THE BATTLE OF FORT DONELSON IN 1862IntroductionWhen thinking of the historic and decisive battles that took place during the Civil War, most people would think of the Battle of Gettysburg or the day bloodiest of the civil war. war at the Battle of Antietam. Mention of the Battle of Fort Donelson in 1862 would likely elicit blank stares and questions about where that battle took place. To say that one battle is more important than the other in the grand scheme of the Civil War is foolish, because every inch of ground gained during each battle contributed to the final outcome of the Civil War. The Battle of Fort Donelson is no different in this regard. It was one battle among many in the strategic move to gain a foothold in the south. This occurred on the Cumberland River in Tennessee, allowing the Union Army another foothold in its pursuit of its enemies in the southern states. The Union forces for this battle were led by Ulysses S. Grant and the Confederacy by Gideon J. Pillow. Ulysses S. Grant rose to prominence in this battle through his brilliant victories over the Confederacy and established himself as a pragmatic type of leader. This article will provide an overview of the history, execution, and lessons learned from this battle, focusing primarily on the Union victory and Grant's contributions. HistoryAt the time of this battle, general Union and Northern morale was low, due to recent defeats. “After the crushing defeats of the summer and fall of 1861 at Bull Run and Ball's Bluff. »1 The Cumberland River and the area north of Nashville into Kentucky was a stronghold of the Confederate Army and the only thing that stood between the Union Army and the Union Army. in the Western Campaign and ...... middle of paper ...... unit to push through and defeat the Confederates. A continued violent Union surge and tactical placement of additional Union forces kept Confederate forces on a continuous defense, never able to formulate a good attack. The value of joint forces and synchronization between the two became evident, and adjusting the tactical plan when a primary course of action failed (i.e. bombardment by gunboats) helped win the battle. Ulysses S. Grant had commanded a series of battles that not only allowed him to gain a strategic foothold in the South, but he also gained a stature that would lead to his promotion and pave the way for his future as a leader in the States. -United of America. . The number of casualties in this five-day battle was: Union 500 KIA, 2,108 wounded and 224 missing / Confederation 2,000 KIA or wounded, 14,623 missing..12