February 6, 1862---Flooded Fort Henry falls to Federals

FEBRUARY 6, 1862:  

The Battle of Fort Henry. This major Union victory on the Tennessee River occurred through a successful combination of effective naval gunfire and the poor siting of the fort, which was almost completely inundated by rising river waters before and during the battle. Fort Henry’s commander, Brigadier General Lloyd Tilghman C.S.A., surrendered to Union Flag Officer Andrew Hull Foote, commander of the river gunboat squadron, even before the Army arrived. Tilghman realized that it was only a matter of time before Fort Henry fell, since only nine guns remained above the water to mount a defense. He thus ordered his men overland to Fort Donelson, on the Cumberland River twelve miles away.