A 1862 river battle gave the Union its first major victory in the Civil War
The 1862 Battle of Fort Henry marked a critical turning point in the American Civil War by opening the Tennessee River to Union advancement and showcasing the devastating power of ironclad gunboats.
On February 6, 1862, Union Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant secured his first major victory at Fort Henry. While most battles of the era were won by infantry, this victory was largely achieved by a fleet of ironclad gunboats that bombarded the low-lying Confederate fort into submission before the ground troops even arrived.
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