February 15, 1862---The Battle of Fort Donelson: Day Five

FEBRUARY 15, 1862:         

 The Battle of Fort Donelson   (Day Five):  The Confederate breakout started well. After two hours of heavy fighting in the morning, the Confederates broke the Union right and opened an escape route. It was in this attack that Union troops in the West first heard the famous, unnerving rebel yell. 

However, the Union right began to reform about midmorning, when Grant arrived at the front. "This army wants a head." Grant was told, to which he replied, "It seems so. Gentlemen, the position on the right must be retaken."   

Grant did not panic at the disorder his troops were facing. Instead, he called for fire from his gunboats, and then used the time the naval assault gave him to restructure the Union flank. Seeing the Union troops in order, and under heavy bombardment, the Confederates retreated back inside Fort Donelson. The breakout was over.