1863 map of the Battle of Dover showing positions of Union and Confederate cannons and Union troops

162nd Battle of Dover Anniversary

Fort Donelson National Battlefield

Special Event
  • Feb 1, 2025 at 2:00 PM
  • Free

162nd Battle of Dover

Dates: Saturday February 1, 2025

Time: 2:00PM 30-minute program

Location: 235 Church St, Dover, TN 37058 

208 Church St, Dover, TN 37058

On February 3, 1863, the lesser-known Battle of Dover or Second Battle of Fort Donelson took place. This battle saw a Union garrison of about 800 men under the command of Col. Abner C. Harding fend off attacks from about 2,000 Confederates under the command of Joseph “Joe” Wheeler and Nathan Bedford Forrest. The Confederates gained some ground but stiff Union resistance and Confederates inability to dislodge Union defenders led to high Confederate casualties. The aftermath of the battle was important for the town and the war. The battle destroyed most of the town of Dover and only 4 buildings remained at the end of the war. The battle cemented Union control of the town and region. It also led to a permanent rift between the two Confederate commanders as Forrest swore to never serve under Joe Wheeler again.

The tour will cover the lead up to the battle, the battle itself, and where units were positioned and the importance it had in the war. The program will also touch on the important but overlooked role that garrison units performed during the war.

No reservations are needed. For anyone interested in attending, we ask that you arrive 10 minutes early to allow the program to start on time. The program will take place in the parking lot of First Baptist Church of Dover Family Life Center.

Program is dependent on staffing and weather and subject to cancellation. Any cancellation, and information will be posted to our park Facebook page and to the park website. For questions, please call 931-305-1001 or email FODO_Information@nps.gov

Fees

This event is free to attend.

Location

Parking lot of First Baptist Church Dover. 235 Church St, Dover, TN 37058

Latitude and Longitude 36.485935, -87.843666

Schedule

Date:

Feb 1, 2025

Time:

2:00 PM

Duration:

30 minutes

Please arrive 10-15 minutes early to allow the program to start on time.

Contact Information

Bill Fields
931-232-5706 x0
Contact Us

Event Type

  • Talk