The Battle of Fort Donelson

The Battle of Fort Donelson

            Wars remain an integral part of social integration. However, nobody expected that the world’s only democracy at the time could engage in a more protracted and bloody conflict. The American civil war became the longest and bloodiest war before world war 1. However, from the beginning to the end, various Battle determines the direction of the war. While battles do not win wars, the shape the course of the ar. As such, both the Union and the confederacy engaged in fierce fightings that may have shifted the dynamic of the war. Some of the most recognized Battle include Gettysburg, Vicksburg, and Antietam (Goldfield et al., 2017). However, the Battle of Fort Donelson is one that brought several changes into the war, ultimately influencing the outcome of the fight along the Tennessee River. 

This Battle is remembered as the Battle that brought rise to the Union’s greatest strategist and most feared and respected General.  Before the fight, little was known of Union Brigadier General Ulysses Grant. He had fastly risen in the ranks and was only a major general of a small expedition. A week before this Battle, he had defeated the Confederates and captured for henry in the Tennessee river (Goldfield et al., 2017). However, the Union was still losing its battles, and many of the union soldiers were very discouraged. Besides, the Union needed more suppliers and a better route to advance to confederate territories. After the Battle, Ulysses Grant rose the position of Major General after the Battle (Goldfield et al., 2017). He went to win various crucial victories for the Union and had strong opposition from General Robert Lee of the Confederacy.

The Battle of Fort Donelson was the Union’s first major victory. It opened up the confederacy to union attacks by reducing the distance of travel and increasing the ability of union forces to get reinforcements and other necessary equipment (Goldfield et al., 2017). Fort Donelson was an essential and strategic entry point to the confederacy. As such, raising its stakes in the early stages of the war. Earlier union advancements in confederate areas were thwarted by the strong defense offered by Fort Donelson. As such, the Union viewed it essential that its forces capture the region due to its strategic importance.

In the aftermath of the Battle, the Union lost one thousand five hundred and seven lives, one thousand nine hundred and seventy-six were wounded while two hundred and were missing or captured. The confederate lost two thousand seven hundred and twenty-seven lives, one thousand one hundred and twenty-seven others were injured while twelve thousand more were captured. The loss of life among the confederates is low due to the surrender. The Battle propelled Ulysses Grant as the Union’s most successful General (Goldfield et al., 2017). Besides, it opened the confederacy to more union invasions and especially Tennessee. Moreover, it ensured that Kentucky did not join the Confederate.

Singular battles rarely shape the course of the war. However, with the rise of Ulysses Grant, the Battle of Fort Donelson developed the future of the Union, becoming the first decisive victory of the Union. As a result, the war ensured that Kentucky and Tennessee did not join the confederacy. Additionally, it opened up nearly most of the confederate territories to sporadic union attacks that played a huge role in the success of the Union. Military strategists and planners consider the loss of forts henry and Donelson as one of the worst disasters that led to the final defeat of the confederacy.

Reference

Goldfield, D. R., Abbott, C., Argersinger, J. A., Anderson, V. D., Argersinger, P. H., & Barney, W. L. (2017). American Journey: A history of the United States (8th ed.). Pearsons.