re: Fort Donelson National Battlefield

Yes. Fort Donelson was Grant’s first major victory on the Western Theatre. While Lee was kicking arse in Virginia, Grant secured the siege and offered no terms but unconditional surrender. Previous to this battle, he had sieged Paducah and moved down the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers after he realized Columbus-Belmont wasn’t worth the hassle.

There were two confederate generals that were with Buckner who tucked tail and ran. Buckner actually was good friends with Grant and had bailed Grant out of financial trouble prior to the war, so Grant took it easy on him. Those confederate soldiers and Buckner were eventually paroled.

Grants next battle was Shiloh.