Battle of Fort Henry: The First Ironclad Engagement on a Fortification

Q: What was the Battle of Fort Henry?

The Battle of Fort Henry was fought by Union forces under Ulysses S. Grant and Andrew H. Foote against Confederate forces under Lloyd Tilghman at Fort Henry on the Tennessee River on 6 February 1862. It was a decisive Union victory, opening the Tennessee River to Union traffic.

Q: Why is the Battle of Fort Henry important?

The Battle of Fort Henry is important for many reasons: it was the first use of ironclad gunboats in battle against a fortification, proving them effective; it eliminated a Confederate fort on the Tennessee River, opening the river to Union traffic; it allowed for Union gunships to progress upriver after the battle and destroy Confederate supplies, capture ships, and disrupt the supply line.

Q: Who won the Battle of Fort Henry?

Although the Battle of Fort Henry was a joint venture between the US Army under Ulysses S. Grant and the US Navy under Andrew H. Foote, Foote won the battle through a 75-minute bombardment of the fort before the army could arrive.

Q: Where are the ruins of Fort Henry today?

Today, the ruins of Fort Henry are submerged under Kentucky Lake. When the Tennessee River was dammed in the 1930s to create the lake, Fort Henry vanished beneath the waters. A navigation buoy on the lake marks its spot.

Joshua J. Mark

Battle of Fort Henry

The First Ironclad Engagement on a Fortification

Definition

The Battle of Fort Henry (6 February 1862) is often referenced as the first major Union victory in the Western theater of the American Civil War, but it was not. The first major Union victory in the West was the Battle of Mill Springs (19 January 1862), won by General George H. Thomas.

More about: Battle of Fort Henry

Timeline

2 Feb 1862 - 5 Feb 1862
Union and Confederate forces prepare for the Battle of Fort Henry during the American Civil War.
6 Feb 1862
Battle of Fort Henry during the American Civil War; the first time ironclad ships were used against a fortification.

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