 Between 6 and 16 February 1862, Union Army troops advanced across the United States to capture Forts Henry and Donelson.In response to news reports of these combat engagements, members of the U.S. Sanitary Commission who were stationed in Cincinnati, Ohio, began to gather supplies and recruit volunteers to help distribute those supplies and render care to ailing and injured soldiers.Procuring a steamer to transport the most senior members of their commission members to Fort Donelson, they realized upon arrival that the "City of Memphis" and "Fanny Bullitt" were essentially empty vessels on which vast numbers of wounded were suffering despite the fact that both vessels had been placed into service as hospital ships.