13,000 Prisoners-Fort Donelson - Dover TN
Posted by: 
Don.Morfe
N 36° 29.344 W 087° 50.182
16S E 425087 N 4038520
thirteen thousand dejected Confederate defenders of Fort Donelson huddled here against the cold on February 16, 1862. They had fought long and hard against Grant's forces and did not consider themselves defeated.
Waymark Code: WM171CA
Location: Tennessee, United States
Date Posted: 11/19/2022
Views: 1
13,000 Prisoners-Thirteen thousand dejected Confederate defenders of Fort Donelson huddled here against the cold on February 16, 1862. They had fought long and hard against Grant's forces and did not consider themselves defeated. They had been surrendered against their will and now waited to be transported north. Never before in the Civil War had so many prisoners been taken, and the poorly clad Confederates could only guess what awaited them. After being issued two day's rations and allowed to keep "their clothing, blankets, and such personal property as may be carried about the person," the prisoners were shipped 120 miles to Cairo, Illinois. From there trains carried them to prison camps in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Massachusetts. In September 1862 most of the prisoners were exchanged for Union soldiers being held in Confederate prison camps.
Where did they go?
Most of the enlisted men were taken to prison camps in Illinois and Indiana; most of the officers went to camps in Ohio and Massachusetts:
• Camps Douglas & Butler
Chicago & Springfield, Illinois
• Camp Morton
Indianapolis, Indiana
• Camp Chase & Johnson's Island
Columbus & Sandusky, Ohio
• Fort Warren
Boston, Massachuset
Erected by Fort Donelson National Battlefield - National Park Service - Department of the Interior.
LOCATION: Marker is in Dover, Tennessee, in Stewart County. Marker is on Petty Street, on the right when traveling north. Located at stop ten, Dover Hotel, of the driving tour of Fort Donelson National Battlefield. Marker is in this post office area: Dover TN 37058, United States of America.
Name of Battle:
Battle of Fort Donelson
Name of War: U.S. Civil War
Date(s) of Battle (Beginning): 02/11/1862
Entrance Fee: Not Listed
Parking: Not Listed
Date of Battle (End): Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
Post a photo of you in front of a sign or marker posted at the site of the battle (or some other way to indicate you have personally visited the site.
In addition it is encouraged to take a few photos of the surrounding area and interesting features at the site.