Fort Donelson National Battlefield - Lower River Batteries (U.S. National Park Service)

The Confederates built upper and lower river batteries in an attempt to defend the strategic transportation and supply routes provided by the river and protect major supply bases in Clarksville and Nashville, Tennessee. They armed the batteries with heavy seacoast artillery.

Park Staff

Lower River Batteries

On this site, untested Confederate gunners defeated Federal ironclad and timberclad gunboats under command of Flag Officer Andrew Foote. Using the same tactics successfully employed at Fort Henry, Foote brought the gunboats very close to the Confederate artillery hoping to shell the batteries into submission. Foote's flotilla became an excellent target for the Confederate guns, however, because of flooding, a higher elevation, and the slow movement of the heavy gunboats the Confederates inflicted serious damage to the gunboats and wounded many sailors. Foote, a seasoned naval officer who was wounded in the exchange, reported to a newspaper that he had been in numerous engagements with forts and ships, "but never was under so severe fire before." The roar of this land and naval battle was heard thirty-five miles away.

HFC

Artist conception of exchanging Iron Valentines

Photograph taken May, 2011, behind one of the awesome guns at the Lower Battery.

Flag Officer Andrew Hull Foote was in charge of the naval fleet at Fort Donelson. In his official report from the Battle, Foote described the United States Navy "not prepared." He was wounded during the exchange of artillery on February 14, 1862. For the battles at Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, and Island #10, Foote received the "Thanks of Congress." He later was promoted to Rear Admiral, and died in June, 1863.

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