Day 22        Dover, Tennessee

80 feet from shore and 52 feet deep

Kentucky/Tennesse state border sign on the right;  river daymark 74.7 on the left on the Cumberland River

Approaching Ft. Donelson

Cannons at Ft. Donelson, circa 1862

Dover Hotel where Grant accepted unconditional surrender

Our anchorage at MM 90.5 on the Cumberland River near Dover, Tennessee

Another beautiful day – the start of the 4^th week of our trip.  We left our Drydens Creek anchorage at 9:00 am and arrived at Lake Barkley State Park Marina at 10:30 where we fueled up, pumped out, and got ice.  We continued down the Cumberland River for several hours.  At MM 86.2 we passed Ft. Donelson, a Confederate stronghold in the Civil War.  According to Fred Myers, “The Cumberland River Cruise Guide”, on February 14, 1862, Union forces encircled Ft. Donelson and forced 13,000 Confederate troops to surrender.  Loss of the fort and control of the river was devastating to the South.  It was the first major victory for the Union and catapulted General Ulysses S. Grant to national prominence.  Further up the river is the Dover Hotel where on February 26, 1862, General Grant accepted unconditional surrender.  It was the first and only time during the Civil War that a large army surrendered unconditionally.  About 3:30 pm we anchored at MM 90.5 behind Dover Island near Dover, Tennessee.  Tonight’s galley feature is “crusted flounder filet with almond, lemon, and chives” with a side dish of corn in butter sauce, and complemented with a glass of cabernet sauvignon.   Yeah, really.  That’s what we had!  Life is good.