Tour Stop 2: The Campaign that made Ulysses S. Grant's Career: Forts Henry & Donelson 

We like that Garry continuously prefaces his descriptions with what units and people were Confederate and what were Union. Really helps prevent confusion.

I visited Fort Donelson a few weeks ago . . . and here are my thoughts: 1. It was a catastrophic (Strategic) loss for the Confederacy as shown by the withdrawal from Columbus/Bowling Green and/at the Battle of Shiloh a few weeks later. 2. Buckner's Division, responsible for the Confederate's Right (northern) Flank was located too high up on the hill. The line of trenches (they are still there today) were positioned just behind the old Eddyville Rd, along the actual crest vs. the military crest, thereby allowing C.F. Smith's Division to come through the ravine and climb most of the hill before Buckner's troops knew they were there. 3. In-fighting among dis-functional Confederate leadership led to attempts-to-escape from a decent defensive position (especially after beating the Federal Navy), relinquishing command to save face and avoid fighting leading to an almost surprising unconditional surrender In my opinion, the Confederacy really screwed up, surrendered way too early/easily giving the North its first (in retrospect, HUGE) strategic victory as well as the capture of 12,000+ Confederate forces.

I have really loved learning more about grant and his career. Also like learning about the western side of the war.

I never knew much about Adolphus Heiman, but a marker for where his house used to be is just down the road from me.

I've watched the 1st video, making my way through all of them if time permits. Just letting you know you are much appreciated for what you are doing. Thanks to all of you involved.

Fort Donelson is awesome to see ! 🎉 And, from there, its only a couple of hours to Shiloh ! 🎉

Love the western swing!! Never hear anything about the western campaigns

So good that you have Chris with you. Such a great historian and guide.

Always hungry for more and more about the great General Grant. So few of these following Grant and so much about lesser Generals that only fought in a couple battles for the south.

Thank you, My great grandfather was wounded at the first battle day of Shiloh! So I love this history!

Thanks for all you do!

Just went to fort Fisher in Wilmington love the lesser known battles

Thank you for doing the Western Theater, it's long overdue. Yes I understand the problems, but this is where the war is won, in the west.

Excellent overview. Glad to see our end of the war getting some much deserved attention.

Grant strikes South!🇺🇲🇺🇲

I will be heading out to Fort Donelson this Friday so the premier of this video has been very helpful.

Very enjoyable thanks guys

Great stuff!

There is a great reproduction of a city class gunboat at mud Island at Memphis. Great place to go if you get a chance

A great video. One long shot with the presenters switching out seamlessly. A very interesting way to make a video. Rather than assemble editing the video, you assemble edit the presenters. Keep up the good work!

Can't wait for Nashville and Thomas.

Thank you!

All I remember from school is that the Union sailed down the Mississippi and split the CSA down the middle. The schools didn't really teach me about the battles.

I've enjoyed the videos

Such a crucial battle

These guys are great, great content over the last few days, a lot of work and driving I’m sure

Wow. I had no idea that the water flooded Fort Henry. So interesting!

Thanks for covering Phelps' Raid

Informative and energetic as usual. Well done.

Love these videos!!

👍🏼🤠👍🏼

Very interesting….

The Red Coats of London are here. Just wanted to say how much I love these presentation!!

I never knew that the riverclad ships timberclad and ironclads were damaged?

I think the loss of Ft Henry and Ft Wagner due to water is a shame !

Nice to see the west get proper consideration. My own series is all about How the War was Won in the West.

ABT should have gotten more involved with preserving historic markers and monuments the past few years, cowards all the way around.

4th!

Are the guns under water today ?

Lincoln should have realised sooner that Grant was a far superior thinker and general than McClellan...like comparing homework between a high schooler and a postgraduate...or was Grant just a brawler with brains ? 😐

Why do historians always use future tense?

Was Nathan Bedford Forrest called "Man of Fire" because he liked to burn crosses and dance around them in a white hood?

Forest???😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

Please stop with Google Earth. Lag time is horrible

Terrible spot for a fort