Dover, Tenn.–Fort Donelson National Battlefield will be hosting a variety of programs and learning opportunities for visitors of all ages in observance of the 158th anniversary of the campaign for Forts Henry, Heiman and Donelson, and for the Battle of Fort Donelson, which occurred in February, 1862.
The national park will offer Battle of Fort Donelson-specific anniversary programming from Friday, February 14 thru Sunday, February 16, with several events and programs throughout the three days.
February 14 will prove a wonderful time to spend Valentines’ Day learning about the “iron Valentines’” of artillery shells that exchanged between the Confederate fort and a flotilla of “state of the art” ironclad gunboats on that date, 158 years before.
Weekend programming includes living history events featuring period rifle and cannon demonstrations, an encampment of Kentucky infantry, a “caravan auto tour” around the park and town of Dover – the entire community being encompassed in the multi-day battle, and several other events.
In the interest of safety, in the event of inclement weather, events are subject to cancelation. Information as to event status will be available online, or by contacting the Ranger office at 931-232-0576 x0.
Additional schedule information can be currently accessed online via the national park Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/pg/fortdonelsonnps/events/ or web page at: https://www.nps.gov/fodo/planyourvisit/events.htm , or by calling 931-232-0576 x 0.
FORT DONELSON ANNIVERSARY EVENTS 2020
| Friday, February 14 | |
| 2:00 pm | Exchanging Iron Valentines |
| February 14, 1862, proved a different than any previous Valentine’s Day as the new “state of the art” ironclad gunboats of the Union Western flotilla took on heavy engagement with the strongly fortified river batteries of Confederate Fort Donelson.
While viewing the river/land battle area from the viewing perspective that the Confederate artillery held 158 years before, join retired Fort Donelson NB Historian and author Jim Jobe as he vividly describes the engagement, its outcome, and significance. Where: |
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| Saturday, February 15 | |
| 1:00 pm | “Birge’s Western Sharpshooters” |
| Only the best marksmen were considered for an elite Union corps known as “Birge’s Western Sharpshooters”. War correspondents would oftentimes describe these sharpshooters that pursued Confederate soldiers for their expertise and of their having unique uniforms of gray with “felt hats, plumed with squirrel tails dyed black.”
Join Fort Donelson interpreters for a lively presentation on this very colorful and special unit.
Where: |
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| 11:00 am, 1:00 pm,
3:00 pm |
The Sounds of Infantry – Small Arms of Fort Donelson |
| Step back in time to and visit the camps of the 9th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry (Union), interacting with the soldiers and observing the unit demonstrating infantry maneuvers and demonstrations of rifle firing.
Where: |
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| Noon, 2:00 pm | Where Thunder Roars – Field Artillery of Fort Donelson |
| Numerous accounts of the Battle of Fort Donelson reference the continuous “thunder” of artillery fire of both Union and Confederate batteries. Join an 1862 artillery crew as they interpret the role of artillery at Fort Donelson, the weaponry, and then observe the loading and firing process as the gun crew fires its cannon.
Where: |
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| 1:00 pm | Following the Battle – Auto Caravan Tour |
| The battle area of Fort Donelson consisted of much more than the present day national park – the core combat area encompassing more than 4,000 acres, fully including and surrounding the present day Town of Dover.
Join in a special automobile “caravan tour” with noted historian and author of “Where the South Lost the War: An Analysis of the Fort Henry-Fort Donelson Campaign, February 1862,” as he and Fort Donelson staff travel from location to location, stopping get out and about at key battle areas to view and discuss location and events during the February 1862 battle. Note: This is a very sought-after program, and pre-registration is encouraged. Those interested may sign-up by contacting the Fort Donelson NB Ranger staff at 931-232-5706 x 0. Where: |
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| Sunday, February 16 | |
| 10:00 am | “Unconditional and Immediate . . .” The Surrender of Fort Donelson |
| The surrender of Fort Donelson, combined with the fall of Fort Henry only ten days earlier, resulted in the first significant Union victory of the Civil War.
Join retired Fort Donelson NB Historian and author Jim Jobe as he details how the fall of the forts opened two of the Confederacy’s most strategic rivers to federal advancement into the Southern heartland, resulting in the capture of almost 13,000 prisoners – propelling a little-known Brigadier General into the national spotlight; and by the end of the decade, the U.S. Presidency. Where: |
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| 11:00 am | The Sounds of Infantry – Small Arms of Fort Donelson |
| Step back in time to and visit the camps of the 9th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry (Union), interacting with the soldiers and observing the unit demonstrating infantry maneuvers and demonstrations of rifle firing.
Where: |
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| Noon | Where Thunder Roars – Field Artillery of Fort Donelson |
| Numerous accounts of the Battle of Fort Donelson reference the continuous “thunder” of artillery fire of both Union and Confederate batteries. Join an 1862 artillery crew as they interpret the role of artillery at Fort Donelson, the weaponry, and then observe the loading and firing process as the gun crew fires its cannon.
Where: |
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| 1:00 pm | “Birge’s Western Sharpshooters” |
| Only the best marksmen were considered for an elite Union corps known as “Birge’s Western Sharpshooters”. War correspondents would oftentimes describe these sharpshooters that pursued Confederate soldiers for their expertise and of their having unique uniforms of gray with “felt hats, plumed with squirrel tails dyed black.”
Join Fort Donelson interpreters for a lively presentation on this very colorful and special unit.
Where: |
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| 2:00 pm | Grant Takes the Offensive |
| The surprise February 15 “Breakout” attack by the Confederates at Fort Donelson successfully pushed the surrounding Union army back two-miles from their extensive siege line.
Join noted military historians Jim Vaughan and Kendall Gott on the location where Union commander Ulysses S. Grant took the field to bring organization to his retreating army, coordinate a defensive position, and then counterattack to retake the field lost earlier in the day.
Where:
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| 3:30pm | What Happened to the Confederate Prisoners of Fort Donelson? |
| On February 16, 1862, almost 13,000 Confederate soldiers were surrendered were surrendered to the Federal army of Ulysses S. Grant. Not only was it the first strategic Union victory of the war, it also gave to the North a new hero in the form of Ulysses S. Grant. But what about the now prisoners-of-war? What would happen to them?
Join military historian Jim Vaughn as he shares the stories of these soldiers and their experiences post-battle as prisoners of war.
Where: |