Fort Defiance (formerly also known as Fort Sevier & Fort Bruce)…read more We loved the little walking path that was here. It shows some of the original earthworks. Museum was very informative. Clarksville, TN in the 1860's was a vital communication/transportation center for the Confederacy. It was a major producer of tobacco and agricultural goods but became an important source of iron (its local foundries producing cannon, artillery shells and musket balls for the Confederate army early in the war). Clarksville's location at the confluence of the Cumberland and Red Rivers made it a strategic point. The Confederates in preparing for the city's defense constructed Fort Sevier on a hill that commands the two rivers. On February 19, 1862, Union gunboats came up the river from Fort Donelson and reported the fort displayed a white flag and was left deserted. The Union took over the fort and enlarged it so that it would control traffic on the Hopkinsville (Kentucky) Pike. After the Emancipation Proclamation in January 1863, Clarksville became a Federal recruitment center for the induction of free blacks and former slaves into the Union service.

We stopped by since we were killing some time in town for a wedding later in the day. The small…read moremuseum was pretty interesting as was the video. If so inclined they have a long walking path down to the river ( beware the path back is uphill). The fort itself is not much to see given it is just earthen walls. Nice views to downtown c-ville. Ok especially if you are a civil war history buff but for all others... meh.