There were three miles (5 km) of trenches in a semicircle around the fort and the small town of Dover. We have the fort, the men, the guns. When President Lincoln demanded proof of his star general’s misdeeds, Halleck could not deliver any concrete evidence against Grant. [6], With the surrender of Fort Henry, the Confederates faced some difficult choices. The capture of forts Henry and Donelson in Tennessee were major victories for Ulysses S. Grant. Floyd was furious at this change of plans, but by then it was too late in the day to proceed. Nevin, p. 93; Gott, pp. Battle of Fort Donelson Facts The Battle of Fort Donelson was the end of a very successful campaign through Tennessee. 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). 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. Altogether, the Union forces numbered nearly 25,000 men, although at the start of the battle, only 15,000 were available. Contributor Names Sneden, Robert Knox, 1832-1918. Battle of Fort Donelson: Brief Summary of Location, Strategies, and Casualties The construction of the Fort Donelson started in the year 1861 by Daniel S. Donelson and was named after him. Early in the morning, the Confederate assault strikes the Union right and drives it back from its positions on Dudley’s Hill. This was disastrous for the Confederates, who were unable to … Jealous of the attention given to a man he felt was beneath him, Halleck soon started a behind-the-scenes effort to undermine Grant. U.S. Grant U.S.A. Summary Shows troop locations around Fort Donelson, Tenn., on the Cumberland River, as the Union army prepared to attack. the battle of fort donelson. Floyd was a wanted man in the North for alleged graft and secessionist activities when he was Secretary of War in the James Buchanan administration. fact. His subsequent success at Shiloh, Vicksburg, and Chattanooga earn him the rank of lieutenant general and appointment as commander of all Union armies. Grant left orders that none of his generals was to initiate an engagement and no one was designated as second-in-command during his absence. The decisive Union victory at Fort Donelson thrust Brig. [46], Inexplicably, generals Floyd and Pillow were upbeat about the day's performance and wired General Johnston at Nashville that they had won a great victory. The night progressed with both sides fighting the cold weather. This page was last edited on 19 March 2021, at 14:48. 10/25/2004--Public Law. The Battle At Fort Donelson 1387 Words | 6 Pages. The attack started well, and after two hours of heavy fighting, Pillow's men pushed McClernand's line back and opened the escape route. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant advanced 12 miles cross-country to invest Fort Donelson on the Cumberland River. The Majority of our funds go directly to Preservation and Education. He sent a series of letters to the army General-in-Chief, Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan. Nevin, p. 96; Gott, pp. Smith's two-brigade attack quickly seized the outer line of entrenchments on the Confederate right from the 30th Tennessee, commanded by Col. John W. Head, who had been left behind from Buckner's division. On February 16, 1862, after the failure of their all-out attack aimed at breaking through Grant’s investment lines, the fort… Do not hesitate to arrest him at once if the good of the service requires it, and place C.F. Gen. John B. Floyd, who had just arrived following an unsuccessful assignment under Robert E. Lee in western Virginia. If Grant had been able to move quickly, he might have taken Fort Donelson on February 8. Every purchase supports the mission. Q: The Casualties of the Battle? Grant's forces also controlled nearby rivers and railroads. Your tax-deductible gift will help us to preserve this irreplaceable twice-hallowed ground at Gaines' Mill and Cold Harbor — forever. After capturing Fort Henry on February 6, 1862, Brig. Pillow's attack succeeded in opening the route, but Floyd lost his nerve and ordered his men back to the fort. McClernand's division made up the right of Grant's army with C.F. Most of the river transports were currently transporting wounded men to Nashville and would not return in time to evacuate the command. The outer works were bounded by Hickman Creek to the west, Lick Creek to the east, and the Cumberland River to the north. [23], With Floyd's arrival to take command of Fort Donelson, Pillow took over leading the Confederate left. [56], The site of the battle has been preserved by the National Park Service as Fort Donelson National Battlefield. Read about each of the battles below, and fill in the required information. Wallace, Isabel, and William Hervy Lamme Wallace. 1. February 15. 194–203; Cooling. The subsequent duel between Foote’s “Pook Turtles” and the heavier guns at the fort lead to a Union defeat. Article Summary: The battle at Fort Donelson was a victory of strategic importance for a winning combination of land and naval power working together, forged on the Twin Rivers in early 1862. After hearing sounds of artillery fire, Pillow returned to Fort Donelson to resume command. Pillow left early on the morning of February 12 to argue these orders with General Floyd himself leaving Buckner in charge of the fort. The American Battlefield Trust and our members have saved more than 53,000 acres in 24 states! Gen. Ulysses S. Grant was determined to move quickly onto the much larger Fort Donelson, located on the nearby Cumberland River. 111–13; Eicher, p. 178; Cooling. Feeling overwhelmed, Floyd left most of the actual command to Pillow and Buckner. 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