Smith's Attack

A View of the Earthenworks at Smith's Attack, Tour Stop # 7

NPS

 

General Grant correctly concluded that for the Confederates to hit so hard on the right, they must have weakened their line somewhere else.

Seizing the initiative, he told General Charles F. Smith to "take Fort Donelson." Smith had his troops uncap their guns (so the men would not be tempted to fire, risking greater casualties) and fix bayonets. With the Second Iowa Infantry spearheading the attack, Smith led the assault against the Confederate lines on this ridge.

Smith's division fought until nightfall, pushing the 30th Tennessee Infantry across the ravine and hills, and captured and held the earthworks in this area, Smith's forces, including volunteers from Iowa and Missouri, controlled this position on the night of the February 15th.

Before the attack could be renewed the next morning, Grant and Buckner were already discussing terms for surrender.

 

C.F. Smith

Library of Congress

Charles Ferguson Smith was once an instructor at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. While there, he taught students such as Ulysses S. Grant and William Tecumseh Sherman, but during this campaign, Smith served under Grant as a division commander.

After the Battle of Fort Donelson, General Smith did receive a promotion to Major General. He led some of the expeditions up the Tennessee River, but died of an infection near Shiloh (Pittsburg Landing) in April 1862. Smith did not participate in the Battle of Shiloh.

 

Voltaire Twombley, of the 2nd Iowa, was eventually awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions and service at Fort Donelson in February of 1862... for actions he performed at this very spot. His citation reads:

"Took the colors after three of the color guard had fallen, and although most instantly knocked down by a spent ball, immediately arose and bore the colors to the end of the engagement." (Twombly later recalled that five members of the color guard had fallen: Sgt. H. B Doolittle, Corp. G. S. Page, Corp. J.H. Churcher, Corp. H. E. Weaver, and Corp. J. W. Robinson.) Date and place: Feb. 15, 1962, at Fort Donelson, Tennessee. Issued: March 12, 1897."

His Medal of Honor is part of the museum collection at Fort Donelson National Battlefield.