Battle of Fort Henry Facts
Battle of Fort Henry Facts
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The Battle of Fort Henry was the considered by many to be the first major victory for the Union in the Civil War. Fort Henry was already partially flooded from rising waters of the Tennessee River. When the U.S. Navy attacked, the Confederates surrendered before a ground battle could begin. This victory allowed the Union to control the Tennessee and Columbia Rivers, cutting off important Confederate supply lines.
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The battle occurred on February 6, 1862.
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The battle took place along the Tennessee River in Tennessee and Kentucky.
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The Union won the battle easily.
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General Ulysses S. Grant planned to attack Fort Henry in Tennessee on February 6 while it was being attacked the U.S. Navy. However, Grant's troops were not needed.
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Grant wanted to take control of the supply lines west of the Appalachian Mountains.
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The U.S. Navy, under the command of Flag Officer Andrew Hull Foote, fired on Fort Henry with seven gunboats. The Confederates could offer very little resistance.
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The Union had 15,000 army troops and 1,000 navy seamen.
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The Confederates only had 3,000 ground troops.
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Fort Henry was already partially submerged due to rising floodwaters.
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Brigadier General Lloyd Tilghman was forced to surrender to the U.S. Navy before Grant's troops arrived.
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Tilghman had already evacuated most of his troops to nearby Fort Donely before he surrendered.
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Fort Donely was captured 10 days later.
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Tilghman was a railroad engineer who built Fort Henry. He did not realize that the location he chose for the fort was vulnerable to flooding.
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General Tilghman was taken prisoner of war after he surrendered the fort. He was later killed in action.
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Taking control of Fort Henry allowed the Union to access the Tennessee River beyond the Alabama border, as well as control the Columbia River.
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