor siting of the fort, nearly inundated by rising river waters, caused its commander, Brig. Gen. Lloyd Tilghman, to surrender to Foote before the Union Army arrived.
Who was the commander of Fort Donelson?
Grant's infantry was to come up behind the rear of the fort while Foot's ships bombarded the fort from the river. The commander of the fort, Brig. Gen. Lloyd Tighman, knew the fight was hopeless and evacuated most of his 3,200 men to Fort Donelson, some ten miles to the east.
What was the impact of Fort Henry on the Union?
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 Wilson's Creek .
What was the weakest point in the Confederate defensive line?
Fort Henry, badly situated on a low bank of the Tennessee River, represented the weakest point in Confederate General Albert Sidney Johnston 's defensive line in the Western Theater in early 1862.
Where was Fort Donelson?
Part of the lower river battery at Fort Donelson, overlooking the Cumberland River. At 1:00 a.m. on February 14, Floyd held a council of war in his headquarters at the Dover Hotel. There was general agreement that Fort Donelson was probably untenable.
When did Fort Donelson surrender?
The battle of Fort Donelson, which began on February 12, took place shortly after the surrender of Fort Henry, Tennessee, on February 6, 1862. Fort Henry had been a key position in the center of a line defending Tennessee, and the capture of the fort now opened the Tennessee River to Union troop and supply movements.
Why did Buckner stay at Fort Donelson?
After the events of the day, Buckner remained at Fort Donelson to command the Confederate right. With the arrival of Grant's army, General Johnston ordered Floyd to take any troops remaining in Clarksville to aid in the defense of Fort Donelson.
What did Grant say about Fort Henry?
On February 6, Grant wired Halleck: "Fort Henry is ours. ... I shall take and destroy Fort Donelson on the 8th and return to Fort Henry." This self-imposed deadline was overly optimistic due to three factors: miserable road conditions on the twelve-mile march to Donelson, the need for troops to carry supplies away from the rising flood waters (by February 8, Fort Henry was completely submerged), and the damage that had been sustained by Foote's Western Gunboat Flotilla in the artillery duel at Fort Henry. If Grant had been able to move quickly, he might have taken Fort Donelson on February 8. Early in the morning of February 11, Grant held a council of war in which all of his generals supported his plans for an attack on Fort Donelson, with the exception of Brig. Gen. John A. McClernand, who had some reservations. This council in early 1862 was the last one that Grant held for the remainder of the Civil War.
How many men did the Confederates have at Fort Henry?
Grant's army now divided Confederate Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston 's two main forces: P.G.T. Beauregard at Columbus, Kentucky, with 12,000 men, and William J. Hardee at Bowling Green, Kentucky, with 22,000 men.
How many men were in Fort Donelson?
Fort Donelson had only about 5,000 men. Union forces might attack Columbus; they might attack Fort Donelson and thereby threaten Nashville, Tennessee; or Grant and Maj. Gen. Don Carlos Buell, who was quartered in Louisville with 45,000 men, might attack Johnston head-on, with Grant following behind Buell.
What was the name of the battle that opened the Cumberland River?
Fort Donelson. Shiloh. Corinth. The Battle of Fort Donelson was fought from February 11–16, 1862, in the Western Theater of the American Civil War. The Union capture of the Confederate fort near the Tennessee – Kentucky border opened the Cumberland River, an important avenue for the invasion of the South.
What was the Battle of Fort Donelson?
Battle of Fort Donelson, American Civil War battle (February 1862) that collapsed Southern defenses in the Mid-South and forced the evacuations of Columbus, Kentucky, and Nashville, Tennessee, as well as a general Confederate retreat in Kentucky. Fort Donelson, Battle of.
What was Fort Donelson's purpose?
After Fort Henry fell to Union forces on February 6, 1862, Fort Donelson stood as a lone sentry protecting important Southern agricultural lands and the city of Nashville, the capital of Tennessee and a munitions centre.
What was the name of the battle that took place in 1865?
Battle of Five Forks. April 1, 1865. Battle of Appomattox Court House. April 9, 1865. keyboard_arrow_right. Fort Donelson, on the Cumberland River, and Fort Henry, on the Tennessee River, guarded the positions where those rivers bisected Confederate lines. After Fort Henry fell to Union forces on February 6, 1862, ...
