Fort Donelson National Battlefield | FRENCH’S BATTERY

French's Battery stop on the Fort Donelson National Battlefield tour

French’s Battery stop on the Fort Donelson National Battlefield tour

TOUR STOP 8: FRENCH’S BATTERY

The eighth stop on the tour of Fort Donelson National Battlefield is at the site of a four-gun Confederate artillery battery commanded by Captain David Alexander French. The battery was strategically situated on a hill overlooking Erin Hollow and was part of the Confederate outer line of defense that protected Fort Donelson from a land attack. French’s Battery covered the eastern side of the hollow while a battery commanded by Captain Frank Maney of the Tennessee Light Artillery was located on the west side. The battlefield tour does not stop at Maney’s Battery, but if you hike the Graves’ Battery to French’s Battery Trail that runs between Stop 7 (Graves’ Battery) and Stop 8, you will pass by it.

French’s Battery was located near the center of the February 15, 1862, Confederate attack on the Union right flank in an attempt to drive them back and open a hole in which the soldiers at Fort Donelson could escape to Nashville. The Union Army had completely surrounded the fort and were in a position to lay siege. The Confederates realized their choices were either to escape or surrender. While they actually did open an escape route, inept Confederate General Gideon Pillow recalled everyone to the trenches, and the Union troops moved right back into the positions they had lost earlier. The next day the Confederates surrendered.

Cannon marks the location of French's four-gun battery at Fort Donelson National Battlefield

Cannon marks the location of French’s four-gun battery at Fort Donelson National Battlefield

Similar to the Graves’ Battery stop on the battlefield tour, all there is at French’s Battery is a wayside exhibit, tablets marking troop positions, remnants of the Confederate earthworks, and a cannon marking the location of the battery. The parking lot holds only two vehicles, and it is a good walk from the parking lot to the exhibits.

Tablet marking Confederate troop positions at Fort Donelson National Battlefield

Tablet marking Confederate troop positions at Fort Donelson National Battlefield


Stop 9: Forge Road | Stop 7: Graves’ Battery | Battlefield Tour Home Page


Back to the Top


With a few exceptions, use of any photograph on the National Park Planner website requires a paid Royalty Free Editorial Use License or Commercial Use License. See the Photo Usage page for details.

Last updated on March 1, 2023
Share this article