Changing Hands

Clarksville, a communication and transportation center was strategically significant because of the Cumberland River and the Memphis, Clarksville and Louisville Railroad. The area's rich agricultural produce—grain, livestock, tobacco, and corn—and the products of its iron industry reached the nation and world via these transportation assets.

Three forts on the Cumberland River, Forts Donelson, Defiance, and Clark protected this pro-Confederate town and many of Clarksville's residents rushed to join Southern military units. After the surrender of Fort Donelson in February 1862, however, Union gunboats and troops from Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's army occupied Clarksville.

Federal control proved tenuous. The Confederates briefly reclaimed the town in August 1862; it returned temporarily to Union control in September 1862. The Federals occupied Clarksville permanently in December 1862 when Col. Sanders Bruce's brigade took charge of the town and Fort Defiance, which was renamed Fort Bruce.

Clarksville became a gathering place for white Unionists and escaped slaves who were housed in tobacco warehouses along the river and near Fort Bruce. Eventually more than 3,000 refugees converged on the town, outnumbering local residents.

In 1863, after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, the Federals began to recruit free blacks and former slaves for military service. Some 1,800 joined the Federal army and were inducted into the 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th and 101st U.S. Colored Troops in ceremonies on Clarksville's public square.

(captions)
Col. Sanders Bruce Courtesy Howard Winn
New York Herald, February 24, 1862 — Courtesy Howard Winn
Clarksville, 1876 bird's-eye view — Courtesy Montgomery County Archives

Sorry, but we don't have a picture of this historical marker yet. If you have a picture, please share it with us. It's simple to do. 1) Become a member. 2) Adopt this historical marker listing. 3) Upload the picture.

Show me all markers in:  Clarksville, TN  |  Montgomery County  |  37040  |  Tennessee  |  United States of America

First Court House
Freedom Light, a War Memorial
John Montgomery Statue
Whitfield, Bradley & Co.
Town Spring
Kennedy and Glenn's Bank
Clarence Cameron White
Surrender of Clarksville
Legion Street
Arlington Hotel

• GPX
• KML
• LOC

Have you seen this marker? If so, check in and tell us about it.