Editing Lew Wallace (section)

===Forts Henry and Donelson===
{{Main|Battle of Fort Henry|Battle of Fort Donelson}}
On February 4 and 5, 1862, prior to the advance against [[Fort Henry (site of the Battle of Fort Henry)|Fort Henry]], Union troops under the command of Brig. Gen. [[Ulysses S. Grant]] and a flotilla of Union ironclads and [[timberclad warship|timberclad]] gunboats under the command of Flag Officer [[Andrew Hull Foote]] made their way toward the Confederate fort along the [[Tennessee River]] in western [[Tennessee]]. Wallace's brigade, which was attached to Brig. Gen. [[Charles Ferguson Smith|Charles F. Smith]]'s division, was ordered to occupy Fort Heiman, an uncompleted Confederate fort across the river from Fort Henry. Wallace's troops secured the deserted fort and watched the Union attack on Fort Henry from their hilltop position. On February 6, after more than an hour of bombardment from the Union gunboats, Confederate Brig. Gen. [[Lloyd Tilghman]] surrendered Fort Henry to Foote.<ref name=Stephens45-47>Stephens, pp. 45–47.</ref>

[[File:Fort Donelson Feb15pm.png|thumb|left|200px|Map showing Wallace's counterattack at [[Fort Donelson]] (1862)]]
Grant's superior, Maj. Gen. [[Henry W. Halleck]], was concerned that Confederate reinforcements would try to retake the two forts when the Union troops moved overland toward [[Fort Donelson]], so Wallace was left in command at Fort Henry to keep the forts secure.<ref name=Boom50>Boomhower, 50.</ref><ref>Ferraro, p. 127.</ref> Displeased to have been left behind,{{r|swansburg20130326}} Wallace prepared his troops to move out at a moment's notice. The order came at midnight on February 13. Wallace arrived in front of Fort Donelson the following day and was placed in charge of the newly-forming 3rd [[division (military)|Division]]. Many of the men in the division were untested reinforcements.<ref>Stephens, p. 48.</ref> Wallace's three brigades took up position in the center of the Union line, facing Fort Donelson.<ref name=Boom50/>

During the fierce Confederate assault on February 15, and with Grant's absence from the battlefield, Wallace acted on his own initiative to send Cruft's brigade to reinforce the beleaguered division of Brig. Gen. [[John A. McClernand]], despite orders from Grant to hold his position and prevent the enemy from escaping and without Grant's authority to take the offensive.<ref>Boomhower, p. 51.</ref><ref>Grant later approved of Wallace's actions. See Ferraro, p. 127.</ref> With the Confederates continuing to advance, Wallace led a second brigade to the right and engaged the Confederates with infantry and artillery. Wallace's decision stopped their forward movement and was key in stabilizing a defensive line for the Union troops. After the Confederate assault had been checked, Wallace led a counterattack that regained the lost ground on the Union right.<ref>Stephens, p. 62; Ferraro, p. 127.</ref> On March 21, 1862, McClernand, C. F. Smith, and Wallace were promoted to [[Major general (United States)|major general]] in that order for their efforts.<ref name=Eicher773>Eicher, p. 773.</ref> Wallace, who was age thirty-four at the time of his promotion, became the youngest major general in the Union army.<ref>Stephens, pp. 67–68; Boomhower, p. 53.</ref>