The Battle of Fort Donelson lasted from February 11-16, 1862 and was a major victory for the Union by Ulysses S. Grant. The battle was commanded by Union Commander Ulysses S. Grant and Confederate Commander Simon B. Buckner, there were an estimated 40,702 forces engaged in the battle with 24,531 being on the Union side and 16,717 soldiers on the Confederate side. Grant wanted to capture Fort Donelson after the capture of Fort Henry on February 6, 1862. Grant was hoping to quickly capture Fort Donelson, but the winter weather, difficulty in moving ironclad ships, and the late arriving soldiers would have to set back Grant’s plans although he thought that the fort could not withstand the power of the Union gunboats. Confederate general Albert
…show more content…
The battle would begin on February 14, with Flag Officer Andrew H. Foote’s ironclads started bombardment of the fort after coming down the river, although due to heavy machinery from the Confederates the ironclads and Officer Foote were both left in bad condition. Confederate forces had come up with a plan to mass their troops against the Union soldiers and escape which was successful as on February 15 the Confederates started the plan, the soldiers struck an assault toward the Union's right side and were able to push the union soldiers back from Dudley Hill. The union's soldiers were trying to form a straight line but the attacks from the Confederates would cause the soldiers to go southeast and later retreat. The soldiers that were attacking the Union soldiers would have to go back to earthwork, leaving their hard work. Grant decided to take the opportunity and take back the land and ride to the union to order an attack on the opposite side of the division that attacked them prior. On the night of February 15 and 16, the Confederate soldiers determined that they had to surrender, Generals Floyd and Pillow left their men and crossed the river to flee while Lt. Col. Nathan Bedford Forest took his cavalrymen and escaped through Charlotte
The battle would begin on February 14, with Flag Officer Andrew H. Foote’s ironclads started bombardment of the fort after coming down the river, although due to heavy machinery from the Confederates the ironclads and Officer Foote were both left in bad condition. Confederate forces had come up with a plan to mass their troops against the Union soldiers and escape which was successful as on February 15 the Confederates started the plan, the soldiers struck an assault toward the Union's right side and were able to push the union soldiers back from Dudley Hill. The union's soldiers were trying to form a straight line but the attacks from the Confederates would cause the soldiers to go southeast and later retreat. The soldiers that were attacking the Union soldiers would have to go back to earthwork, leaving their hard work. Grant decided to take the opportunity and take back the land and ride to the union to order an attack on the opposite side of the division that attacked them prior. On the night of February 15 and 16, the Confederate soldiers determined that they had to surrender, Generals Floyd and Pillow left their men and crossed the river to flee while Lt. Col. Nathan Bedford Forest took his cavalrymen and escaped through Charlotte