This detachment... washed the stain of imputed cowardice from its skirts in the blood of the enemy.

On August 25, 1862, 500-800 Confederate guerillas under the command of Thomas Woodward stormed the town of Dover, Tennessee, and attacked the defending force of 150 Union soldiers of the disgraced 71st Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Within 30 minutes to an hour of fighting, the Union soldiers had "...washed the stain of imputed cowardice from its skirts in the blood of the enemy." Only a few days earlier, the bulk of the regiment had surrendered themselves and Clarksville, Tennessee, without a fight.

For these men, this battle, against a much larger force, redeemed themselves after the general public and military officials had attacked them for their performance at Shiloh and Clarksville. 

On Saturday, August 23, join a Park Ranger for a special program commemorating the 163rd Anniversary of the 2nd Battle of Dover. Learn about the Confederates under Thomas Woodward, the 71st Ohio Infantry, the battles impact on the town of Dover, and how this small battle was part of the larger war.

The program will take place at the cemetery at First Christian Church. Parking for this event is at First Baptist Church Dover which is located across the street from the cemetery.

In the interest of safety, in the event of inclement weather, programs are subject to cancelation. Information as to program status will be available online, or by contacting the Ranger office at 931-232-0576.

Fees

This event is free to attend.

Location

220 Church Street, Dover, TN 37058

Latitude and Longitude 36.486538, -87.843719

Schedule

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

Contact Information

Bill Fields
931-232-5706
Contact Us

Event Type

• Talk