Page "Ulysses S. Grant" Paragraph 22

Grant's first battles during the Civil War were launched from his base at Cairo, Illinois, the strategic point where the Ohio River runs into the Mississippi River and there are easy links to the Tennessee and Culberland rivers.

The Confederate Army was stationed in Columbus, Kentucky under General Leonidas Polk.

Grant, who was headquartered at Cairo, was given an open order by Union General John C. Frémont to make " demonstrations ", not including attack, against the Confederate Army at Belmont.

After President Lincoln relieved Frémont from command, Grant attacked Fort Belmont taking 3, 114 Union troops by boat on November 7, 1861, and initially took the fort, but his army was later pushed back to Cairo by the reinforced Confederate General Gideon J. Pillow.

Though a defeat logistically, the battle instilled much needed confidence in Grant and his volunteers.

Following Belmont, Grant asked Gen. Henry Halleck for permission to move against Ft. Henry ; Halleck agreed on condition that the attack be conducted with oversight by Union Navy Flag Officer Andrew H. Foote.

Grant's troops, in close collaboration with the Union Navy under Foote, successfully captured Fort Henry on the Tennessee River on February 6, 1862 and nearby Fort Donelson on the Cumberland River on February 16.

Fort Henry, undermanned by Confederates and nearly submerged from flood waters, was taken over with few losses.

However, at Fort Donelson, Grant and Foote encountered stiffer resistance from the Confederate forces under General Pillow.

Grant's initial 15, 000 troop strength was increased by 10, 000 reinforcements.

With 12, 000 Confederate troops at Fort Donelson, Foote's initial approach by Union naval ships were repulsed by Donelson's guns.

The Confederates, who were surrounded by Grant's Union Army attempted a break out pushing the Union Army's right flank into disorganized retreat eastward on the Nashville road.

Grant, however, rallied his troops, resumed the offensive, retook the Union right and attacked Pillow's left.

Pillow ordered Confederate troops back into the fort, relinquished command to General Buckner who surrendered to Grant's Army the following day.

Grant ’ s terms were repeated across the North: " No terms except unconditional and immediate surrender.

" Grant became a celebrity in the North, now called " Unconditional Surrender " Grant.

With these victories, President Abraham Lincoln promoted Grant to major general of volunteers.