Fort Henry And Donelson :: essays research papers

meet Donelson, Tennessee, guarding the Cumberland River, became the site of the early major(ip) Confederate buck in the Civil War. Victory at Donelson started brigadier cosmopolitan Ulysses S. pass on on his road to Appomattox and the White House. His cool belief under state of wardrobe saved the day after the Confederates threatened to grass his troop lines, notwithstanding errors by his opponents handed him a victory that he did not richly earn on his own.     Possession of the better classify of two states brisk to the South depended on the outcome of the battle at meet Donelson. When war began in April 1861, Kentucky declared its disinterest, in response to sibylline conflicts of opinion among its citizens. Considering neutrality impossible to maintain, North and South maneuvered for position erst Kentucky was opened to host operations. The Confederates constructed fortifications on both the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers just south of the K entucky line. They reinforced Fort atomic number 1 on the Tennessee River, on drop anchor susceptible to flooding, scarce chose higher ground for Fort Donelson on the Cumberland River.     Both sides wanted Kentucky exactly recognized that the starting line to cross its borders risked losing popular support. Confederate Brigadier public Gideon J. Pillow precipitately seized capital of Ohio, Kentucky, on the disseminated multiple sclerosis River bluffs, a move that disgust President Jefferson Davis, who first ordered Pillow to withdraw, wherefore allowed him to stay when he realized that the exertion could not be reversed. Grant, commanding at Cairo, Illinois, hence occupied Paducah at the mouth of the Tennessee and Smithland at the mouth of the Cumberland, strategic points neglected by General Gideon Pillow.     In November Grant tested Confederate military posture at Columbus by landing troops across the Mississippi River at Belm ont, Missouri. The pinched battle that followed sent him back to Cairo hush eager to advance, but not necessarily along the Mississippi River. well-educated of the poor pickle of Fort total heat, he wanted to use amount of money gunboats to advantage, and foresaw that the fall of Fort Henry would open the Tennessee River as far marriage as Alabama. harming reluctant permission from his superior, Major General Henry W. Halleck, Grant locomote south in early February. The flooded Fort Henry take flight to the gunboats on February 6, 1862 and most of the garrison fled to Fort Donelson, which was eleven miles away. Grant then followed, after sending the gunboats back down the Tennessee and everyplace to the Cumberland. In St. Louis, Halleck, a "military bureaucrat par excellence", took no official perceptiveness of Grants plans.Fort Henry And Donelson essays seek papers Fort Donelson, Tennessee, guarding the Cumberland River, became the site of the first major Co nfederate defeat in the Civil War. Victory at Donelson started Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant on his road to Appomattox and the White House. His cool judgment under pressure saved the day after the Confederates threatened to break his troop lines, yet errors by his opponents handed him a victory that he did not fully earn on his own.     Possession of the better part of two states vital to the South depended on the outcome of the battle at Fort Donelson. When war began in April 1861, Kentucky declared its neutrality, in response to deep conflicts of opinion among its citizens. Considering neutrality impossible to maintain, North and South maneuvered for position once Kentucky was opened to military operations. The Confederates constructed fortifications on both the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers just south of the Kentucky line. They built Fort Henry on the Tennessee River, on ground susceptible to flooding, but chose higher ground for Fort Donelson on the Cu mberland River.     Both sides wanted Kentucky but recognized that the first to cross its borders risked losing popular support. Confederate Brigadier General Gideon J. Pillow rashly seized Columbus, Kentucky, on the Mississippi River bluffs, a move that appalled President Jefferson Davis, who first ordered Pillow to withdraw, then allowed him to stay when he realized that the deed could not be reversed. Grant, commanding at Cairo, Illinois, then occupied Paducah at the mouth of the Tennessee and Smithland at the mouth of the Cumberland, strategic points neglected by General Gideon Pillow.     In November Grant tested Confederate strength at Columbus by landing troops across the Mississippi River at Belmont, Missouri. The drawn battle that followed sent him back to Cairo still eager to advance, but not necessarily along the Mississippi River. Knowing of the poor location of Fort Henry, he wanted to use Union gunboats to advantage, and foresaw that the fall of Fort Henry would open the Tennessee River as far north as Alabama. Winning reluctant permission from his superior, Major General Henry W. Halleck, Grant moved south in early February. The flooded Fort Henry fell to the gunboats on February 6, 1862 and most of the garrison fled to Fort Donelson, which was eleven miles away. Grant then followed, after sending the gunboats back down the Tennessee and over to the Cumberland. In St. Louis, Halleck, a "military bureaucrat par excellence", took no official insight of Grants plans.