Ft, Henry swollowed!

[5fish]

Everyone wants to play up the taking Ft. Henry and Ft. Donelson but I want to defer on this once I looked into the history of these two forts.

Ft. Henry was being swallowed by Tennessee river can't give this to Grant. This is were Tilgham surrenders to Grant for a second time.

Ft Donelson a good story in Grant fashion he is beaten for a moment then reverses the situation for victory.

I also want to bring up these two forts because guess who supervise their construction. The Surrender King Gen Tilgham...

[Borderruffian]

It opened the doorway to Nashville and Middle Tn. The loss of the industry and agriculture as well as the rivers hindered the CS war effort ....badly.

While Tilgham may have supervised. Gilmer who was sent by ASJ did a half a**ed job of surveying the defenses of the Forts and Nashville. They weren't properly garrisoned, positioned or defended.

[ole]

What's with the sudden attack on Tilghman?

Ft. Henry can't be Grant's because Porter had pounded it to the point where Tilghman sent all but a token force to Ft. Donelson. So Tilghman's surrender there was all but insignificant.

As Boarder pointed out, the design of the fortifications left much to be desired and their suckiness cannot be entirely laid at the feet of Tilghman.

Iuka/Corinth left him under perhaps one of the worst commanders in the entire CS army.

Oh. I get it. You're just stirring that which does not stink.

ole

[timewalker]

Originally Posted by ole

What's with the sudden attack on Tilghman?

Ft. Henry can't be Grant's because Porter had pounded it to the point where Tilghman sent all but a token force to Ft. Donelson. So Tilghman's surrender there was all but insignificant.

As Boarder pointed out, the design of the fortifications left much to be desired and their suckiness cannot be entirely laid at the feet of Tilghman.

Iuka/Corinth left him under perhaps one of the worst commanders in the entire CS army.

Oh. I get it. You're just stirring that which does not stink.

ole

Well, I don't know that even Porter should really get credit for Fort Henry. A few days after the Fort surrendered it was under water. It only had a token force because with the rising river it clearly could not be held, so why leave men there?

I think the credit for Forts Henry and Donelson does have to go to Grant, however, because he was the one pushing to do something while Halleck, McClellan, et al dickered. His orders did not even really include the capture of Fort Donelson but in true Grant fashion he did it anyway. But for Grant, Halleck would have taken months to finally move on Henry and Donelson and then let the Rebels escape when he finally got there.

In addition to opening the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers, the twin victories were also a much needed shot in the arm for Union morale at a time it really needed it.

So no matter what others say, cudos to my man Hiram Ulysses.

[ole]

So no matter what others say, cudos to my man Hiram Ulysses.

Amen!

There's some question as to whose idea it was. It remains that Sam Grant made it happen.

And that brings up two off-topic questions: Why was he called Sam? And, did he ever use the name, Hiram?

ole

[Borderruffian]

I believe, could be wrong. That Sam was a nickname given to him at West Point.

[Blockaderunner]

As far as I know, he got the name Sam at West Point. His middle initial was accidently entered as S. His classmates nicknamed him Sam.

Unless someone knows different?

[Blockaderunner]

I think we pressed 'submit reply' at the same time!

[Borderruffian]

Seems that way.

[Blockaderunner]

This seems like a good place to ask. Forts Henry and Donelson are still on my 'to see' list. Are they worth a visit? (I have a long way to come)