Put yourself in February 1862. The Union armies have seen little success. The North’s primary army, the Army of the Potomac, has not moved from its camps since July. The people are desperate for hope that the country will survive the war. Then, a general from Illinois, who had been a store clerk before the war, a failure at everything he had tried, takes it upon himself to do something.
The Confederates have fortified a line from the Appalachians, through Kentucky, to Columbus on the Mississippi. This general sees a weakness in the middle, at two forts, one on the Tennessee river, the other on the Cumberland river. He decides to attack them. He attacks Fort Henry, on the Tennessee, first. This fort is poorly designed and placed. In fact, with the river at flood stage, many guns are underwater. Fort Henry would surrender to the boat squadron working with the general, before his army even got there. He then went to Fort Donelson, on the Cumberland. This was a different story, the fort was much stronger and better planned. But after a few days of fighting, the commander of the fort, General Simon Bolivar Buckner, would send a note asking for terms of surrender. General Grant would reply, “No terms but unconditional and immediate surrender can be accepted. I propose to move immediately upon your works.” Buckner was insulted by this, but had no choice. Thus Ulysses S. “Unconditional Surrender” Grant entered into the national awareness with a much needed victory.
A few pictures:
This is the Cumberland river from the fort. The building is a hotel that had served riverboat traffic, and then as the Confederate Headquarters. This is where the decision was made to surrender. This is a very brief overview of the campaign, but I think it gives you a little hint of what I saw today. Happy Road-Tripping!
Ramblings of a Wandering Man 