Fort Dickerson

Fort Dickerson (1863-1865) - A Union U.S. Civil War Fort established in 1863 in Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee. Named Fort Dickerson 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.

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.

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USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) Database Entry: 1680761

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Location: Fort Dickerson Park, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee. Maps & Images Lat: 35.94778 Long: -83.91611 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 1112'

See Also:

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.

Links:

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

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