Ulysses S. Grant wins a major success in Tennessee. He and his army have taken Forts Henry and Donelson on the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers. It is the most substantial feather in Grant's cap to date and a disaster for the South. The Federals now have firm control of Kentucky and Tennessee is wide open. Thousands of Confederates flee but more than 10,000 are forced to surrender. Their General, Simon Buckner, writes to Grant in hopes of obtaining favorable terms for surrender from his Westpoint classmate. Grant's reply made him a hero in the north:
Headquarters Army in the Field,
Camp near Donelson, February 16.
To General S. B. Buckner, Confederate Army:
Yours of this date, proposing an armistice and appointment of commissioners to settle terms of capitulation, is just received. No terms except an unconditional and immediate surrender can be accepted. I propose to move immediately on your works.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
U. S. GRANT,
Brigadier-General U. S. V. Commanding
Buckner had no choice but to accept Grant's terms, which he called "ungenerous and unchivalrous." The victory led to Lincoln promoting Grant to major general and U.S. Grant, celebrated in Union papers, was now known by the nickname "unconditional surrender" Grant.
Other noteworthy events of the 16th:
1804: U.S. Navy Lt. Stephen Decatur, accompanied by 75 sailors, climbs aboard U.S. frigate Philadelphia & sets it afire. Tripolitan pirates had seized the Philadelphia intact, & the Navy, unable to recapture the frigate, wanted to minimize the Tripolitans' advantage. The successful burning of its own vessel was considered a great victory by the Navy, & Decatur was promoted to Captain.
Decatur became a beloved hero in the young republic for his actions. He also hauled President Jefferson's fat out of the fire. The initial loss of the Philadelphia had been a catastrophe for Jefferson. His Federalist opponents had seized on it as proof of his misguided leadership of the country. When Decatur and his men snuck into the harbor of Tripoli and blew the ship up, the Federalists downplayed it, claiming that America was still out of a ship and Jefferson still had not won his war with the Barbary pirates. But it was in fact a significant symbolic victory that earned Jefferson some breathing room. The war would eventually be won, the victory over the "heathen Mahometan turks" celebrated, and many new American towns would be named for Decatur, including our own Decatur Georgia.
1838: Henry Adams lives, Boston. Wrote The Education of Henry Adams (1906).
1933: Repeal of 18th amendment, ending prohibition in U.S. I'll drink to that.
