Henry and Donelson

[larry_cockerham]

Ole, I believe there was actually a 'fort' built there. These were on opposite sides of the Tennessee, ostensibly as a deterent to invasion. Guess the argument on that one is closed. Whatever is left is now likely under water, thanks to the dam up at Grand River, Kentucky? I need to do some more research, obviously. Here is a reference concerning Forrest in the fall of 1864, two years or so after Grant came through.


While Hood was preparing his army to enter Tennessee, General Forrest was causing considerable difficulty with Federal supplies in West Tennessee. On Oct 28, 1864 he was reported in camp at Fort Heiman on the Tennessee River. By November 3 he was on point at Johnsonville and on November 4 opened fire on that fair city which he shelled again on November 5 before leaving for Corinth, Mississippi. Damage at Johnsonville as the result of Forrest’s raid is estimated at over six million dollars in Federal supplies.

[larry_cockerham]

Ft. Heiman, Calloway County


When Confederate Brig. Gen. Lloyd Tilghman was sent to command Fort Donelson on the Cumberland River and hastily constructed Fort Henry on the east side of the Tennessee River during the winter of 1861-62, he realized immediately that the fort was indefensible, being built on low ground that was susceptible to flooding directly across the river from higher ground. In January 1862 Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston ordered Tilghman to construct a new fort - known as Fort Heiman after Col. Aldolphus Heiman of the 10th Tennessee who commanded the 1,100 troops at the fort - on the bluffs on the west bank (Kentucky side of the river. The new fort remained under construction when Union Brig. Ulysses S. Grant launched his offensive against Forts Henry and Donelson in early February 1862.

On February 4-5, 1862, Grant landed his divisions in two different locations, one on the east bank of the Tennessee River to prevent the garrison at Fort Henry from escaping or receiving reinforcements from Fort Donelson and the other to occupy the high ground on the Kentucky side to ensure the fall of both Forts Heiman and Henry. After gunboats under the command of Union naval Flag Officer Andrew H. Foote began bombarding the forts, Tilghman, realizing that Fort Heiman could not be held, recalled the 1,100 troops building the fort to cross the river and assist the nearly 2,000 soldiers defending Fort Henry. The Confederates hoped that the muddy roads would make it impossible for the Union army to set up artillery on the partially completed Fort Heiman. On February 6, Tilghman surrendered Fort Henry after 70 minutes of bombardment, because it was surrounded by rising water and could not be supported by infantry. Tilghman decided to withdraw all troops from Fort Henry to Fort Donelson with the exception of one battery which he left behind to delay the Union assault and secure his retreat. After the capture of both Fort Henry and the uncompleted Fort Heiman, the latter was occupied by troops under Brig. Gen. Lew Wallace on February 6. Thus, the surrender of Forts Heiman and Henry enabled the Federals' wooden gunboats to ascend the Tennessee River south to Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and set the stage for Grant's successful assault against Fort Donelson 11 miles to the east on the Cumberland River on February 16.

[J_Man0507]

Originally Posted by larry_cockerham

Sir, do you have knowledge of Ft. Heiman, across the river from Ft. Henry?

Ft. Heiman as an unfinished extension, so to speak, of Ft. Henry. As was stated, if it had been finished at the time that Grant came down, Foote would indeed have had a hard time taking Ft. Henry, having plunging fire coming down on him. C.F Smith was sent to take the works in conjunction with the naval bombardment and the infantry movement on Henry. However, orders had already been given and the works were abandoned. They were a non-factor in the campaign, insignificant in the battle to take Ft. Henry.