The Battle of Fort Sanders, November 29, 1863
Permanent exhibit
Social studies, Grades 4-12
Time required: 45 minutes
Actual weapons, ordnance, uniforms, original documents, and contemporary photographs of Knoxville and soldiers highlight the story of the Battle of Fort Sanders, a pivotal event in the Civil War in East Tennessee. Students will learn what happened and why, and appreciate the role of ordinary people in important historic events. A reenactment of the battle in DVD helps to make it all come alive.
/>In addition to the primary documentary and photographic sources in the exhibit, an expanded display includes Civil War archaeology – the excavation of an artillery battery and associated rifle pits that were the site of action on the day of the assault. The artifacts recovered emphasize the role of ordinary soldiers in this important event in local and Tennessee history, and show how archaeology can confirm, amplify, or refute the documentary record.
Tennessee Social Studies Curriculum
Economics, Geography, History, Interactions
- 4 – 4.2.04, 4.3.02, 4.3.03, 4.5.12
- 5 – 5.2.05, 5.3.01, 5.5.01, 5.6.01
- 8 – 8.3.03, 8.4.04, 8.5.18, 8.5.19, 8.5.20
- High school – U.S. History - 4.1, 5.1