Dover in Stewart County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Fort Donelson

Photographed By Craig Swain, September 4, 2010

1. Fort Donelson Marker

Inscription. The mounds of earth you see before you are the remains of Fort Donelson, which originally covered 15 acres. Confederate soldiers and enslaved African Americans built the fort over a period of seven months. The walls, made of logs and earth, stood 10 feet high. Although not as permanent as brick or stone, earthen walls provided better protection against artillery fire.

Confederates built the fort to protect upper and lower batteries along the Cumberland River from land attack. The fort, however, never came under direct land attack. All fighting, except for the ironclad gunboat attacks on the river batteries, took place in the outer defense lines.

Brigadier General Daniel S. Donelson
the man for whom the fort was named, participated in the original 1861 survey that selected the sites for both Forts Henry and Donelson.

Erected by Fort Donelson National Battlefield - National Park Service - Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1861.

Location. 36° 29.444′ N, 87° 51.405′ W. Marker is in Dover, Tennessee, in Stewart County. Marker is on Fort Donelson Park Road, on the left when traveling east. Located at

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stop two in Fort Donelson National Battlefield. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Dover TN 37058, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A different marker also named Fort Donelson (here, next to this marker); Life at Fort Donelson (approx. 0.2 miles away); Stankiewicz's Battery (approx. 0.2 miles away); Powder Magazine (approx. ¼ mile away); With Admirable Precision (approx. ¼ mile away); Find A Log Quick! (approx. ¼ mile away); Gun Positions (approx. ¼ mile away); The Upper Water Battery (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dover.

Photographed By Shane Oliver, February 21, 2021

2. Fort Donelson Marker

Marker is significantly weathered but still readable.

Tablet and Marker at Tour Stop Two image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain

3. Tablet and Marker at Tour Stop Two

Section of the Inner Fort Wall image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, September 4, 2010

4. Section of the Inner Fort Wall

Entrance to Fort Donelson image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Shane Oliver, February 21, 2021

5. Entrance to Fort Donelson

Note that this is the entrance to the fort via the NPS auto-tour route. The original entrance (sally port) is located a few hundred yards down the ravine to the left of this photo.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 10, 2021. It was originally submitted on November 18, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 635 times since then and 12 times this year. Last updated on May 4, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. Photos: 1. submitted on November 18, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 2. submitted on May 10, 2021, by Shane Oliver of Richmond, Virginia. 3, 4. submitted on November 18, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 5. submitted on May 10, 2021, by Shane Oliver of Richmond, Virginia. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.