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Battle of the American Civil War
Middle Tennessee Operations
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The
Battle of Dover
, also known as the
Second Battle of Fort Donelson
, was a battle of the
American Civil War
, occurring on February 3, 1863, in
Stewart County, Tennessee
.
[1]
Background
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"In late January 1863,
Confederate
Major General
Joseph Wheeler
, commanding two brigades of cavalry, took position on the
Cumberland River
at Palmyra to disrupt Union shipping. The Federals, however, apprised of Wheeler's intent, refrained from sending any boats up or downriver. Unable to disrupt Union shipping and realizing that he and his men could not remain in the area indefinitely, Wheeler decided to attack the garrison at
Dover, Tennessee
, which informers reported was small and could easily be overwhelmed."
[1]
Battle
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Map of Dover Battlefield core and study areas by the
American Battlefield Protection Program
"The Confederates set out for Dover and began an attack between 1 and 2 p.m., on February 3. The 800-man garrison, under the command of
Colonel
Abner C. Harding
, was in and about the town of Dover where they had chosen camps that commanded the area and had dug rifle pits and battery emplacements. The Confederates mounted a determined attack using artillery fire with great skill, but were repulsed with heavy losses. By dusk, both sides were mostly without ammunition. The Confederates surveyed the Union defenses and decided that the enemy was too well placed to allow capture."
[1]
Aftermath
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"Wheeler's force retired. The Federals sent out a pursuit but to no avail. The Confederates had failed to disrupt shipping on the Cumberland River and capture the garrison at Dover. This Confederate failure left the Union in control in
Middle Tennessee
and a bitter
Brigadier General
Nathan Bedford Forrest
denounced Wheeler, a favorite of General
Braxton Bragg
, saying he would not serve under him again."
[1]
Notes
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References
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36°29′05″N
87°51′27″W
/
36.48485°N 87.85747°W
/
36.48485; -87.85747
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Origins
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Combatants
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Campaigns
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Battles
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Involvement
(by city or town)
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Leaders
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Aftermath
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Related topics
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