We are into the second year of the Civil War Sesquicentennial. This four-year remembrance is a time to look back and see what happened to change the story of the Civil War, and think of those who fought for their homeland from both a northern and southern perspective.

One place where the human story really comes into play is the Fort Donelson National Battlefield located in Dover, Tenn. The Fort Donelson National Battlefield will be commemorating the 150th anniversary of the campaign throughout 2012 with a variety of encampments, living history programs, films, author visits and more. The website www.nps.gov/fodo provides details of upcoming events.

A 15-minute film I saw shares not only the history of the battle, but the story of two amazing officers – General Ulysses S. Grant, who was just starting to become a well-known officer, and his friend, General Simon Buckner, who Grant knew in his early years. The film opens with Grant low on funds and borrowing from his Southern friend Buckner to stay afloat. Years later, the two comrades would sit across a table at the Dover Hotel in Tennessee, where Grant would require nothing but unconditional surrender.

The battlefield Visitor’s Center should be the first stop for anyone wanting to visit this interesting site. Visitors will learn about the iron naval ships that were built and used to soften up the battle at Fort Henry, where the Union won its first significant battle.

The fort quickly surrendered and the Union officers were sure the next step at Fort Donelson would be easily won, as well. These two forts were the inroads into the Confederate foothold and the key to entry to Nashville, where the rails and transport to the South was located.

Fort Donelson was not won as easily as Fort Henry. The ironclad battle ships came too close to the fort and were quickly disabled, allowing the Confederate Army a quick victory from the ships.

According to the website: “The morning of Feb. 14 (1862) dawned cold and quiet. Early in the afternoon a furious roar broke the stillness, and the earth began to shake. Andrew H. Foote’s Union gunboat fleet, consisting of the ironclads St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Louisville and Corondolet, and the timberclads Conestoga and Tyler, had arrived from Fort Henry via the Tennessee and Ohio rivers and were exchanging ‘iron valentines’ with the 11 big guns in the Southern water batteries.

“During this one-and-one-half-hour duel the Confederates wounded Foote and inflicted such extensive damage upon the gunboats that they were forced to retreat. The hills and hollows echoed with cheers from the Southern soldiers.”

The Confederates celebrated an early victory, but Grant’s army was approaching by foot. The Confederate generals – John Floyd, Gideon Pillow, Simon Buckner and Bushrod Johnson – also rejoiced, but sober reflection revealed another danger. Grant was receiving reinforcements daily and had extended his right flank almost to Lick Creek to complete the encirclement of the Southerners.

The fort was under the command of John Floyd and General Gideon Pillow. After Grant’s army won the battle, Floyd and Pillow escaped after turning over command of Fort Donelson to Buckner and slipped away to Nashville with about 2,000 men. Others followed cavalryman Col. Nathan Bedford Forrest across swollen Lick Creek.

That morning, Feb. 16, Buckner asked Grant for terms. Grant’s answer was short and direct: “No terms except an unconditional and immediate surrender can be accepted.” Buckner surrendered.

At the time of the surrender, Grant offered funds to Buckner, saying he owed him a debt. While Buckner refused, at the end of Grant’s life, Buckner visited his old friend and they reconciled, like much of the U.S. has, over time. The battlefield tells the story of a nation torn asunder and the very real stories of those who lived during this turbulent time in our history.

Readers with questions or comments for Cindy Ladage may write to her in care of this publication.