History in 16th Feb

Grants takes Fort Donelson

Union General Ulysses S. Grant secures the surrender of Fort Donelson, a key Confederate fort on the Cumberland River. Despite being outnumbered, Grant encircled the Confederate garrison and, combined with a strong naval presence, forced over 12,000 Confederates to surrender.
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George Kennan born

American diplomat and policy adviser George F. Kennan is born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Kennan, considered the "father of containment" following his telegram from the American embassy in Moscow, became the first Director of Policy Planning at the State Department. His works helped shaped American foreign policy during the Cold War.
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Decatur leads attack against Barbary pirates

Lieutenant Stephen Decatur, Jr. leads U.S. sailors and Marines on a daring raid to reclaim the USS Philadelphia, a prized frigate of the U.S. Navy that had been captured by Barbary Pirates. Decatur dressed his men as Maltese sailors and boarded the Philadelphia, held in Tripoli harbor, forcing the pirates to surrender. After deciding that the Philadelphia was too damaged to sail, Decatur burned the frigate, securing an American victory in Tripoli.
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