Nashville is immersed in history, simply awash in the weight and beauty of the generations long before our own. It's an incredible thing, to live in a city that's full of stories, good and bad and difficult and lovely. The Civil War was fought in Nashville's own backyard, as a matter of fact. Though it remains a dark stain on the history of the United States, it is still powerful to remember and learn from the past: something you can do in spades at the Fort Donelson National Battlefield.

The Fort Donelson National Battlefield is a park in Dover, Tennessee, that preserves the grounds of both Fort Donelson and Fort Heiman, two historical sites featured in the American Civil War.

It's a somber place to visit since the park still preserves a large amount of the original battle site. The area was utilized for a Confederate attack against Union troops in February of 1862.

The Fort Donelson National Cemetary is also located on the grounds, with 670 men from Union troops interred on the property. Although the site is no longer used for contemporary burials, it makes for a sombering visit.

The battle at Fort Donelson was fought from February 15th to February 16th in 1862, eventually resulting in the surrender of Confederate troops. The loss was a gut punch to the south, and just days later both Clarksville and Nashville would be lost to Union troops as well.

Union troops were continuously flooded with reinforcements, a continual stream of able-bodied men that contributed to what is considered the North's first great victory.

The loss forced the Confederates to give up a majority of Tennessee as well as southern Kentucky, begrudgingly handing over control of both Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers and the railroads located in the area. Both the rivers and railroads became major arterial veins of supplies for Union troops, and their loss contributed to the draining of southern resources.

The history of Tennessee is vast and complicated, a wonderment of mankind and a testament to Americans when they are driven by a dream. It's important to revisit the past, friends. The past is what lays the foundation for the future, and only by experiencing what once was can we make solid and consistent change.

You can visit the battlefield for yourself at 120 Lock D Road in Dover, Tennessee, from 8am to 6pm every day of the week. Be sure to observe park rules, however, and be respectful to the past this shadowed national battlefield represents.

You can continue to experience the amazing expanse of Tennessee history with a visit to this county general store.