C. S. A.
FORT DONELSON
The Confederate defenses consisted of this fort, two water
batteries, and the line of rifle pits enclosing these and the town of
Dover. The garrison of the fort proper
consisted of the
30th Tennessee, Colonel John W. Head
49th Tennessee, Colonel James E. Bailey
50th Tennessee, Colonel Cyrus A. Sugg
This force was organized by General Pillow upon his arrival
on February 9, 1862, as a brigade under Colonel Head.
On February 12, Colonel Head’s regiment was ordered to a
position in the outer defenses and the immediate command of the fort passed to
Colonel Bailey. The artillery armament
of this fort consisted of one 8-inch Howitzer and two 9-pounder guns under
Lieutenant P. K. Stankiewicz.
The Main line of resistance consisted of the line of
trenches which extend from Hickman Creek over a distance of approximately two
miles along the crest of the hills and envelop the town of Dover. At some points in front of the intrenchments
felled trees formed an abatis and presented a difficult obstacle in the path of
the attacker.