ORDER OF BATTLE // February 6, 1862
Battle of Fort Henry
Estimated force strength by side, with confidence labels per surviving record.
Forces engaged
2 sides catalogued · combined 18,000–18,400 estimated
United States
15,000
Medium-confidence figure
CSA (Confederacy)
3,000–3,400
Medium-confidence figure
Battle context
The Battle of Fort Henry, fought in Stewart County, Tennessee, marked the first significant Union victory in the Western Theater of the Civil War. Brig. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's forces, supported by Andrew H. Foote's gunboats, confronted a Confederate garrison under Lloyd Tilghman that was substantially outnumbered, with Union forces fielding roughly 15,000 troops against a Confederate strength of 3,000–3,400. The outcome established Grant as a consequential commander in the West and opened a line of advance deeper into Confederate-held territory, demonstrating that Federal forces could seize fortified river positions and use waterways as axes of operational pressure.
‹ Full battle dossier