Overview
The Battle of Fort Henry took place in western Tennessee on February 6, 1862, during the Federal Penetration Up the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers. Tennessee had built Fort Henry on low ground along the eastern bank of the Tennessee River in 1861 to prevent a Union invasion from the north. The Confederates also built Fort Heiman on higher ground across the river.
On January 30, 1862, General Henry Halleck approved General Ulysses S. Grant’s plan to attack Fort Henry. Grant left Cairo, Illinois, on February 2 with about 15,000 soldiers and seven gunboats commanded by United States Navy Flag Officer Andrew Hull Foote. Grant landed his troops near the fort on February 4 and 5.
Confederate General Lloyd Tilghman realized that he could not defend Fort Henry against Grant’s larger force. He ordered the soldiers at Fort Heiman to return and then sent most of the Fort Henry Garrison to Fort Donelson. Tilghman remained with a small group of artillerymen.
On February 6, Foote’s gunboats bombarded Fort Henry. Tilghman surrendered after about 75 minutes. The Union victory opened the Tennessee River to further operations. Union gunboats later traveled about 150 miles upriver, captured Confederate vessels, and destroyed an important railroad bridge.
Essential Facts
- Date: February 6, 1862.
- Location: Stewart County and Henry County in western Tennessee.
- Participants: The United States of America (USA) and the Confederate States of America (CSA).
- USA Commanders: Ulysses S. Grant and Andrew Hull Foote.
- CSA Commanders: Lloyd Tilghman.
- Who Won: The United States won the Battle of Fort Henry.
- Campaign: Federal Penetration Up the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers.
- Era: Civil War, January–June, 1862.
Statistics
United States of America
- Casualties: An estimated 40 killed, wounded, missing, or captured.
- Forces Engaged: Army of the Tennessee and Western Flotilla.
- Troop Strength: About 15,000 soldiers and seven gunboats.
Confederate States of America
- Casualties: An estimated 79 killed, wounded, missing, or captured.
- Forces Engaged: Army of Central Kentucky and Fort Henry Garrison.
- Troop Strength: About 3,000 soldiers.
Significance
The Battle of Fort Henry is important to American History because it gave the Union its first significant victory of the Civil War and gave General Ulysses S. Grant his first major victory in the Western Theater. The capture of the fort opened the Tennessee River as a route for further Union operations in the South. After the battle, Union gunboats traveled about 150 miles upriver, captured Confederate vessels, and destroyed an important railroad bridge. The victory weakened Confederate defenses in western Tennessee and helped the Union continue its advance during the Federal Penetration Up the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers.
History
At the onset of the American Civil War, the State of Tennessee comprised most of the northern border of the Confederate States of America in the West. Defending that border was difficult for the Confederacy because Union troops might use any of three major rivers (the Mississippi, which flows south to the Gulf of Mexico, and the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers, which flow north to the Ohio River) to invade the South.
Tennessee Builds Forts to Prevent Northern Invasion
In 1861, the State of Tennessee constructed earthen forts on the Tennessee River and the Cumberland River to prevent federal invasions from the north. Slaves and soldiers built Fort Henry on the eastern bank of the Tennessee River near the Tennessee-Kentucky border. The fort provided a clear field of fire down the river, toward Kentucky, but its position on the low, swampy ground was vulnerable to attack from the hills on the opposite side of the river. To better secure the site, the Confederates also constructed Fort Heiman on the high ground opposite Fort Henry.
Grant Advances Against Fort Henry
By late 1861, President Abraham Lincoln was pressuring Union commanders in the west to invade the South. On January 30, 1862, General Henry Halleck reluctantly approved Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant’s plan to attack Fort Henry. Eager to move, Grant left Cairo, Illinois on February 2 with 15,000 soldiers, plus a flotilla of seven gunboats, commanded by United States Navy Flag Officer Andrew Hull Foote. On February 4 and 5, Grant landed his force in two locations near Fort Henry and prepared for battle.
Tilghman Reinforces Fort Henry
Confederate Brigadier General Lloyd Tilghman, who commanded Fort Henry — and Fort Donelson, twelve miles to the east on the Cumberland River — realized that he had little chance of defending Fort Henry against Grant’s large force. On February 4, Tilghman ordered the soldiers occupying Fort Heiman back to Fort Henry.
Tilghman Surrenders
One day later, he sent most of the occupants of Fort Henry to Fort Donelson, leaving behind only a handful of artillerymen to defend the fort. By February 6, Foote’s flotilla maneuvered into position and began bombarding the fort. Seventy-five minutes later, Tilghman surrendered after suffering roughly fifteen men killed and another twenty wounded. On the Union side, thirty-two men died or were wounded aboard the USS Essex when her boiler exploded after being hit by cannon fire from the fort.
Outcome
The Union won the Battle of Fort Henry. Soon after the battle, three of Foote’s gunboats continued 150 miles up the Tennessee River and went as far as Muscle Shoals, Alabama. They captured several Confederate ships and destroyed a key railroad bridge.
Timeline
- 1861 — Tennessee constructed Fort Henry on the eastern bank of the Tennessee River and Fort Heiman on high ground across the river.
- 1861, Late — President Abraham Lincoln pressured Union commanders in the West to invade the South.
- 1862, January 30 — Henry Halleck approved Ulysses S. Grant’s plan to attack Fort Henry.
- 1862, February 2 — Grant left Cairo, Illinois, with 15,000 soldiers and seven gunboats commanded by Andrew Hull Foote.
- 1862, February 4 — Grant landed part of his force near Fort Henry, and Lloyd Tilghman ordered the Confederate forces at Fort Heiman to return to Fort Henry.
- 1862, February 5 — Grant completed his landings near the fort, and Tilghman sent most of the Confederate garrison to Fort Donelson.
- 1862, February 6 — Andrew Hull Foote’s gunboats bombarded Fort Henry, and Tilghman surrendered after about 75 minutes.
AP US History
Definition
Battle of Fort Henry (1862) — The Battle of Fort Henry was fought in western Tennessee on February 6, 1862, during the Federal Penetration Up the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers. General Ulysses S. Grant advanced with about 15,000 soldiers and seven gunboats. General Lloyd Tilghman sent most of the Confederate garrison to Fort Donelson before Flag Officer Andrew Hull Foote bombarded the fort. Tilghman surrendered after about 75 minutes, giving the Union control of an important route into the South.
Alignment
The Battle of Fort Henry is part of the following AP US History sections:
