"Visit to Fort Donelson worth it" Topic

I was thinking of doing a road trip and hitting some Civil War sites one being Fort Donelson. It is a bit out of the way from where I was intending to go. Is it worth stopping to see? What exactly is there?

Did a few living histories there. One should visit all at least once. Entrenchments, some cannon, woods and 2 rivers and a small museum, at least the last time I was there. Been quite awhile ago. At least 25 years. Hot and humid in the summer. Wear clothes to keep ticks out. Mosquitos are bad too. Pretty much out in nowhere. Not one of my top 10. Visit Shiloh if you can while out that way.

I have visited Shiloh. Great site. I also enjoy Wilson Creek and Pea Ridge in the Tran-Mississippi and Gettysburg and Antietam in the east. Been to all the major sites and several of the smaller in all theaters of the war.

Gettysburg has transformed Immensely in the last 10 years or so, especially around 1st and 2nd day fields. Looks so much more of what the original field looked like. Antietam was always a favorite of mine. Been a good while since I was there. Very much the same as it originally looked, unless recently changed. Chickamauga is nice. Know the battle before going. Stones River, a little empty, but again years since my last trip and Nashville is growing like a weed. Pretty much has covered Franklin. Actually found a mini at Franklin. Made my year! Fredericksburg is disappointing because of Encroachment. Heard Appomattox is nice. Perrysville used to be pristine. Have slept on most. GBurg is my favorite, with Antietam and Chickamauga next.

Going to Vicksburg, Tupelo, Nashville and Memphis in the fall

Vicksburg is nice. Visit the "Cairo".

Stones River National Battlefield is nice, (just South of Nashville). You could also see the Pratt museum at Ft. Campbell in the same day.

Vicksburg is nice. Visit the "Cairo".

I'll be there June 1st! Part of my upcoming deep south trip. Starting with Chattanooga, family in Florida, to Mobile Bay and Fort Morgan, New Orleans, Vicksburg, then Nashville (more family).

Vicksburg is the last of my major parks never visited. Been to all the eastern ones many times (used to go to Antietam 2 or 3 times a year!).

Kim

I was disappointed with Stone River. Chickamauga is very nice. One of the best battle fields. Nothing really in Nashville was there recently. Perrysville is quite small.
Appomattox is worth visiting. It is well done with a small village feel. I also found Petersburg too be a good site.

If in Nashville, take the quick drive to Franklin.

If you're in the Nashville area, I'd recommend going to Spring Hill. Development is going like wildfire in the area and soon much of the land will be houses. Stones River has also been overrun with development. Much of the battlefield was undeveloped back in 1988. Now, Thompson Lanes elevated roadway runs almost smack thru the main battlefield and the park service felt building a "new", impressive entrance off of Thompson Lane was important (which required the rerouting of the driving tour in the park and has rendered half of that tour only accessible by walking. Also, many of the cedar woods have been cleared and built upon. It's really sad to see. Franklin is nice and they have managed to reclaim some land of the battlefield. In addition to the Carter House there is also Carnton Plantation House and grounds.

Visited Fort Doneldson in the 1990's and it was a very well kept battlefield and nice river scenics. Confederate Infantry positions are well marked and the trenches are still visable. I stood in the trench were my ancestors stood (15th Arkansas Infantry (Johnson). It was in October and no bugs. 2 thumbs up.

My last visit to Donelson, was dead summer. I thought the mosquitoes and ticks were going to carry us away overnight. Only time I ever picked up a tick. 🙂

35OVI…yes sir! On my list!!

Fort Donelson is worth taking the time to visit. I was there two years ago in October so I had no problem with the bugs. The visitors center is a bit disappointing due largely to its small size.

Well preserved trenches and the usually number of cannons and limbers that you'd see on most National Park Service battlefields. The Money Shot is the view of the Cumberland River from the site of the Confederate shore batteries, which are nicely recreated.

I like Donelson, been there a few times.

Chickamauga could be my favorite if it weren't so far away. Antietam is my #1, FYI

Going to Vicksburg and seeing how crazy some of the terrain is is worth the trip.

I have to agree with your view on Stone River. Of the National Park sites, it is way down my list

Where are you going so we can maybe suggest closer places?

larry

As I stated earlier, all fields are worth a trip. Donaldson just was never a favorite of mine. Did living history there 2 or 3 times. Always in the worst of summer, which probably accounts for a lot of my opinion. Crowds are small, normally. It is a long drive for me personally. Go in Spring or Fall, I am sure it will be more enjoyable. Bugs are bad because you are on 2 waterways and woods are heavy.

Chickamauga is interesting. Lots of woods in places, but woods today are different then during the actual battle. The rangers say that the local farmers ran their pigs In the woods prior to the war. So much of the underbrush was gone. So obviously visibility was much better during the battle then today. Also monuments are not in exact positions in some cases. For instance the 35th OVI monument on Snodgrass Hill is not in the position of the actual unit position. Van Derveer and Boynton, both commanders of the unit, were the men who got the park rolling. They wanted to make sure everyone saw the units marker, so they put it closer to the road. Same with the other 3 regiment's in the brigade.