Lawnfield, Library Continue Civil War Series With 'Battles of Fort Henry and Fort Donelson'

James A. Garfield National Historic Site and Mentor Public Library will continue their series of lunchtime talks on the major battles of the Civil War with "The Battles of Fort Henry and Fort Donelson" at noon Wednesday.

The free talk will be lead by park volunteer Dan Vermilya at the library's .

Fort Henry and Fort Donelson were important Union victories in the western theater of war.

These battles also produced the North’s first major military hero: Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant. Vermilya will examine the military maneuvers of these battles, as well as place them in context to the overall Union and Confederate war efforts.

"We are grateful to Dan Vermilya for taking on this examination of two critical early Union victories," said Todd Arrington, the chief of education at James A. Garfield National Historic Site.

"The northern captures of Forts Henry and Donelson had much wider implications than just the seizure of the two forts, and I think everyone will learn a great deal about what those implications were from Dan’s presentation."

The Civil War series began in January with a presentation on the Battle of Middle Creek -- the first battle where Mentor's most famous son, President James A. Garfield, saw action.

The series continues March 14 with the Battle of Hampton Roads.

The talk is free to register, call 440-255-8811.