Fort Dickerson

Fort Dickerson (1863-1865) - A Union U.S. Civil War Fort established in 1863 in Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee. Named Fort Dickerson in G.O. 37 (Army of the Ohio), 11 Dec 1863 after Captain Jonathan C. Dickerson, 112th Illinois Volunteer Mounted Infantry, who was killed 18 Sep 1863 near Cleveland, Tennessee. Fort abandoned in 1865 at the end of the war.

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  Plan of Fort Dickerson

History of Fort Dickerson

Established in 1863 as a strong earthworks fortification with 25 gun platforms. Construction wasn't completed until February 1864. Withstood the Confederate siege of Knoxville between 17 Dec 1863 and 4 Dec 1863.

Knoxville defenses 1863

• 15-16 Nov 1863 - Repulsed assaults by 5,000 Confederate Cavalry.
• Nov-Dec 1863 - Withstood the Siege of Knoxville.
• Nov 1863 - Provided artillery support for the Battles of Armstrong’s Hill.

The fort was abandoned at the end of the war in 1865.

Current Status

Earthworks remains and three markers. The earthworks are considerably worn down and only depressions indicate where the magazine was.

Context

Location: Fort Dickerson Park, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee.
Lat: 35.948° Long: -83.916° Elevation: 1112' Bing, Google, OldMapsOnline, USGS, OHM

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See Also:

• Knoxville Defense System - U.S. Civil War

Sources:

• Roberts, Robert B., Encyclopedia of Historic Forts: The Military, Pioneer, and Trading Posts of the United States, Macmillan, New York, 1988, 10th printing, ISBN 0-02-926880-X, page 739.
• USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) Database Entry: {{{ID}}}

Links:

• North American Forts - Fort Dickerson
• HMDB - Fort Dickerson (1863-1864)
• HMDB - Fort Dickerson

Gallery

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  Fort Dickerson
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  Fort Dickerson

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