In freezing winter weather, the Confederate defenders of Fort Donelson in Stewart County, Tennessee made a powerful attempt to break out of the 25,000 man Union siege. Attacks on the Union right-wing began in the morning and by noon had succeeded in opening an escape route. But hesitation doomed the attempt and reorganized Union counter-attacks were able to reclose the siege lines by dark. Fort Donelson and most of its 17,000 men surrendered the next day. (By John Osborne)