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Kendall D. Gott
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Where the South Lost the War: An Analysis of the Fort Henry-Fort Donelson Campaign, February 1862 Kindle Edition

by Kendall D Gott (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.7 out of 5 stars 70 ratings

This in-depth Civil War study examines two early Union victories that were instrumental in deciding the conflict’s ultimate outcome.

Some historians argue that the Civil War was decided in February 1862 with the collapse of the Confederate defenses of Forts Henry and Donelson on the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers. This ambitious offensive opened the whole Tennessee Valley to Union invasion and control, effectively cutting the Confederacy in two.

In domino fashion, the Confederates lost Nashville and central and western Tennessee. Memphis eventually fell, and the upper stretch of the Mississippi itself was brought under Union control. During this period, General Ulysses S. Grant came to prominence, putting him in place to lead the Union to victory.

Where the South Lost the War is a major contribution to Civil war literature. Shedding light on an overlooked campaign and revising conventional judgments on key players and events, author Kendall D. Gott provides a detailed, incisive, and even controversial study of the operation’s events.
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  1. Print length
    387 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Stackpole Books
  4. Publication date
    June 14, 2023
  5. File size
    7.9 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
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  8. Enhanced typesetting
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Kendall D. Gott is a military historian for the Combat Studies Institute at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He is the author of several articles and studies on American military history, including the book In Glory's Shadow: The 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment during the Persian Gulf War, 1990-1991.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00AVZSQ78
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Stackpole Books (June 14, 2023)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 14, 2023
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 7.9 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 387 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 out of 5 stars 70 ratings

About the author

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Kendall D. Gott

Kendall D. Gott

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Mr. Kendall D. Gott retired from the United States Army and his combat tours include Operation Desert Storm and Operation Desert Fox. He is a Life Member of both the VFW and American Legion. A native of Peoria, Illinois, Mr. Gott, graduated from Richwoods High School, received his Bachelors degree in history from Western Illinois University, and a Masters degree from the US Army Command and General Staff College in 1998. In 2002, Mr. Gott joined the staff of the US Army Combat Studies Institute at Fort Leavenworth, KS as the Senior Historian. He resides in his adopted hometown of Leavenworth, Kansas.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
70 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book well-referenced and informative about the Fort Henry-Fort Donelson campaign, with one customer noting it provides good descriptions of battles. The book receives positive feedback for its readability.

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18 customers mention "Information quality"18 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative and well-referenced, with one customer noting it provides good descriptions of battles.

"One of the most interesting, least often written about Civil War theaters, trans-missisippi...." Read more

"Painstakingly researched, the author does an excellent job describing the the South's strategy in the west, how these forts fit into that strategy,..." Read more

"The Forts Henry and Donelson Campaign is presented in an easy to follow, relatively short volume that breaks it all down and leaves you with a great..." Read more

"...This book is very easy to read while also providing lots of details. One of the most readable and understandable books in my ACW library...." Read more

9 customers mention "Readability"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the book to be a good read.

"...This is a great book, one that any Civil War buff needs in their library...." Read more

"...One of the most readable and understandable books in my ACW library...." Read more

"...This is a GREAT book." Read more

"An excellent and in depth study of the pivotal battles that not only opened the Mississippi River to the Union but created the career of U.S...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Opinionator
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good book, Good find
    Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    One of the most interesting, least often written about Civil War theaters, trans-missisippi. I had been looking for a comprehensive narrative on the Port Hudson-Fort Donaldson campaign and one the few epic naval battles of the war that preceded it. Highly recommended. Shipped fast, good price, although used appears to be in new condition.
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  • KJAG
    5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding
    Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Painstakingly researched, the author does an excellent job describing the the South's strategy in the west, how these forts fit into that strategy, the details on how their locations were determined and how they were built and manned, the backgrounds, personalities, and key decisions of the leaders on both sides of the battles, and the details of the battle actions down to individual units as the battles progress, including those of the individual gunboats that participated. Easy reading, well written.

    The author provides convincing arguments on how and why these forts were lost, and the ramifications of their loss on the war in the western theater and the war as a whole.

    A bonus: background on the design, construction, manning, outfitting, and application of the freshwater iron-clad gunboats first used here in these battles, as well as those of the wooden gunboats also participating. We also see the beginning development of Grant as a leader and the failed attempts of his jealous superiors, i.e., Halleck and McClellan, to undermine him without just cause.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • CTS 2631
    4.0 out of 5 stars A MUCH NEEDED VOLUME BREAKS DOWN THIS IMPORTANT, YET MUCH OVERLOOKED, EARLY CAPMPAIGN.
    Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2009
    Verified Purchase
    The Forts Henry and Donelson Campaign is presented in an easy to follow, relatively short volume that breaks it all down and leaves you with a great understanding of what happened, and why. Though explaining so much, the book does not get bogged down in minute details.

