needed anybody who had had any experience in the army, then they were willing to give grant a chance. >> howdy, sam. >> now grant lays siege to fort donelson, which is under the command of an old west point friend. >> general buckner. >> all right then. fine. >> general grant. i don't suppose that $300 i loaned you, uh... [ laughs ] ...would buy me any leniency. >> no, general buckner. no leniency, no terms, except immediate and unconditional surrender. >> [ sighs ] let's see the paperwork. >> grant had an understanding of the war that few others had. he understood that this was gonna be a whole lot tougher and require a much tougher style of fighting than most other generals did.