Fort donelson the way of escape was open, but the confederate generals began to argue and debate their next move. It was a risky move, since grant had fewer troops than the force holed up at donelson. Hotels near fort donelson national battlefield, tennessee. Grant landed his troops at fort henry and then, instead of waiting on the methodical but slow halleck, marched his small force overland to fort donelson, which protected the cumberland river. One of the interesting things about reading a book about the battle is the things some grant biographies miss. Spanning kentucky and tennessee, fort donelson national battlefield marks the site where grant and his troops created a pathway to union victory. Fort donelson was a fortress built by the confederacy during the american civil war to control the cumberland river leading to the heart of tennessee, and the heart of the confederacy. First able generalinchief of the union army, but had drinking problem. Lee, who was emboldened to push further into the north. The book is an entry in the university of nebraska press great campaigns of the civil war series of books and covers the time frame of. Selected as honorable mention for the 2004 albert castel book award with the collapse of the confederate defenses at forts henry and donelson on the tennessee and cumberland rivers, the entire tennessee valley was open to union invasion and control. Check out the new look and enjoy easier access to your favorite features. His stirring and vivid accounts of these significant civil war battles, covering the years 186263, are filled with historic. The unconditional surrender of fort donelson created jubilation throughout the north and silence in dixie.
Those victories, notes benjamin franklin cooling, could have delivered the decisive blow to the confederacy in the west and ended the war in that. With the collapse of the confederate defenses at forts henry and donelson on the. The battle of fort donelson was the first major victory for fe. Certainly, arriving at fort donelson, grant is thinking entirely defensively. Most of the confederate soldiers escaped to nearby fort donelson, but fort henry was delivered into union hands. The book that shook the world humanities magazine an interview with stephen w. The adjutant of the eleventh indiana regiment furnishes the following list of the killed and wounded in the battle at fort donelson. Grant advanced 12 miles crosscountry to invest fort donelson on the cumberland river. Available also through the library of congress web site as a raster image. Ten days later, grant forced the unconditional surrender of fort donelson and its 15,000 confederate soldiers.
Text, maps of fort henry and fort donelson campaign and plan of fort donelson from atlas to accompany the official records of the union and confederate armies, and ill. Why was the siege of fort donelson such a major loss to the confederacy. The volume describes the preparation, logistics, and the execution of the campaign. Fort donelsons legacy portrays the tapestry of war and society in the upper southern heartland of tennessee and kentucky after the key union victories at. Fort donelson national battlefield, tennessee library of. These northern victories set up the 1864 atlanta campaign that cut the confederacy in two. Battle of fort donelson civil war map battle fort donelson. Grant, captured the fort from the confederate army in the battle of fort. Though the title features fort donelson, knights work offers so much more.
This book presents one of the most detailed descriptions of the fort henry and fort donelson campaign. Its policies and programs are guided by an elected board of directors. By february, grant had surrounded the fort with about 25,000 men and had conducted. I enjoyed this book very much and have a far better understanding of this. After a string of union defeats in 1861, the capture of fort donelson was decisive and devastating for the south. Grant and the battle of fort donelson in western tennessee. After nashville fell, grant continued his tenacious push along the. Bull run, second battle of civil war battle that ended in a decisive victory for confederate general robert e. Promotional video about fort donelson created by the renaissance centers multimedia dept. Pillow would attack mcclernands division, pushing it to the west to.
First major battle of the civil war and a victory for the south, it dispelled northern illusions of swift victory. For example, i never knew there was snow on the ground during most of the battle of fort donelson. An analysis of the fort henry fort donelson campaign, february 1862 the american civil war hardcover. The rise of the unions brown water navy, the confederates of dilemma protecting the trans. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. Attractions near fort donelson national battlefield. He found that his right flank had been pushed off the battlefield.
Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. Grant from an obscure and largely unproven leader to the rank of. Even though i live in southern illinois, i actually picked up my copy in. Fort donelsons legacy portrays the tapestry of war and society in the upper southern heartland of tennessee and kentucky after the key union victories at forts henry and donelson in february 1862. View all attractions near fort donelson national battlefield on tripadvisor. Another rebel fort on the ohio also fell with little fanfare. Balls bluff, fort donelson, pea ridge, island ten, new orleans, and monitor versus merrimac the word narrative is the key to this extraordinary. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. Early in the war, union commanders realized control of the major rivers would be the key to success in the western theater. Interesting links map showing positions of union and confederate forces outside fort donelson on february 15, 1862 created by hal jespersen for wikipedia benhur.
