Forts Henry and Donelson

Forts Henry and Donelson were strategic Confederate strongholds along rivers in Tennessee during the American Civil War. The Union aimed to control vital waterways to weaken Confederate supply lines and movement. In February 1862, Union forces, led by General Ulysses S. Grant, captured Fort Henry first, then quickly took Fort Donelson. These victories opened up inland Tennessee and Kentucky to Union advances, boosting Northern morale and increasing pressure on the Confederacy. Their fall marked significant Union momentum early in the war, demonstrating the importance of controlling key transportation routes and demonstrating Grant’s growing leadership.