The River Batteries: Fort Donelson National Battlefield

C. S. A.

THE RIVER BATERIES

CAPTAIN JOSEPH DIXON (KILLED)

CAPTAIN CACOB CULBERTSON

COMMANDER

The Lower Water Battery established at this point mounted eight 32-pounder guns and one 10-inch Columbiad.  Company A, 50th Tennessee, under Captain T. W. Beaumont, manned the four guns on the right, and Company A, 30th Tennessee, under Captain. B. G. Bidwell, manned the four guns on the left.  A detachment of Captain Reuben R. Ross’ Battery of Maury Artillery under Lieutenant H. S. Bedford operated the Columbiad, which was emplaced on the extreme left.

On February 13, 1862, this battery engaged in a duel with the U.S.S. Carondelet.  Near the close of the bombardment, which lasted nearly an hour, a projectile struck and disabled the third gun from the left and killed Captain Joseph Dixon, Commander of the river batteries.  It also disabled for a short time Captain J. B. Shuster, and killed and wounded two or three privates.

Fort Donelson: Historical Marker

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.

Buckner's Division Position Marker, February 15, 1862: Fort Donelson National Battlefield

C. S. A.

BRIGADIER GENERAL SIMON B. BUCKNER’S DIVISION

On February 15, 1862, about 1 P. M., this division, in compliance with General Floyd’s orders, withdrew to its original position within the trenches covered by the 2d Kentucky and 41st Tennessee.  Only a Small Portion of the Division had reached its position when Smith’s Division attacked the right flank of the Confederate line fell upon Colonel Hanson’s regiment before it had reached the rifle pits and threw it back in confusion upon the 18th Tennessee.  Hastily forming a line behind the crest of this ridge, Colonel Hanson’s regiment repulsed the ensuing attack against this position.  Reinforced by the 14th Mississippi, the 3d and 18th Tennessee regiments as they arrived, and supported by Porter’s and a section of Grave’s artillery, the 2nd Kentucky was able to maintain its position against repeated assaults.  Towards the close of the action which lasted over two hours, General Buckner’s division was reinforced by the 42d Tennessee.  Colonel Quarles, the 50th Tennessee, Colonel Sugg, and the 49th Tennessee, Colonel Bailey.  Unsuccessful in an attempt to recover the lost trenches, General Buckner’s division had to be content to maintain its position along this ridge.