Western Theatre. On the Tennessee River, BG Lloyd Tilghman saved his garrison at Fort Henry, TN by transferring them to Fort Donelson on the Cumberland River. Tilghman stayed behind with a small contingent to fight a delaying action against Union Commodore Andrew Foote's ironclads and gunboats. He eventually surrendered leaving only Fort Donelson as an impediment to U.S. Grant's army's southern advance.
J. 1 Mar. The Atk continued at 0835 with the 2d Bn in assault. The Atk was preceded by an Arty preparation followed by a rolling barrage. The assault Bns made good progress but met stiff resistance as the Atk progressed. 1st Bn cleaned out the enemy pocket from vicinity of 182 B, 199 V only after the 3d Bn 9th Mar was committed to protect the 2d Bn left flank and seize the left boundary of Div ZofA, thereby encircling the enemy pocket in 182 B and 199 V. Contact was then established with the 1st Bn 21st Mar and 3d Bn 9th Mar. The Regt at this time was in advance of the 5th Div and over-extended, finding it difficult to maintain contact right and left. At 1545 control of right Regtl ZofA passed to the 9th Mar, 3d Bn 21st Mar Atchd to 9th Mar at the same time. The Regt continued the Atk with the 3d Bn 9th Mar and the 2d Bn 21st Mar abreast. 1st Bn 21st Mar protecting the Regtl left flank along the Div boundary was relieved by 3d Bn 26th Mar and then occupied a Regtl Res Line along 200 B,C,D. By 1645 the western part of airfield No 3 was overrun. One Co 1st Bn was released to the 2d Bn for tying in right and left. Lines for the night were consolidated as follows: 217 M,N,O; 218 P,U.
23rd Marines – DOG PLUS TEN, 1 MARCH, 1945
During the night, strong infiltration attempts were made in the zones of Cos K and L, 3/23, 29 enemy dead being found around the front lines of K Co the next morning. Sporadic artillery and mortar fire fell throughout the RCT area. At 2230, Division Operation Order 10-45 was received, and the necessary details were coordinated with the unit commanders of RCT 24 to effect a relief on the line prior to daylight on 1 March. Commencing at approximately 0530, elements of RCT 24 moved into position to execute the relief. The relief was effected by BLT 2/24 taking over the zone of BLT 1/23, and BLT 1/24 the zone of BLT 2/23. By 0630, the relief had been completed. The two assault BLTs of RCT 24 continued the attack against resistance of the same nature encountered by units of RCT 23 on the previous day. BLT 2/23, at 0830 passed to VAC Reserve and moved into assembly area at 165 BC, closing in that area prior to 1200. BLT 3/23, on Division order, was attached to RCT 24, and assembled at TA 182 U. The RCT less 2/23 and 3/23 assumed a status as Division Reserve in TA 182 RSY, the CP remaining at 182 Y. At about 0920, 3/23 was released from RCT 24, and at 0930 passed to control of RCT 25. Co I, BLT 3/23 was assigned to BLT 1/25, and Co L to BLT 2/25. Co K remained under BLT 3/23 control, and was assigned the mission of mopping-up the cliff-line pocket in TA 183 INO. Attachments of Co C, 4th Tk Bn, and a section of 75mm Halftracks from R/W Co, RCT 23, were attached to 3/23 for this purpose. Throughout the day Co K was subjected to intense and accurate sniper fire in the area, but managed to partially reduce the effectiveness of Jap resistance in this pocket. On Division order (received at 1410), BLT 1/23 was alerted to be prepared to pass to RCT 24 control on twenty minutes notice. Mopping-up operations in the RCT area were continuous during the day, and reorganization and reequipping of the inactive units was accomplished. Only token enemy activity in the nature of sporadic mortar fire was encountered in the RCT assembly area during the day. in preparation for the night, Cos I and L of 3/23 were committed in the line with elements of RCT 25, and Co K was retained at the base of the cliff-line at 183 INO to contain the pocket in that area. There was no change in the location of the RCT CP, or the RCT units, other than that already indicated.
