Fort Donelson National Battlefield

Union forces commanded by Ulysses S. Grant in February 1862 encircled and defeated the Confederate Army at Fort Donelson on the Cumberland River near the Kentucky and Tennessee border. It was at this battle that Grant gained the nickname “Unconditional Surrender” and Grant created a pathway to victory against the South with Clarksville and Nashville falling to the Union within days of the battle.

Areas of Attractions:

Dover Hotel – This was the location of the surrender of Fort Donelson by the Confederate troops to Grant.

Confederate River Batteries – 11 cannons located along the river defeated the Union ironclad and timberclad gunboats which sailed down the Ohio and Tennessee Rivers to reach the battle.

The National Cemetery established here in 1867 contains graves of both the soldiers from the Civil War battle as well as other veterans of United States wars.