On November 29, 1863 , the Confederate forces of James Longstreet massed for a pre-dawn attack on a Union earthwork just west of Knoxville, Tennessee.

The earthwork, held by the troops under Ambrose Burnside, seemed vulnerable.    It appeared that the rate of fire from the northwest bastion simply could not stop a large attacking force.    Incomplete or inaccurate Confederate reconnaissance failed to reveal a deep ditch in front of the parapet, and that flaw would lead to the disastrous attack.

One Hundred forty four years later a documentary production crew used the description of Union engineer Orlando Poe to reconstruct the northwest bastion.  Built on a slope very similar to the original location, the bastion stands as a monument to the men who met in battle on that fateful day.

Confederate re-enactors are needed to storm the fort.  This is a very accurate reproduction of Fort Sanders.  From the bottom of the ditch  to the top of the parapet is 20 feet.  Climbing with weapon in hand is difficult.   It will test you.