Who was the General who led the Union troops to Fort Henry?
Confederate General Albert Sidney Johnston dispatched four generals and rushed 18,000 troops to meet the Union forces commanded by General Ulysses S. Grant, who were marching from Fort Henry, and a Union gunboat flotilla steaming downriver under the command of Commodore Andrew Foote.
What battles did the editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica oversee?
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Battle of Fort Donelson, American Civil War battle (February 1862) that collapsed Southern defenses in the Mid-South and forced the evacuations ...
History of Fort Henry
Battle of Fort Henry Begins
- The Battle of Fort Henry was an uneven one from the start. The fort had been partially flooded by recent rainstorms, and the bad weather had left many of the troops left to defend it ill. To make matters worse, much of the Confederate weaponry dated from the War of 1812. Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grantand his troops arrived near the banks of the...
Importance of Battle of Fort Henry
- A week after the Union victory at Fort Henry, the two forces would face off again at the Battle of Fort Donelson. In addition to marking the first major Union victory in the Civil War, the Battle of Fort Henry, along with the subsequent Union victory at the Battle of Fort Donelson, restored Western and middle Tennessee and most of Kentucky to the Union.
Overview
The Battle of Fort Henry was fought on February 6, 1862, in Stewart County, Tennessee, during the American Civil War. It was the first important victory for the Union and Brig. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant in the Western Theater.
On February 4 and 5, Grant landed two divisions just north of Fort Henry on the Tennessee River. (The troops serving under Grant were the nucleus of the Union's successful Army of the Tenness…
Background
In early 1861 the critical border state of Kentucky had declared neutrality in the American Civil War. This neutrality was first violated on September 3, when Confederate Brig. Gen. Gideon J. Pillow, acting on orders from Maj. Gen. Leonidas Polk, occupied Columbus, Kentucky. The riverside town was situated on 180 foot high bluffs that commanded the river at that point, where the Confederates installed 140 large guns, underwater mines and a heavy chain that stretched a mil…
Fort Henry
Fort Henry was a five-sided, open-bastioned earthen structure covering 10 acres (0.04 km ) on the eastern bank of the Tennessee River, near Kirkman's Old Landing. The site was about one mile above Panther Creek and about six miles below the mouth of the Big Sandy River and Standing Rock Creek.
In May 1861, Isham G. Harris, the governor of Tennessee, appointed the state's attorney, Daniel S…
Battle
On February 4 and 5, Grant landed his divisions in two different locations. McClernand's division was 3 miles (4.8 km) north of the fort, on the east bank of the Tennessee River, to prevent the garrison's escape. C.F. Smith's division would seize Fort Heiman on the Kentucky side of the river and turn its artillery on Fort Henry. When heavy rains the night of February 5 slowed the progress of Union troops toward the forts, the battle turned on naval actions, which concluded before the i…
Aftermath and the timberclad raid
After the bombardment had lasted 75 minutes, Tilghman surrendered to Foote's fleet, which had closed to within 400 yards (370 m) for a close-range bombardment. Before the battle, Tilghman told his men that he would offer an hour of resistance to allow his men additional time to escape. With only one cannon still working, down to the last few rounds due to the powder magazine being underwater, and the rest of the guns destroyed or knocked out, Tilghman ordered the Confedera…
Preservation
Although closely associated with Fort Donelson, the Fort Henry site is not managed by the U.S. National Park Service as part of the Fort Donelson National Battlefield. It is currently part of the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. When the Tennessee River was dammed in the 1930s, creating Kentucky Lake, the remains of Fort Henry were permanently submerged. A small navigation beacon, far from the Kentucky shoreline, marks the location of the northwest corner …
See also
• List of American Civil War battles
• Bibliography of Ulysses S. Grant
• Bibliography of the American Civil War
Notes
1. ^ Estimates of Grant's troop strength vary. Cooling, pp. 11–12: 15,000. Gott, pp. 76–78: 15,000. Eicher, p. 169: 12,000; McPherson, p. 396: 15,000. Woodworth, p. 72: 17,000. Nevin, p. 61: 17,000. For the Confederate strength: Eicher, p. 171; Gott, pp. 54, 73; Cooling, p. 12.
2. ^ NPS Archived April 6, 2005, at the Wayback Machine