    The personalities involved on both sides, the preperations (or lack thereof on the Confederate side) and planning are covered, as well as the execution of the Unions combined Army/Navy operations on the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers in Tennessee, and the Confederate attempts to repel Ulysses S. Grant and Flag Officer Foote's movements. The battles at both forts are broken down and explained so that both actions are easy to understand. The bizarre chain of events that make up the Confederate surrender are covered in detail, and the aftermath of the campaign is also discussed.

    The only problem with this book are the maps, as in so many history books. The Area of Operations (strategic) maps are fine, But the battle maps, while doing a great job of showing the actual locations of roads, rivers/creeks/streams, fortifications, and military units, do not show the elevations and depressions that make up the terrain, and the symbology used for Confederate forces (instead of standard NATO unit symbology that is used for Union forces) is awkward. The map for the area between the forts could have been better, and in the volume I purchased, the tactical situation map for the Battle of Fort Donelson 15 February, 1862 at 6am (page 193) is actually the the situation map for 6pm (page 236), so I really didnt have a map showing the initial position and movement of forces at the start of the battle. (I dont know if this is the same in all editions of the book? I have a 2003, first edition hardcover) The number of maps is right, it is just the symbology for Confederate forces, area map between the forts, and the misprint mentioned above that keep me from giving this book 5 stars.

    This is a great book, one that any Civil War buff needs in their library. It analyzes and explains in detail the events that made up this important Campaign that did so much to ensure the outcome of the war.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Ev_Flyfish
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent analysis of campaign of forts Henry and Donelson
    Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I enjoyed this book very much and have a far better understanding of this important civil war campaign. I can tell I liked it by the amount of notes and highlighting that fills my copy. This book is very easy to read while also providing lots of details. One of the most readable and understandable books in my ACW library. I especially liked the analysis of the military commanders and the successes and failures, such as unclear communications, seen on both sides. I also liked how the author, after detailing a specific event for numerous pages, often does an "in summary" review of what was covered. If you enjoy learning about the civil war and don't know much about this campaign, get this book. You will not be disappointed.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • B Fitzgerald
    5.0 out of 5 stars saga of ft. donelson
    Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2011
    Verified Purchase
    Fall of Ft. Donelson

    These warriors of legend had Grant so annoyed,
    were that rustic old trio, Buckner, Pillow, Floyd.

    Although they outranked him three to the one,
    he had more bullets, gumption, and guns.

    Now history tells of a hard desperate fight,
    rebs out generaled, to the yankees delight.

    Then said Grant with a wink of his eye
    we'll send them rebs packin to the sweet by and by.

    The rebs struggled mightily, a tooth and a nail,
    cannons aboomin. lead flying like hail.

    Then Donelson fell, one heck of a wreck,
    a house of cards ruined, crowned with regret.

    cannons quit boomin, bullets stopped whizzen,
    yanks got the trophy, rebs got the prison.

    But where were the generals who bragged so loudly,
    strutted like peacocks, preened oh.. so proudly.

    Gone is old Pillow, gone is old Floyd,
    their sudden departure,a noticeable void.

    Out of the back door, the black of the night,
    they steamed up the river, in desperate flight.

    That left young Buckner,one heck of a lad,
    weighed all his options... most pretty bad.

    But he remembered a deed of long, long ago,
    had saved Grants bacon, had loaned him some dough.

    So he sent a note to his friend of old,
    what are your terms, may I be so bold.

    Grant replied with a heart warm and tender
    my terms are simple "UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER".
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • RossoRichie
    5.0 out of 5 stars Though provoking account of a little known series of battles
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 28, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    A well written account which is easy to read detailing the tactical, strategic and political manoeuvres of both sides of the conflict - enjoyable and informative
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  • Robert G McPherson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very well written accounts of Grant's first major victories in the West.
    Reviewed in Canada on September 27, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Lose the rivers, lose the war - really quite that simple. The Confederacy never really recovered from these losses. Unfortunate for so many young men that the lesson wasn't learned sooner.
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  • James
    5.0 out of 5 stars A most interesting addition to one's knowledge of the Civil War.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 30, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Praise be for a plethora of maps. An enjoyable read and I look forward to trying more of his books.
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