In February 1862, Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant moved against Forts Henry and Donelson on the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers to gain control of western Tennessee, Kentucky, and the rivers, capturing Fort Henry on February 6 and approaching Fort Donelson on February 12. On February 13, Union Col. William R. Morrison led his brigade from this point in an unsuccessful and costly assault on Confederate Capt. Frank Maney’s battery at Fort Donelson. The attack reflected the impatience of Morrison’s commander, Gen. John A. McClernand, and the inexperience of Morrison’s Illinois regiments, though it may also have persuaded the Confederate defenders that the Union force was stronger than it actually was. Morrison, a Mexican War veteran, lawyer, and politician, had organized the 49th Illinois Infantry Regiment and mustered it into service on December 31, 1861; after its arrival at Fort Henry on February 8, 1862, it was assigned to the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, and Morrison was given brigade command. Grant had ordered McClernand’s division on February 12 to besiege the southern half of the Confederate defensive line outside Fort Donelson, but the next morning McClernand, without authority, ordered Morrison’s brigade, reinforced by the 48th Illinois Infantry under Col. Isham G. Haynie, to capture Maney’s battery. Morrison and Haynie led the charge, and despite a ferocious crossfire the inexperienced troops made three attempts to advance before Morrison was wounded and the Federals withdrew. As Union wounded lay before the battery, dry leaves caught fire, and Confederates dragged some of the men from the flames rather than let them burn. On February 14, Flag Officer Andrew H. Foote’s gunboats shelled Fort Donelson, but Confederate artillery drove back the ironclads. Gen. John B. Floyd then ordered a breakout for the next morning; although initially successful, the Confederates retreated and the Federals counterattacked. On February 16, part of Floyd’s command escaped by boat, and the rest surrendered to Grant on his demand for unconditional surrender.