Sankofa Soldiers to tell of war’s strife as seen from the eyes of African American soldiers and their families.
Life at Fort Donelson for African American soldiers and their families will come alive Saturday April 4 in a historic retelling of this part of history. In a one day staging, offered in two presentations, actors will present a dramatic presentation of the history and lives of Tennessee’s Civil War participants. The event is free and open to the public.
“Songs and Stories of African Americans ” will be presented at the Stewart County Annex. A theatrical production based on historical research about black soldiers and their families at Fort Donelson combines historical drama with research about Black Soldiers recruited at Fort Donelson. Their stories, and their family stories, will be told in an original production by Nancy J. Dawson, a West Kentucky University professor. Admission is free for this day-long event commemorating the struggles of African American soldiers and their families. The play will be staged at 12 Noon and 2 PM.
In the 12th US Colored Heavy Artillery Encampment, Interpretive talks and programs will be offered on Saturday, April 4, from 11 am & 1 pm. Free. The encampment will be held at Noon and 2 pm. In the case of inclement weather, the Stewart County Annex will be utilized nearby the national park. The event is free. Reception to follow at 5:30 pm at the Annex.
How to get to Fort Donelson and Stewart County Annex:
From Clarksville: The park is located in Dover, Tennessee, northwest of Nashville. From Nashville, take I-24W to Clarksville (Exit 4). Take a left on Wilma Rudolph Blvd. Stay on this highway until you reach 101st Airborne Division Pkwy. Take a right at this intersection. This highway will change into Hwy. 374. From Hwy 374, turn right on Hwy. 79 South. Follow signs to Dover (approximately 30 miles). The visitor center is one mile west of the town.
From Paducah, KY: Take Interstate 24 East to exit 31. South on Hwy 453 to Land Between the Lakes (LBL). Follow the Trace road through LBL to US Hwy 79. Left on US Hwy 79 approximately 1.3 miles to Battlefield Entrance.
From Murray, KY: Take 641S to Hwy 121. Once you reach Hwy 79 at Paris Landing, take a left. Follow signs to the park (approximately 13 miles).
In the first image in this post the canons are facing to the left which indicates that they are actually facing downstream, or the direction that the approaching Union river forces under Admiral Foote would have come from.
The photo caption info is directly from the Fort Donelson website. This is how they describe the guns.. So, if you disagree, I suggest you complain to the park staff.
Fort Donelson is on one side of the river. The left descending shore. If you stand on the left descending shore and face the river to your left would be downstream, to your right up stream. In the photo, the batteries are facing to the left side of the photo with the river on the right, and so we are looking downstream. I checked the web site and could not find a caption for the image in question, but if it is from their web site then yes, they have the caption incorrect.