On February 11-16, 1862 combined Union army and naval forces of Brig. Gen. U.S. Grant and Flag Officer Andrew Foote, respectively, defeated the Confederate garrison at Fort Donelson on the Cumberland River commanded by Brig. Generals John Floyd and Simon Bolivar Buckner. The defeat opened up an advance for Federal forces into Middle Tennessee and elevated Grant’s military notoriety.
Loudon
After crossing the Tennessee River at Loudon the Confederate First Corps (Lieut. Gen. James Longstreet) skirmished with the Union forces