THE FORT DONELSON FIGHT: Operations of the Land Forces, under Generals Grant, Smith and McClernand; The Rebels Driven into the Main Fortification (2/16/1862)

New York Times - Times Machine ^ | 2/16/1861

[Homer_J_Simpson]

CHICAGO, Saturday, Feb. 15.

The following is a special dispatch to the Chicago Journal:

TWO MILES FROM FORT DONELSON,

Feb. 14, 1862.

The attack on Fort Donelson commenced at 7 1/2 o'clock yesterday morning by the land forces under Gens. GRANT, SMITH and MCCLERNAND.

The fort is surrounded by high steep hills, heavily wooded and protected by two redoubts, trenches and rifle-pits.

The rebels gave battle from their intrenchments outside the fort, but they were driven in after a severe battle, and considerable loss on both sides.

Our troops hold two of the rebel batteries outside of the fort.

Our loss is probably about forty-five killed, and from one hundred and fifty to two hundred wounded.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1861-1865: Seminar and Discussion Forum
The American Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts

First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: May 2025.
Reading: Self-assigned. Recommendations made and welcomed.

Posting history, in reverse order

https://www.freerepublic.com/tag/by:homerjsimpson/index?tab=articles

To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by reply or freepmail.

Link to previous New York Times thread

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4038467/posts

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

Map Showing the New Points of Military Operations on Albemarle Sound – 2
The Pork Point Battery – 2
Roanoke Island and Its Defenses – 3
The Fort Donelson Fight: Operations of the Land Forces, under Generals Grant, Smith and McClernand – 5
Bowling Green Evacuated: Official Dispatch from Gen. Buell to Gen. McClellan – 5
Honor to the Brave: Thanks of the President to the Army and Navy – 5
News from Washington: The Probable Speedy Evacuation of Manassas – 5-6
The Burnside Expedition: Rebel Reports of Movements in the North Carolina Waters – 6-8
Danger on the Rebel Rear and Flank – 8
Editorial: Evacuation of the Great Rebel Stronghold in the West – 8-9
Editorial: An Important British Proclamation-Death-Blow to the Privateers – 9
From Europe – 9
General News – 9

[Tennessee Nana]

PING

[sauropod]

Bkmk

[GingisK]

I enjoyed my visits to Fort Donelson. It is pretty well preserved and well documented on site.

I was intrigued to learn that they fought off two Monitor class gunboats using those monstrous 12" Columbiad cannons. The boats couldn't elevate their guns high enough to shoot back at those batteries, but were sitting ducks themselves.

The Donelson siege was quite an undertaking.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

I think it was a Bruce Catton excerpt I posted a few days ago where he said that Fort Henry showed what the gunboats could do and Fort Donelson showed what they could not do.

[Conan the Librarian]

If it wasn’t Canton, it must have been Foote. He could be acerbic when he wished.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

I was wrong. It was in the Jean Edward Smith excerpt from the 14th. => https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4036464/posts#37

[Verginius Rufus]

Fort Donelson surrendered on Feb. 16, 1862, so tomorrow's paper should report that.

Confederate General Simon Bolivar Buckner surrendered the fort to Grant. Buckner's son Simon Bolivar Buckner, Jr., was a U.S. Army general in WWII and was killed in June 1945 in the battle of Okinawa.

[GingisK]

That is a connection I would not have made. Thank you!

[GingisK]

I compiled a lengthy research paper about Monitor class warships. They were quite innovative in many ways. John Erickson was a bit of a brain child. The flaws in those designs were also impressive.