Fort Donelson, TN
[Battle of Fort Donelson, Kurz & Allison, Courtesy of Wikipedia]
Date(s): February 11-16, 1862
Location: Please click on link below for map.Fort Donelson National Battlefield, Dover, Tennessee, United States
Campaign(s): Federal Penetration up the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers [1862]
Battles in Campaign:
Situation:
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On February 6th, a combined force under Brig. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and Flag-Officer A.H. Foote had easily captured Fort Henry.
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On February 6, Grant wired to Maj. Gen. Henry W. Halleck, Grant's superior as commander of the Department of the Missouri, "Fort Henry is ours. ... I shall take and destroy Fort Donelson on the 8th and return to Fort Henry."
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Confederate General Albert Sidney Johnston decided to reinforce Donelson with another 12,000 men, knowing that a defeat there would mean the inevitable loss of Middle Tennessee and the vital manufacturing and arsenal city of Nashville
Commanders:
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Union: Brig. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and Flag-Officer A.H. Foote
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Confederate: Brig. Gen. John B. Floyd, Brig. Gen. Gideon Pillow, and Brig. Gen. Simon B. Buckner
Principal Forces:
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Union: District of Cairo and Western Flotilla [24,531]
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Confederate: Fort Donelson Garrison [16,171]
Description:
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After capturing Fort Henry on February 6, 1862, Brig. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant advanced cross-country to invest Fort Donelson.
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On February 16, 1862, after the failure of their all-out attack aimed at breaking through Grant’s investment lines, the fort’s 12,000-man garrison surrendered unconditionally.
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This was a major victory for Brig. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and a catastrophe for the South.
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It ensured that Kentucky would stay in the Union and opened up Tennessee for a Northern advance along the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers.
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Grant received a promotion to major general for his victory and attained stature in the Western Theater, earning the nom de guerre “Unconditional Surrender.”
Photo Gallery:1
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Fort Donelson Visitor Center
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Tour Map of Fort Donelson
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Fort Donelson - Key to the Cumberland
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On to Donelson!
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Gunboats Open the Tennessee
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Model Showing the Impact of Cannon Ball on Ironclad
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Confederate Monument
Erected by the Tennessee Division of the United Daughters of the Confederacy in 1933, the Confederate Monument commemorates the Southern soldiers who fought and died at Fort Donelson.
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Description of Confederate Forces Holding Fort Donelson
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Lower River Batteries
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Foote's Fleet - Iron Valentines
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Unseasoned Artillerymen
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Gun Positions
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Jackson's Virginia Battery
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Col. Jacob G. Lauman's Union Brigade - Description of Assault
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Description of Union Attack Led by Brig. Gen. C. F. Smith
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Description of Union Attack Led by Brig. Gen. C. F. Smith
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Site of Grave's Battery
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Description of Actions by Confederate Col. William Baldwin's Brigade
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Description of Brig. Gen. Gideon Pillow's Confederate Division at Fort Donelson
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Texas Monument - Describes Actions of Texas Troops at Fort Donelson
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Description of Actions by Col. Nathan Bedford Forrest's Cavalry
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Classification3: A
Casualties4:
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Union: 2,331
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Confederate: 15,067
Results:  Union Victory
Battlefield Website:
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Fort Donelson National Battlefield - National Park Service
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Battle of Fort Donelson - Wikipedia
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Forts Henry and Donelson - HistoryAnimated.com
Recommended Resources:
1 Please click on the image to enlarge it. You may copy the images if you include the following note and link with each image: "Courtesy of civil-war-journeys.org."
2 Slide Presentation Updated on 1/31/07. Click on link to view as web-based slide show.
3 Classification:
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A - having a decisive influence on a campaign and a direct impact on the course of the war
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B - having a direct and decisive influence on their campaign
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C - having observable influence on the outcome of a campaign
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D - having a limited influence on the outcome of their campaign or operation but achieving or affecting important local objectives
4 Casualties are someone killed, injured, wounded, captured or missing.
Revised 07/17/2008
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