After the loss of Fort Henry, the Federal strategists shifted their attention to nearby Fort Donelson, a more substantial Confederate fortress that protected the Cumberland River, another major water transportation route into the Confederacy heartland.  The Federals faced a greater challenge at Fort Donelson, which was located on a bluff and well manned.  Four Federal ironclads (Carondelet, St. Louis, Louisville, and Pittsburgh) began bombarding the fort on a bitterly cold February 14, but received accurate and effective return fire from the Confederates that damaged the ironclads sufficiently to cause three of them to drift downstream.  (In fact, commanding officer Foote was injured during the battle, when an exploding shell killed the pilot beside him.)

Meanwhile, Brig. Gen. U. S. Grant had advanced cross country to encircle the fort with his troops.  The Confederates attempted, but failed, to break through Grant's lines.  Two Federal ironclads reappeared, but fired only symbolic shots, as the Confederates by this time had realized that their situation was hopeless.  Confederate Generals John Floyd and Gideon Pillow managed to escape with some troops via river transports, while General Simon Boliver Buckner surrendered the remaining Confederates at Fort Donelson to the victorious Federal forces.  Grant demanded, and received, the "unconditional surrender" of the Confederate foes, and was awarded a promotion to Major General.

CWSAC judges the action at Fort Donelson to be one of the truly decisive battles of the Civil War, as it opened up access for Federal advance into major areas of the South via the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers.

  Military Actions

Last update:  October 3, 2001