What confederate fort was overtaken by union general ulysses s. Book now with choice hotels near fort donelson national battlefield, tennessee in dover, tn. The national military park and national cemetery were transferred from the war department to the national park service on august 10, 1933. With a whole book devoted to the subject, there is so much more detail. The battle of fort donelson was fought from february 1116, 1862, in the western theater of.
Engles struggle for the heartland takes the latest scholarship on the campaigns from fort henry to corinth and ties the military, political, and social issues faced during the campaign into an efficient and readable discussion of these events. Exploring fort donelson in civil war books and games. Available also through the library of congress web site as a. Only union forces remained in tennessee after the siege. Fort donelson national battlefield 174 national cemetery drive, dover, tennessee 37058 rated 4. Before fort henrys surrender, the confederates had withdrawn troops to fort donelson, which became grants next objective. Be the first to ask a question about the campaigns for fort donelson lists with this book.
Grant was off the battlefield consulting with the naval commander, captain foote, the confederates would push the union back. Crummer wilbur fiskwith grant at fort donelson shiloh and. Kindle ebooks can be read on any device with the free kindle app. After the fall of fort donelson, the south was forced to give up southern kentucky and much of middle and west tennessee. Forts henry and donelson were another matter as they were far from.
See more ideas about american civil war, war and history. This is one of the books in the national park services civil war series. Fort donelsons legacy university of tennessee press. Fort donelson national battlefield, dover tripadvisor. The confederate plan was for pillow to push mcclernand away and take control of wynns. Includes descriptive index to park sites, tourist information, and col. He is the author of the forthcoming book rebels on the border. When civil war broke out, he became one of the boys in blue who followed general grant in the battles of fort donelson, shiloh and vicksburg.
The union capture of the confederate fort near the tennesseekentucky border opened the cumberland river, an important avenue for the invasion of the south. Eastern national provides quality educational products and services to the visitors to america s national parks and other public trusts. Eastern national, chartered in 1948, is an association operating in more than national parks and other public trusts. Sears about 1862 and americas path to emancipation readers almanac previous story of the week selections on the civil war. Waged from two fronts, the land and the river, the battle would seem to be turning in favor of the confederates. This event at the fort donelson national battlefield visitor center was part of. The fort heiman unit of fort donelson national battlefieldcalloway county and the rest of the area played a critical role in the civil war. Fort henryfort donelson campaign essential civil war curriculum. The park was listed on the national register of historic places on october 15, 1966. It is most likely only available at civil war related national park service bookstores. The fort was named after confederate general daniel s. Unconditional and immediate surrender 224 part six. War and society in kentucky and tennessee, 18621863 by benjamin franklin cooling and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
Confederate cullum cumberland defense dispatches dover enemy february federal fight fire flotilla floyd foote footes force forrest fort donelson fort henry forts henry gideon pillow. The battle of fort donelson was the first major union victory in the civil war and a major victory for ulysses s. With support from footes gunboats, grant captured fort donelson, opening the cumberland and tennessee rivers to union traffic and forcing the confederates to retreat and abandon their defensive line in kentucky and tennessee. At fort donelson mcclernand held for the mostpart, and then defied grants orders for a retreat. The site was established as fort donelson national military park on march 26, 1928. Kendall gott talked about the civil war battle of fort donelson. After capturing fort henry on the tennessee river on february 6, 1862, brig. All the great battles are here, of course, from bull run through shiloh, the seven days battles, and antietam, but so are the smaller ones.
Donelson the union army of the tennessee, commanded by major general ulysses s. The battle of fort donelson was fought from february 1116, 1862, in the western theater of the american civil war. The subsequent attack proved successful in pushing back the union line yet again. With great amenities and rooms for every budget, compare and book your hotel near fort donelson national battlefield, tennessee today.
828 1175 1188 493 163 240 1245 542 1465 263 218 307 1503 1154 1420 433 389 1274 760 1193 1004 434 273 498 1030 375 907 662 66 314 547 663