Battle of Fort Donelson (feb 14, 1862 – jul 16, 1862)
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Grant advances to Fort Donelson. Bombing starts on February 14, "following an abortive naval assault by Union gunboats" ("Fort Donelson 14–16 February 1862", 2018). Confederate General Gideon Pillow realizes that this is a fight the Confederacy will not win. Pillow the right flank of the Union, hoping to escape by opening "a road to Nashville" (Ward, Burns & Burns, 1990, p. 87). However, Pillow changed his mind shortly thereafter, and pulled his men back. Some had already advanced thereby "leaving only a thin line of troops under Simon Bolivar Buckner of Kentucky to hold their hard-won position" (Ward, Burns & Burns, 1990, p. 87).
Grant ordered a counterattack, after which Buckner's men fell. Confederate General Floyd, Pillow and Buckner wanted to surrender, although Floys and Pillow had trouble admitting to it. Nathan Bedford Forrest was outraged by hearing this. and led seven hundred men to escape on the frozen Cumberland river.
Buckner asked Grant for surrender under certain terms at night. Grant refused, responded that there could only be an unconditional surrender, which the Confederates accepted. It led to Grant's nickname: "Unconditional Surrender" Grant. The surrender meant "12,000 Confederate troops plus their artillery and munitions" ("Fort Donelson 14–16 February 1862", 2018).
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