Fort Donelson, Tennessee
I chose to visit Fort Donelson in Northern Tennessee after driving through to Memphis thinking of visiting 'Graceland'. After arriving at Graceland I quickly decided it wasn't for me, (think of gift shops selling black plastic Elvis dolls with swivelling hips).
I took a break in a cafe there and used their wi-fi to look around. It was about 150 miles to Fort Donelson so I took a steady drive there and stopped in a nearby hotel. In the morning I was up very early and out to see the Confederate Battlements on the Cumberland River built to protect the heart of the Confederacy.
It was an eerie walk through the woods and past the Confederate trenches and canon as they stand looking over the river for an enemy long since victorious.
There were some interesting information posts dotted around the place explaining how poor souls met their demise, one explained that Confederate Soldiers were not permitted in Arlington National Cemetery (as they fought against the union) so the monument of a single soldier standing on a plinth was created by the 'United Daughters of Confederacy'
The picket fences have been rebuilt but the trenches from the battle of Fort Donelson remain as they were, the canons have been resighted as they were and with the mist floating above the ground like gun-smoke it is a memorable walk. The most striking thing without doubt was how damn close together the trenches were, it must have been possible in places to hear the other side talking to each other. This was a really interesting stop off and I'm glad I got to see it.