CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Clarksville Parks & Recreation is hosting a “Day with the Dead” at Fort Defiance on Saturday, August 10 from 5-8 p.m. Visitors will be able to talk to historical figures from Clarksville’s past about life during the American Civil War.
Members of the Friends of Fort Defiance will perform impersonations of historical figures. One of these figures is Naomi Sevier, an early Montgomery County settler and wife of Revolutionary War veteran Valentine Sevier.
Other historical figures include Herbert Kimble, a county judge and secretary of the Texas 1836 Constitutional Convention; Dr. May Walker, a Union Army doctor and the only woman to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor; and Joseph Bayliss, a Montgomery County native and defender of the Alamo.
Fort Defiance itself was a cornerstone of Confederate defenses in the area, and later became an important part of the Union occupation of Clarksville. Today, the site features walking trails, historical artifacts, and the Fort Defiance Interpretative Center.
The Day with the Dead is free and open to anyone interested in learning more about the community’s past. For additional information, refer to the Parks & Rec Facebook Page or call Fort Defiance at (931) 472-3351.
Fort Defiance Civil War Park & Interpretive Center is located at 120 Duncan St, Clarksville, TN 37042.