The Virginia had devastated the timberclad fleet before nightfall. On March 8, Union blockaders were stunned by the approach of the CSS Virginia, one of the first ironclad warships the world had ever seen. More About Fort Donelson More About Fort Henry Nashville was the first Confederate state capital to fall into Union hands. The fall of this fort opened up the Cumberland and forced the surrender of Nashville, Tennessee by the end of the month. Pivoting east, the combined arms force attacked Fort Donelson on the Cumberland River less than a week later. An fierce naval bombardment proved essential in the capture of the fort, which opened the Tennessee River to the depredations of his gunboats. Foote led a flotilla out of Cairo, Illinois to attack Fort Henry on February 6, 1862. The battle opened a vital approach to the Charleston Harbor, allowing Union ships to tighten the blockade on one of the Confederacy's largest seaports. The defenders withdrew in the afternoon and left the sound in Union hands. The resulting four-and-half hour gun battle exacted a heavy toll on the ships of the fleet as well as on the Confederate garrison. These are a few of the actions that shaped the course of the struggle.Īfter foul weather compelled an infantry landing to be cancelled, Union naval officers took it upon themselves to attack the fortifications protecting Port Royal Sound, South Carolina. The Civil War on the water was marked by bold strategy, technological innovation, and unflinching bravery.

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