This month marks the 144th anniversary of the battle of Fort Dickerson in Knoxville, Tennessee. Fort Dickerson's annual Living History Weekend was held Nov. 9-Nov. 11. It allowed Knoxvillians to remember their heritage through a weekend of Civil War reenactments.

Fort Dickerson was designed by Capt. Orlando M. Poe, chief engineer of the Army of the Ohio, and built by the Federal Army during the winter of 1863 to protect Knoxville from Confederate troops. The fort was named for Captain Jonathan C. Dickerson, 112th Illinois Mounted Infantry.

During the Civil War, Fort Dickerson stood approximately 200 feet above surrounding terrain. The fort was equipped with log gates, a covered powder magazine and 25 embrasures (openings through which cannons fired). Today it still stands tall above the city, though nowhere near its once 200 feet, just off of Chapman Highway.

The battle at Fort Dickerson actually happened before the fort was completed. In November of 1863, Confederate troops lead by Gen. James Longstreet moved towards Knoxville from Loudon, determined to take the city for the Confederacy. During the Civil War, Knoxville was very pro-Union, and the Union was actually holding the city at the time of the battle. Vice-president of Knoxville Civil War Roundtable (a group that helps commemorate and preserve Civil War history) Joan Markel was on site at the Living History Weekend to help explain Knoxville's slightly confusing Civil War history.

Markel explained that though many Knoxvillians held slaves during the Civil War, most were Unionist supporters. Markel admits that this is confusing to many people today because the issues concerning the Civil War often get lumped into two categories: pro-slavery (the Confederacy) or anti-slavery (the Union). It's just not that simple, though, according to Markel. East Tennessee actually voted against secession despite the fact that there were many domestic servants in the region. When the state of Tennessee still chose to secede from the Union, East Tennesseans wanted to secede from the rest of Tennessee. "This was not a political possibility," said Markel. Therefore Tennessee seceded and East Tennessee was viewed as a region to be distrusted.

Gen. Longstreet, in his attempt to take Knoxville, sent Confederate troops to the city under Gen. Joseph Wheeler. The Confederate cavalry did not know that Federal cavalry were on guard in the Maryville area under Gen. William P. Sanders. Wheeler's troops surprised the Federal troops on the morning of Nov. 14. The Federal troops were grossly outnumbered by the Confederate troops. The Federal troops` saving grace was Sanders` plan of defense, which was to keep moving the Confederate troops up to the base of what would become Fort Dickerson. While engaged in battle, Wheeler found the infantry had joined the Federal army, and artillery was in place on the heights of the fort. Wheeler deemed the hill too steep and the cost of time and manpower too high to continue the battle. He and his troops withdrew from battle and rejoined Gen. Longstreet in the siege of Knoxville. General Sanders was killed on what is now Kingston Pike while he and his troops attempted to hold back the on-coming Confederate troops.

The Fort Dickerson Living History Weekend is held on what Markel says is the "authentic, untouched civil war earthwork" of Fort Dickerson. The fort is a city park, owned and maintained by the city of Knoxville. The event was sponsored by the City of Knoxville Parks and Recreation Department. Admission was completely free of charge. Markel said that the event's main goal was to increase public awareness as to how important the Civil War was. On site there were a plethora of demonstrations to watch, people to speak with, plaques to read, music to hear, memorabilia to purchase and refreshments to partake in.

The memorabilia available contained items such as Confederate soldier paper dolls, Civil War books, battle scene paintings, children's Confederate and Union uniform jackets, and even lighters with the phrase "The South Will Rise Again" printed across it. The memorabilia was sold by the United Daughters of the Confederacy, a group of women whose ancestors were Civil War veterans.

Ed Archer, author, historian and great grandson of Confederate Gen. James J. Archer, gave a well-defined Civil War medical demonstration. Archer spoke of the uses of rubbing alcohol (used to mix solutions of medicines), chloroform, ether and opium derivatives (all used to anesthetize patients), tools used to remove bullets and even saws and clamps used to remove unsalvageable limbs.

Later on in the morning we watched John Hitt, a veteran of the United States army, help 13-year-old Madison Barnett load a small cannon for an artillery demonstration. All weaponry used was loaded with only gun powder for sound and smoke.

The period clothing they wore could cost as much as $1,500. These clothes are purchased at the participant's own expense.

The day's activities also included an infantry drill and veterans remembrance.

The Living History Weekend at Fort Dickerson is a must for anyone interested in history, be it local or national. With an educated staff of volunteers ready to talk and explain, the Living History Weekend is far from dull. Its educational value is equal to its entertainment value.