Nebraska Guardsmen retrace 1st Nebraska Infantry's steps at Fort Donelson
The group of service members representing the Nebraska Army and Air National Guard recently converged on Fort Donelson National Battlefield for a "staff ride," an intensive, on-site historical study designed to bridge the gap between textbook history and physical reality. Led by military historian Greg Biggs, the tour focused on the February 1862 campaign that launched Gen. Ulysses S. Grant to national prominence, with a special emphasis on the often-overlooked 1st Nebraska Infantry Regiment.
According to Biggs, who has written extensively about the American Civil War, the importance of visiting a battlefield and understanding how weather, terrain and other factors affected a battle’s final outcome can’t be underestimated.
"There's no excuse for not walking a battlefield if you're going to be a military historian and write about a battle," Biggs told the group.
Biggs noted that physically seeing the high ground and the sightlines transforms abstract tactical decisions into practical realities.
The Fort Donelson campaign was an early turning point in the Civil War’s Western Theater. Taking place just months after the Union’s defeat at the Battle of Bull Run in Virginia and the Battle of Wilson’s Creek in Missouri, the Battle of Fort Donelson would serve as the first bright spot for the North and its Union forces.
Following the capture of Fort Henry on the Tennessee River on Feb. 6, 1862, Brig. Gen. Ulysses Grant moved his forces to the Cumberland River to lay siege to Fort Donelson, which controlled a strategic high ground on the river that also threatened Union influence in the crucial border state of Kentucky.
Grant’s victory at Fort Donelson was nearly thwarted on Feb. 15, 1862, when the Confederate garrison launched a desperate, massive breakout attempt through the snow and ice, shattering the Union's right flank.
It was during this crisis that the 1st Nebraska Territorial Infantry Regiment proved its mettle.
The regiment, formed initially in small villages and towns primarily along the Nebraska Territory’s eastern boundary following the firing on Fort Sumter in April 1861, was initially commanded by Col. John M. Thayer. By the time of the Battle of Fort Donelson, Thayer had been promoted by Grant to command of the Union’s 3rd Brigade while Lt. Col. William McCord assumed command of the 1st Nebraska.
Now, as the Confederate forces pressed their breakout attack, the Nebraska regiment was rushed forward under the orders of Gen. Lew Wallace to plug the collapsing line. Meeting the Confederate onslaught head-on, the Nebraskans poured devastating fire into the advancing ranks, halting the momentum and helping seal the fate of the roughly 13,000 Confederate Soldiers who would surrender the next day.
The presence of a Nebraska unit so far east was an anomaly that Biggs highlighted with a touch of humor.
"I'm still convinced to this day they meant to go someplace else and took the wrong turn and crossed this big river called the Mississippi River and hung out over here," Biggs joked. "But they contributed quite a bit."
The 1st Nebraska's contributions extended beyond the battlefield and into the state's early political history. Following the war, Thayer became a prominent figure, serving as a territorial governor, the governor of Nebraska and one of the state's first U.S. senators after statehood in 1867.
Biggs also shared the story of a tangible piece of history the regiment claimed during the victory, a captured Confederate battle flag.
Taken as the "spoils of war" following the unconditional surrender, the flag was brought back to Nebraska by Thayer. It remained in a private collection for decades before eventually being returned to an Alabama museum, serving as a unique footnote to the regiment's time in Tennessee.
During the 2026 battlefield staff ride, the Nebraska National Guard participants discussed everything from the challenges of winter logistics to the initiative required by unit commanders when battle plans disintegrate.
The experience left a significant impression on the Nebraska Guard Soldiers and Airmen.
"This was my first staff ride and I really enjoyed it," said Staff Sgt. Kyle Young, section leader with the 1-134th Cavalry. "My favorite parts were the guided tour of the specific sites and the maps that were provided."
For the Nebraska Guardsmen, the trip provided an irreplaceable perspective on historical leadership under pressure, but the educational experience was not entirely one-sided.
Reflecting on the tour and the extensive preparation the modern service members put into researching their predecessors, Biggs noted that the exchange of perspectives made the staff ride uniquely rewarding.
"You guys are great, I enjoy interacting and learning from service members," Biggs told the group at the end of the tour.
Before the Guardsmen packed up for the long journey back to Nebraska, Biggs thanked the group for their professionalism and wished them safe travels home.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
