FORT DONELSON and FORT HENRY, the first on the Tennessee and the last on the Cumberland river, near the line between Tennessee and Kentucky, about 12 m. apart. The works were built in 1801 by the confederates, and strongly manned. Early in 1862 the union army undertook their capture. Feb. 2, a naval force, followed by land troops, left Cairo, arriving the next morning before Fort Henry, which was defended by 3,000 men commanded by gen. Tilghman. On the 6th a combined attack was made, the naval force commanded by commodore A. H. Foote, and the land force by hrig.gen. U. S. Grant. The fort was taken by the naval forces in an hour, some time before the laud troops arrived. On the 12th, Grant moved upon Fort Donelson, which had received lar!',T, reinforcements, including nearly all the garrison of Fort Henry, and the commands of gees. Pillow, Buckner, and Floyd. On the 13th, Grant began a can nonade. The next day an attack was made by the fleet, but within two hours every gun-boat was disabled, 54 ince were killed, and the fleet was compelled to withdraw. The confederates, hoping to secure a retreat towards Nashville, attempted a surprise on the morning of the 15th. They were promptly met, and an indecisive action continued until 3 P.m. At that hour Grant ordered a general 'advance, drove the confederates
within their own lines, and gained a position within their works. About 2.000 on each :side were killed.or Wounded in the course of the day. Grant prepared for a general assault the next morning, but the confederate leaders concluded to surrender. During the night, Floyd with about 1500 men, Forrest with a few hundred, and Pillow and his staff, escaped, leaving Buckner in command. On the morning of the 16th, Buckner sent to Grant asking the appointment of commissioners to settle upon the terms of capitulation and for an armstice until the next day at noon. Grant returned on the instant the now famous reply: "No terms other than unconditional surrender can be accepted. I propose to move immediately upon your works." Buckner had no alter native, and at once surrendered the fort with 10,000 men, 48 guns, and a great quantity of ammunition. The terms of Grant's answer were universally recognized by the loyal public as a vivid expression of their feelings; and from the similarity of the initial letters. of his name (Ulysses Simpson) he came to be called "Unconditional Surrender Grant."'