Fortresses Henry and Donelson

During the American Civil War, the Union and Confederacy fought across all of the United States from 1961 - 1965. Consequently, fortifications were built all over the United States to protect points of interest and significant areas of control. Forts are structures that are erected with the purpose to provide strengthened positions of offense, an ability to defend the land, and lent itself well to granting a greater area of vision. One significant point of interest was Nashville, Tennessee.

Controlling Nashville ultimately lead to dominance in the two major mediums of transportation at the time. This control is recognized as the main cause of the Union victory in the Battle of Nashville (December 15, 1864 - December 16, 1864). Looking at the Civil War as a whole, the Union commandeering of Nashville, and the rest of Tennessee, opened up the South to the Union and effectively weakened the Confederate Army.

It started with the recommission of Ulysses S. Grant who had been successful in the Mexican-American war as assistant quartermaster but struggled with civilian life afterward. He seemed to be better adjusted in a combat setting and he proved that through his successful command of Union troops during the Civil War.

the defenses on both the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers will be materially strengthened. From Fort Henry it will be easy to operate either on the Cumberland, only 12 miles distant… It will, besides, have a moral effect upon our troops to advance them toward rebel States - Ulysses S. Grant on the effect of capturing Forts Henry and Donelson

In the summer of 1861, Fort Henry was constructed by a combination of men from the 10th Tennessee Infantry as well as slaves. It was described as "a bastion fort, inclosing an area of a little over 3 acres." In order to protect and control the Tennessee River, Fort Henry was built on its east bank about 1 mile north of the offset in the boundary line of Tennessee on its western extension.

Fort Henry was situated 20 miles above Danville and 60 miles below Paducah, Kentucky. Though, the most important locations near Fort Henry included Fort Donelson 12 miles east near the town of Dover and the Cumberland River, 12 miles from the location where the Memphis, Louisville, and Nashville Railroad crosses Tennessee, and of course it is on the east bank of the Tennessee River.

On February 6, 1862, Union Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant along with Flag-Officer Andrew H. Foote had little to no trouble taking Fort Henry from the Confederate Army. Grant's plan was to attack the fort from the Tennessee River just shy of the fort's weapon range. He tested this range by confidently leading gunboats along the river until the fort started firing towards them. As they drew nearer, a cannon shell landed right next to his boat, and as soon as this happened he was delighted with his findings. He had determined the longest extent of range for Fort Henry on the river and he would come back days later and attack the fort just barely out of its range.

No terms except unconditional and immediate surrender can be accepted - Ulysses S. Grant to S. B. Buckner of the Confederacy