The Union ships bombarded the Confederate position on February 14, but the ships again failed to achieve any major progress. Despite the Union victory, Buckner and Grant stayed friends for the rest of their lives. The forces of General Grant were now between Confederate General Albert Sidney Johnston's two main forces. After their loss of Fort Henry, the Confederates faced some disagreeable choices. Battle of Fort Donelson Browsing. The Union leaders were General Ulysses S. Grant and Flag Officer A.H. Foote. The Battle At Fort Donelson 1387 Words | 6 Pages. The following day the Confederates had a fleeting chance to turn the battle in their favour, but poor coordination among their generals, as well as vague instructions from Johnston, conspired to cheat them of the opportunity. Located in Tennessee, Fort Donelson guarded the Cumberland River. Floyd assumed command of Fort Donelson on February 13 just two days after the Union army had arrived at that spot, also becoming the third post commander within a week. Portraits of famous generals were mass produced and popular with collectors. Fort Henry had been lost, and the railroad south of it had been cut. Portrait of Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant in full uniform, ca. 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. On February 16 Southern General Simon B. Buckner asked for an armistice and surrender terms from his old friend Grant. The Battle of Fort Donelson. Grant replied with, "No terms except an unconditional and immediate surrender can be accepted." 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 Southern heartland. Find the perfect Battle Of Fort Donelson stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. Dover, TN 37058 Phone: (931) 232-5706. Brigadier General Lew Wllace's 11th Indiana Zouaves and Charles Smith's 8th Missouri charge the Confederates en route to the Union capture of Fort Donelson. It was considerably more formidable than the hapless Fort Henry. When the garrison’s commander, Gen. Simon B. Buckner, requested his Union counterpart’s terms for surrender, Grant replied, “No terms except unconditional surrender can be accepted. General Grant attacked Fort Donelson after attacking Fort Henry. Floyd was not an appropriate choice to defend such a vital point, having political influence, but virtually … Cavalryman Colonel Nathan Bedford Forrest and some men also escaped, by crossing the swollen Lick Creek. Advancing with around 15,000 men in two divisions led Brigadier Generals John McClernand and Charles F. Smith, Grant was supported by Flag Officer Andrew Foote's Western Flotilla of four ironclads and three "timberclads" (wooden warships). Pushing south into Tennessee with assistance from Flag Officer Andrew Foote's gunboats, Union troops under Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant captured Fort Henry on February 6, 1862. Despite Beauregard’s suggestion that they concentrate all their troops at Fort Donelson to fight a decisive battle with Grant, Johnston decided that the Confederates would temporarily withdraw from Kentucky and form a new defensive line south of the Cumberland River. Fort Donelson, Tennessee, was built on top of a hill near Dover, Tennessee, and just to the east of Fort Henry and Fort Heiman. Gen. Daniel S. Donelson, who selected its site and began construction in 1861. Omissions? Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Updates? On the afternoon of February 16, Grant and Buckner met to formalize the surrender. 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. He turned over about 15,000 men, 20,000 rifles, 48 pieces of artillery, 17 heavy guns, about 3,000 horses, and large commissary stores. He proposed that Johnston concentrate his troops at Fort Donelson, defeat General Grant there, ... had rifle pits dug around the fort which when combined with felled trees and their sharpened branches were sure to slow the Union advance. The confederates attempted to break out but were attacked and forced to retreat. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. The battle of Fort Donelson, which began on February 12, took place shortly after the surrender of Fort Henry, Tennessee, on February 6, 1862. Union Army of strength about 25,000 was headed by Ulysses S. Grant and Andrew Hull Foote. The Fort Donelson was captured by the Union Army. Today you can visit Fort Donelson National Battlefield, which celebrated its 23rd anniversary August 9, and see where the Union’s greatest military hero earned the moniker “Unconditional Surrender” Grant.. There was little rest. Battle Preliminary movements and attacks (Feb. 12-13). While Grant never was beaten in any campaign he commanded, R.E. The Union victories at Fort Henry and Fort Donelson were the first significant ones for the Union in the western theater of the war. Those who were interested in the "Battle of Shiloh" article of the July, i9!9» number of the Magazine, will find further interest in this article, especially with ref-erence to General Grant, etc. The battle began on February 13 as Grant’s soldiers prodded Confederate lines; this early action … The hills and hollows echoed with cheers from the southern soldiers. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. General In Chief Winfield Scott was the primary commander of the Federal forces. Vastly outnumbered, the Confederates immediately surrendered and gave the Union control of much of the Cumberland River. These victories enhanced Union morale, including that of Ohioans. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant advanced 12 miles to invest Fort Donelson on the Cumberland River. ... Brigadier General John A. McClernand: commander of one of the three Union ground divisions surrounding Fort Donelson. Fort Donelson, a Confederate fort, rose about 100 feet on dry ground above the Cumberland River, which allowed for plunging fire against attacking gunboats. Grant was the 18 th president of the USA, whereas Foote was an American naval officer. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. These two men had attended the United States Military Academy at West Point together and they were good friends. Grant was commissioned Lieutenant General by Abraham Lincoln in March 1864 and soon after appointed General in Chief of the United States Army. ... battle of fort donelson, general grant's headquarters - battle of fort donelson stock illustrations. His troops were regrouping after being attacked by Confederate forces attempting to break out and escape to the east. 1, No. A film in the exhibit room explores the discussions held between Confederate Generals Floyd, Pillow and Buckner, as well as Nathan Bedford Forrest, that led to the surrender on February 16, 1862. To the north flows Hickman River, a backwater channel that was impassable except by boat or bridge, and to the east a small tributary named Indian Creek enters the Cumberland. The Confederate armies were commanded by Albert Sidney Johnston, a formidable soldier, who had served several years at various posts. Buckner and Brig.-Gen. Bushrod R. Johnson commanded the troops, General Floyd in chief command. President Abraham Lincoln, on the other hand, considered Grant’s willingness to engage in battle a rare trait not shared by enough of his generals. 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. THE BATTLE AT FORT DONELSON. Fort Donelson, on the Cumberland River, and Fort Henry, on the Tennessee River, guarded the positions where those rivers bisected Confederate lines. Lost the crucial battle of Fort Donelson; Johnston sent Floyd to reinforce Fort Donelson and assume command of the post there. Fort Donelson Summary: The Battle of Fort Donelson involved the capture of Ft. Donelson, Tennessee and provided access to the Cumberland River as a means of invading the Confederacy.It was fought from February 11 to February 16, 1862 and established General Ulysses S. Grant as a major figure of The Civil War The Confederates tried and failed to destroy Grant's offensive line resulting in a major Union victory … While the Confederate leadership in the Western Theater was unified under General Albert S. Johnston, the Union command was divided under Major General Henry Halleck, commander of the Department of the Missouri, and Brigadier General Don Carlos Buell, commander of the Department of the Ohio. The Union forces arrived on February 12, 1862. Location: 120 National Park Rd. They also gave the Union military unfettered access to the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers, allowing the Union to gain deeper access into the Confederacy and an easier means to transport troops and supplies. antique painting illustration: attack on fort donelson - battle of fort donelson stock illustrations ... Taylor's battery during the attack on Fort … On February 15, Confederate soldiers attacked the Union infantry. 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