On February 6, 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 Henry on the Tennessee River commanded by Brig. General Lloyd Tilghman. The surrender of Fort Henry preceded the defeat of Fort Donelson a week later that opened up river transport and the subsequent Union advance into Middle Tennessee.
Blue Springs
In October, 1863 the Union Army, Department of the Ohio, commanded by Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnside advanced into East Tennessee