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Grant took Fort Henry in Tennessee with almost no fight. The fort sat in a flood
1862 Event

February 6

Grant Wins at Fort Henry: The Union's First Victory of the Civil War

Grant took Fort Henry in Tennessee with almost no fight. The fort sat in a flood plain. The Tennessee River had risen so high that water filled the lower gun positions. Confederate commander Lloyd Tilghman sent most of his men away before the Union even arrived. He stayed behind with 100 artillerymen to buy time. They fired for two hours at Grant's gunboats, then surrendered. The North's first real victory came because someone built a fort in the wrong spot.

February 6, 1862

164 years ago

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