THE BATTLE OF FORT DONELSON IN 1862IntroductionWhen thinking of the historic and decisive battles that were fought during the Civil War, most people would think of the Battle of Gettysburg or more bloody war at the Battle of Antietam. Mention of the Battle of Fort Donelson in 1862 would likely elicit mostly blank stares and questions about where this 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 through each battle contributed to the final outcome of the Civil War. The Battle of Fort Donelson is no different in this respect. It was one battle among many in the strategic move to gain a foothold in the South. It occurred on the Cumberland River in Tennessee, which allowed another foothold for the Union army in hunting 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 gained prominence in this battle due to his brilliant victories over the Confederacy and established himself as a no-nonsense type of leader. This document 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, overall Union and Northern spirit was low, due to recent defeats. "After the searing 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 in Kentucky were a stronghold for the Confederate Army and the only thing that stood between the Union Army in the Western Campaign and... mid-card... units to pass and defeat the Confederates. A violent, continuous push by the Union and the tactical positioning of additional Union forces kept the Confederate forces in continuous defense, never being able to formulate a good attack. The value of joining forces and synchronizing the two became apparent, and adjusting the tactical plan when a primary course of action failed (e.g. bombardment by gunboats) helped win the battle. Ulysses S. Grant had commanded a series of battles that not only gained him a strategic foothold in the South, but also gained a stature that would lead to his promotion and pave the way for his future as a leader in the United States of America. 'America. . The number of casualties in this five-day battle was: Union 500 KIA, 2,108 wounded and 224 missing / Confederacy 2,000 KIA or wounded, 14,623 missing.12