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

The Upper Water Battery

Photographed by Craig Swain, September 4, 2010

1. The Upper Water Battery Marker

Inscription. C.S.A.
The Upper Water Battery
Captain Reuben R. Ross
CommanderLocated on this position, this battery mounted one 6 1-2-inch rifled gun and two 32-pounder Carronades. The guns were manned by a detachment of Ross’ Battery of Maury Artillery which arrived at Dover on February 11, 1862. First assigned by General Pillow to the left of the line of trenches, the battery responded to a call for volunteers, and Captain Ross’ command took charge of these guns and the Columbiad in the lower water battery.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is February 1854.

Location. 36° 29.666′ N, 87° 51.294′ W. Marker is in Dover, Tennessee, in Stewart County. It is on Lock D Loop Road, on the right when traveling north. Located at stop 4, the river batteries, on the driving tour of Fort Donelson National Battlefield. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Dover TN 37058, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Middle Tennessee

and in the Highland Rim.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Find A Log Quick! (a few steps from this marker); With Admirable Precision (a few steps from this marker); Powder Magazine (within shouting distance of this marker); Gun Positions (about 300 feet away, measured

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in a direct line); The River Batteries (about 300 feet away); Foote's Gunboat Flotilla (about 400 feet away); Exchanging Iron Valentines (about 400 feet away); Reconstructed Powder Magazine (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dover.

Also see . . .
1. Battle of Fort Donelson. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on February 13, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

2. Fort Donelson National Battlefield. National Park Service website. (Submitted on August 2, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)

Photographed by Shane Oliver, February 21, 2021

2. The Upper Water Battery Marker

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, July 27, 2003

3. The Upper Water Battery Marker

The Upper Water Battery and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, September 4, 2010

4. The Upper Water Battery and Marker

Reproduction 32-pounder Carronades and a Rodman-type Columbiad.

Photographed by Shane Oliver, February 21, 2021

5. The Upper Water Battery and Marker

Artillery at the Upper Water Battery image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, July 27, 2003

6. Artillery at the Upper Water Battery

Heavy seacoast artillery, such as this located at the upper water battery, defended the water approach to major supply bases in Clarksville and Nashville, TN.

The Lower Water Battery image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, July 27, 2003

7. The Lower Water Battery

Artillery at the lower water battery also protected the Cumberland River from a Union advance. On February 14, 1862, the river batteries defeated Flag Officer Andrew Foote's flotilla of ironclad and wooden gunboats, forcing the Union troops to resort to a land attack.

Close-Up View of 32-Pounder Carronade at the Upper Water Battery image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Shane Oliver, February 21, 2021

8. Close-Up View of 32-Pounder Carronade at the Upper Water Battery

Fort Donelson National Battlefield image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, July 27, 2003

9. Fort Donelson National Battlefield

The marker is located in the main unit of Fort Donelson National Battlefield.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 13, 2022. It was originally submitted on August 2, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,438 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on November 20, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 2. submitted on May 10, 2021, by Shane Oliver of Richmond, Virginia. 3. submitted on August 2, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 4. submitted on November 20, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 5. submitted on May 10, 2021, by Shane Oliver of Richmond, Virginia. 6, 7. submitted on August 2, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 8. submitted on May 10, 2021, by Shane Oliver of Richmond, Virginia. 9. submitted on August 2, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.