Flooding of the Tennessee Valley leads to battle

Waud, Alfred R. (Alfred Rudolph), 1828-1891, artist. "Position of ft. Henry on Tennessee River." 1 drawing on light green paper : pencil ; 8.9 x 12.8 cm. (sheet). Formerly Waud no. B-27. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Morgan collection of Civil War drawings. http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2004660528/ (Accessed 10/17/2013)

Flooding of the Tennessee Valley leads to battle

The Tennessee River flooded, and as the water rose, Fort Henry became partially submerged, including about half of its cannons. You could land troops directly into the fort by water. This gave the North a wonderful opportunity to take not only Fort Henry but Fort Donelson which was just a few miles to the East Northeast on the Cumberland River. If the North could take Fort Henry, they could attack Fort Donelson from the River with Ironclads and from the land and lay Siege to the garrison.