"This was war in earnest": The 11th Illinois at Fort Donelson

Park Event · Fort Donelson National Battlefield · Sep 6, 2026 · 2:00 PM–2:30 PM

At the height of the February 15th breakout attack, one Union regiment faced a fateful moment. If the 11th Illinois Infantry retreated, panic would ripple through the Union line. If they stood, they risked being overwhelmed. What would you do?

Follow the gripping story of these soldiers as they held their ground during one of the battle’s most dramatic moments.

Source: National Park Service (public domain).