Monument to USCT dedicated in Tenn. city that was a recruitment center

A monument to U.S. Colored Troops was unveiled at Fort Defiance Civil War Park and Interpretive Center in Clarksville, Tenn. Hundreds gathered for a weekend Juneteenth ceremony filled with speeches, music, poems and dance in honor of the troops. Clarksville served as a recruitment center for escaped slaves who joined the Union army. -- Article

Working replica cannon set at courthouse

A thunderous boom announced the arrival the newest addition to the Montgomery County Courthouse lawn: A working replica of a Civil War-era cannon. The Leaf-Chronicle of Clarksville, Tenn., reports the gun is a gift from the Rotary Club to celebrate its 100th anniversary. It was built using original drawings of a Model 1841 6-pounder field piece. • Article

Fort Defiance park opens next week

The City of Clarksville, Tenn., will open the Fort Defiance Civil War Park and Interpretive Center on April 9. Fort Defiance, which overlooks the confluence of the Red and Cumberland Rivers, was a cornerstone of the Confederate defense of the area and, subsequently, an important part of the eventual Union occupation of Clarksville. • Article