Dover, Tenn.–Fort Donelson will offer several programs throughout the day for July 4:
Today’s schedule of programs
Tuesday, July 4th
11am Free State (Tour Stop #11)
“What was Free State?
Join a ranger and learn about this community of recently enslaved African Americans that lived, worked, and experienced freedom for the first time at the Union fort here in Dover, TN. What can we discover about them from stories left behind?
1pm River Batteries (Tour Stop #4)
“Exchanging Iron Valentines”
Join with a park ranger and learn about the exciting and unprecedented events of February 14, 1862, when the new, “state of the art” ironclad gunboats of the Union Western flotilla took on engagement with the heavily fortified river batteries of Confederate Fort Donelson.
3pm Surrender House (Tour Stop #10)
“Ungenerous and Unchivalrous terms”
Join with a park ranger for a program about the surrender of almost 13,000 Confederate soldiers and its’ impact on the war effort. The Dover Hotel was the site of that memorable meeting between Generals Ulysses Grant and Simon Buckner.
Photo: The Dover Hotel “Surrender House”, where Confederate General Simon Buckner surrendered to Union General Ulysses Grant.