Fort Defiance (Tennessee) facts for kids
Fort Defiance was an important fort built during the American Civil War (1861-1865). It was located in Clarksville, Tennessee, right on the Cumberland River. This fort was also known as Fort Sevier and Fort Bruce at different times. The fort was captured by different armies many times during the war. Today, the city of Clarksville takes care of it as a historical site.
Building the Fort and Union Takeover
In November 1861, soldiers from the Confederate States Army started building a fort. Their goal was to control the river and protect Clarksville from enemy ships. They placed three large guns inside the fort.
On February 19, 1862, Union gunboats (ships with cannons) sailed up the river from Fort Donelson. When they reached Fort Defiance, they saw a white flag. This meant the fort was empty and no one was fighting. The Union soldiers took over the fort easily. They made it bigger and stronger so it could also control a major road called the Hopkinsville Pike.
After taking control, the Union army left a small group of soldiers to guard Clarksville. By April 1862, this group was the 71st Ohio Volunteers, led by Colonel Rodney Mason.
Battles in 1862
During July and August 1862, there was a lot of fighting by small groups of soldiers, called guerrillas, around Clarksville. On August 18, 1862, Confederate cavalry (soldiers on horseback) attacked and took Clarksville back.
Colonel Mason, who was in charge of the Union troops, was removed from his command for giving up Clarksville so easily. However, this decision was later changed. Union soldiers were then sent from Fort Donelson to get Clarksville back in September 1862.
There were small battles, called skirmishes, at New Providence on September 6, 1862, and at Riggins Hill on September 7, 1862. The Union army won these fights. They took back Clarksville and Fort Defiance. Union soldiers stayed in control of the fort and town for the rest of the war. Colonel Bruce was put in charge of Clarksville, and Fort Defiance was renamed Fort Bruce in his honor.
Fort Defiance Today
Today, Fort Defiance is a four-acre park. You can still see the old dirt walls of the fort and walk on trails. It is located at 120 A Street, Clarksville, Tennessee.
In 2011, the city of Clarksville opened a new $2 million Fort Defiance Interpretive Center. This was just in time for the 150th anniversary of the start of the American Civil War. The center helps visitors learn about the fort's history. The city of Clarksville has owned Fort Defiance since the mid-1980s. It was given to the city by a retired judge named Sam Boaz, who had owned and protected the site for many years.
