BATTLE TIMELINE
- February 6: Union forces capture Fort Henry on the Tennessee River, setting the stage for the assault on Fort Donelson.
- February 12: Grant’s army moves from Fort Henry and begins surrounding the Confederate forces at Fort Donelson.
- February 13: Union troops position around the fort; heavy skirmishing occurs.
- February 14: Union naval gunboats under Foote attack the fort’s water batteries but are severely damaged and forced to retreat.
- February 15: Confederates launch a strong breakout attempt but fail to escape. Union forces solidify their lines.
- February 16: Confederates, led by Gen. Simon Buckner, accept Grant’s terms of “unconditional and immediate surrender,” allowing the Union to take control of the fort
KEY OUTCOMES
- The surrender of Fort Donelson was the first major victory for the Union. It earned General Ulysses S. Grant the nickname “Unconditional Surrender” Grant and a promotion to major general.
- The loss forced the Confederacy to abandon southern Kentucky and most of Middle and West Tennessee. The Confederacy also lost Nashville, a major industrial center and supply hub.
- Union forces secured control of the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers, transforming them into vital supply lines for further federal advances into the South.
- Confederacy lost almost 14,000 men plus a large amount of equipment and ammunition.
- The defeat forced the Confederate command to shift strategy from a forward defense to a retreat
REMEMBER THE PAST, STEVE