In this episode, we dive into the Civil War battles that cracked open the Western theater: Fort Henry and Fort Donelson. These were the fights where Grant and his ironclads showed what they could do.

We explore how the messy politics of border states set the stage, why Kentucky and Tennessee were so crucial, and how these victories let the Union push deep into Confederate territory. Get ready for a blow-by-blow of river warfare, complete with frozen soldiers, daring attacks, and Grant's famous "unconditional surrender" moment.

This is the story of how the Union found its fighting general and how the mighty Mississippi started to slip from Confederate hands. It's a tale of innovative weapons, bold strategies, and the battles that changed the course of the war.

See the maps and transcript for this episode:

www.usnavalhistory.com/river-war-forts-henry-and-donelson/

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