Battle of Fort Donelson
The Battle of Fort Donelson, fought in February 1862 during the American Civil War, marked a significant turning point in the conflict. Union General Ulysses S. Grant launched an offensive aimed at securing control over the western regions of Tennessee, following the earlier capture of Fort Henry. After an initial assault on February 14 was repulsed, Grant's forces effectively surrounded the fort, which was defended by Confederate Generals John Floyd, Gideon Pillow, and Simon Buckner. On February 16, faced with a dire situation, Buckner accepted Grant's demand for "unconditional and immediate surrender," a moment that earned Grant the moniker "Unconditional Surrender Grant." The battle resulted in approximately 2,300 Union casualties and over 15,000 Confederate losses, including prisoners. The Union victory at Fort Donelson, alongside the earlier capture of Fort Henry, not only bolstered Grant's reputation but also helped secure Kentucky's allegiance to the Union. This battle played a crucial role in the broader scope of the Civil War, impacting military strategies and territorial control.
Battle of Fort Donelson
Type of action: Ground battle in the American Civil War
Date: February 11-16, 1862
Location: Tennessee River in western Tennessee
Combatants: 17,000 Union vs. 12,000 Confederate forces
Principal commanders: Union, Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant (1822–1885), Flag Officer Andrew Foote (1806–1863); Confederates, Brigadier General John Floyd (1806–1863), Brigadier General Gideon Pillow (1806–1878), Brigadier General Simon Buckner (1823–1914)
Result: Union victory and surrender of Confederate garrison
Early in February, 1862, Union general Ulysses S. Grant began a campaign along the Tennessee River to open the western portion of the state. On February 6, sixteen transports and gunboats carried 15,000 of Grant’s troops in a combined attack on Fort Henry, forcing its surrender.
The next day, Grant marched his army toward Fort Donelson, a distance of twelve miles. On February 14, an assault on the fort by Grant’s troops was repulsed. Grant and Flag Officer Andrew Foote spent the next two days surrounding the fort, which was commanded by General John Floyd, who was assisted by General Gideon Pillow and General Simon Buckner. Despite a partial breakout led by Nathan Bedford Forrest, most of the Confederate forces were trapped. On February 16, Grant sent a message to General Buckner, demanding “unconditional and immediate surrender,” earning the nickname “Unconditional Surrender (U.S.) Grant.” Buckner accepted the terms.
Union casualties in the campaign totaled approximately 2,300, and Confederate losses, including the surrender, totaled more than 15,000.
Significance
The capture of Forts Henry and Donelson represented the first victories for forces under the command of General Grant. The victory ensured that Kentucky would remain in the union.
Resources
Cooling, Benjamin. Fort Donelson’s Legacy: War and Society in Kentucky and Tennessee. Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press, 1997.
Foote, Shelby. The Civil War: A Narrative, Fort Sumter to Perryville. New York: Random House, 1958.
Miles, Jim. Piercing the Heartland. Nashville, Tenn.: Cumberland House, 1999.