Hey everyone, thanks for downloading the 93rd episode of our Civil War podcast.

I'm Rich.

And I'm Tracy. Hello y'all. Welcome to the podcast. Last week we looked at the start of

the battle for Fort Donaldson. At the end of the last show it was the close of day on

Thursday, February 13th, 1862. That night the wind shifted and the temperature dropped

once again. A heavy rain that soaked both armies was followed by a snowstorm that lasted all

night. A Confederate soldier in the 14th Tennessee later said, quote, came the turn of company

B to watch the rifle pits at night and I don't think in all my life I ever spent a more

miserable night. It was so extremely cold that our clothes froze stiff upon us and it was

almost impossible to keep them in on watch. They were so worn out that many of them dropped

down and slept in the snow and water. End quote.

Across the way the federal sphared little better. A soldier from Iowa reported, quote,

we could not light fires for that would draw the fire of the rebel batteries. The boys

lay down singly or in couples and covered themselves as best they could with their blankets.

I crouched beneath a leaning tree and wrapping my blanket around me and my gun so as to keep

the gun as dry as possible. I slept as well as could be expected. End quote.

Through that long cold night most of the men on both sides suffered from their lack of blankets

or overcoats. The Federals had left them behind at Fort Henry or along the line of March

and many of the Confederate units had arrived at Fort Donaldson without their baggage. By

the morning of Friday the 14th the ground was covered with several inches of snow and

the temperature was well below freezing. During the storm at about midnight flag officer

Andrew foot arrived at Bear Creek Landing on the Cumberland River several miles below Fort

...