Dover in Stewart County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
Rice House
Decision to Surrender
Fort Donelson National Battlefield
| — | National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior | — |
Photographed by Shane Oliver, February 7, 2021
1. Rice House Marker
At 1:30 a.m., February 16, 1862, at a final council of war in the Rice house (originally located in front of you at the corner of Pillow and Petty streets) Confederate Generals Floyd, Pillow, and Buckner decided that their failed breakout attempt meant that surrender was inevitable. Floyd, fearing capture and prosecution in the North, turned over command to Pillow. Pillow passed it on to Buckner, who agreed to remain and surrender the fort and what was left of the army. Pillow escaped by small boat across the Cumberland in the night, Floyd the next morning on a steamer with two regiments of Virginia infantry. Forrest and 700 troopers escaped through the icy waters of Lick Creek. Bushrod Johnson, Pillow's second in command, simply walked away. Buckner wrote Grant requesting an armistice and terms of surrender.
General Buckner to General Grant, requesting terms of surrender.
"...I propose to the Commanding Officer of the Federal forces the appointment of Commissioners to agree upon terms of capitulation of the forces and Fort under my command..."
Brigadier General Simon B. Buckner
"I regarded it as my duty to remain with my men and share their fate, whatever it might be."
Brigadier
this page online
"I am determined that I will never surrender the command nor will I ever surrender myself as a prisoner. I will die first."
Brigadier General John B. Floyd
"The surrender was a painful and inexorable necessity, which could not be avoided, and not a 'measure deemed proper for the entire army'."
Brigadier General Nathan Bedford Forrest
"I did not come here to surrender my command."
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #18 Ulysses S. Grant series list. A significant historical month for this entry is February 1940.
Location. 36° 29.317′ N, 87° 50.208′ W. Marker is in Dover, Tennessee, in Stewart County. It is on Petty Street, on the right when traveling north. Located at stop ten, Dover Hotel, of 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
Photographed by Craig Swain, September 4, 2010
2. Rice House Marker
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: C.S.A. Headquarters (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Rice House (a few steps from this marker); Dover Hotel (within shouting distance of this marker); 13,000 Prisoners (within shouting distance of this marker); Surrender House (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Dover Under Fire (about 700 feet away); To All Who Served (about 700 feet away); History of the Stewart County Courthouse (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dover.
Also see . . . Fort Donelson. National Park Service site. (Submitted on December 7, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
Photographed by Craig Swain, September 4, 2010
3. Rice House Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on August 19, 2026. It was originally submitted on December 7, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,187 times since then and 50 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on May 10, 2021, by Shane Oliver of Richmond, Virginia. 2, 3. submitted on December 7, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.
