Fort Defiance

Fort Defiance was an earthworks fort hastily erected by Confederate forces in the winter of 1861-62. It surrendered to Union gunboats in Feb. 1862. Renamed Fort Bruce and continually manned by federal forces from Oct. 1862 to Sept. 1865, it was positioned to defend Clarksville from attack up the Cumberland River or across the Red River bridge. Although the post was never directly assaulted, heavy skirmishing in the area occurred in 1862 and 1863. In 1864 and 1865 the garrison operated against guerrillas infesting the Cumberland River region.

Clarksville, Tennessee · United States