Dover Hotel, February 16, 1862

When General Ulysses S. Grant road up here on Sunday morning, he had already received a letter from the rebel commander agreeing to the surrender of Fort Donelson and the Confederate forces occupying Dover.  Grant had come to meet the defeated general, Simon B. Buckner, at his temporary headquarters at the Dover Hotel (now restored).

Ironically, the two generals had been friends before the war and students together at West point.  Now after four days of skirmishing and better fighting, ending with Grant’s demand for “unconditional surrender,” the two soldiers met again.

Their conversation was friendly.  Grant conveyed his respect for his opponent’s ability, while Buckner bore the defeat with dignity.  After the war they would renew their friendship.  Buckner would become Governor of Kentucky, and Grant the 18th President of the United States.

SOURCE:  NPS Historical Marker Placed in front of the Dover Hotel (at right).