Fort Donelson National Battlefield

Join us for a Civil War medical program at 1:00 pm at the Dover Hotel. This program will discuss the common misconceptions about Civil War medicine, the important role of women nurses, and the stories of those who were wounded at Fort Donelson. Learn about specific tools used in surgeries from our replica Civil War era surgery kit and discover the people behind Civil War medicine.

Join us for a Civil War medical program at 1:00 pm at the Dover Hotel. This program will discuss the common misconceptions about Civil War medicine, the important role of women nurses, and the stories of those who were wounded at Fort Donelson. Learn about specific tools used in surgeries from our replica Civil War era surgery kit and discover the people behind Civil War medicine.

Join Fort Donelson Park Rangers on Saturday, January 31, 2026, for a special program about a significant but lesser-known engagement that impacted both the town of Dover and secured Union control of Middle Tennessee.

The Battle of Dover?

Yes, there was a fierce battle in and around the town of Dover, Tennessee, taking place on February 3, 1863, almost a full year after the Battle of Fort Donelson. As it occurred in Dover, and over some of the same territory as the battle of Fort Donelson, and an earlier battle in August, the engagement is also known as the "Third Battle of Fort Donelson."

Col. Abner C. Harding and 800 Union soldiers fought valiantly to fend off repetitive attacks by 2,000 Confederates under the command of Major General Joseph “Joe” Wheeler and Brigadier General Nathan Bedford Forrest. At nightfall Wheeler ordered a retreat.

The aftermath changed the town and hurt Confederate leadership for the rest of the war.

Rangers will provide details of the engagement, key positions and significant areas of fighting. They will also delve into the often-overlooked role that garrisoned units performed during the war.

No reservations are needed. We ask those attending to please arrive 10 minutes prior to the 2:00 pm start time.

The program is weather dependent. In the event of questionable weather, updates will be posted on the park Facebook page, website, or you can call the Ranger office at 931-232-5706. Additional information may also be obtained via email at fodo_information@nps.gov

Join park rangers for a guided hike to an overlook of the flooded remains of Fort Henry. From this vantage point, rangers will discuss the Feb. 6, 1862, battle for control of the Tennessee River and the heart of the Confederacy. The trail is uneven in places; sturdy footwear is recommended.

As generations pass, communities expand, and infrastructure changes, often the tell-tale signs of periods past become hidden or misinterpreted. Join in this program to see how historic maps and accounts, combined with archeological survey and technology to better identify the “what was where” 1862 landscape of the Fort Donelson battlefield. Event location on the battlefield park will be announced via social media prior to Feb 6. Location information will also be obtained by calling 931-232-5706 or stopping at the visitor center during regular operating hours.

This 0.6-mile, round-trip ranger-led hike examines one of the more ill-planned and deadly Union actions of the battle. Brig. Gen. John A. McClernand stated he had been ordered to “avoid everything calculated to bring on a general engagement,” but then ordered an attack. The attack failed and left McClernand with several battered regiments. The route includes steep and uneven terrain; appropriate footwear is recommended.

Rangers and living history volunteers will demonstrate Civil War artillery firing procedures and illustrate how cannons were used during the campaign. Ear protection is recommended.

Retired park historian and author Jim Jobe will discuss the intense engagements between Federal ironclads and Confederate shore batteries. These actions transformed riverine warfare during the Civil War.

Step inside the historic Surrender House and observe Brig. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant tell a war correspondent about the campaign and the events that led to Union victory, national fame and eight years in the White House.

Join us for a Civil War medical program at the Dover Hotel. This program will discuss the common misconceptions about Civil War medicine, the important role of women nurses, and the stories of those who were wounded at Fort Donelson. Learn about specific tools used in surgeries from our replica Civil War era surgery kit and discover the people behind Civil War medicine.