Ft. Donelson anniversary. Feb. 15, 2023. The Battle opened with the Rebs launching an assault on the Federal Right Flank. The Union countered with an assault on Ft. Donelson, but were driven back. Rebs were able to call on an additional artillery unit as a reinforcement and placed it on the heights of the fort, making the fort well nigh impregnable. The Reb attack on the Union right succeeded in clearing that sector of Yankees, and the victorious Rebs moved to try to crush the Union center, but were driven back with heavy losses. At this point in the battle, with both sides having lost 5 units, dusk approaching (the deck was running out) and the decision in the balance, the Union decided to launch one last desperate attack against Fort Donelson's outer defenses, in an effort to gain that last victory banner by getting a unit on or inside those defenses. The Reb artillery was too powerful though, and decimated the lead unit, with the Rebs thus winning a close 6-5 battle.
