Rocky Top in Anderson County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Fort Anderson

Photographed by Tom Bosse, March 4, 2017

1. Fort Anderson Marker

Inscription. The Tennessee National Guard built Fort Anderson on Militia Hill in 1892 to restore order during the Coal Creek War. The fort is located off Vowell Mountain Road, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

According to the Tennessee Blue Book, A History of Tennessee, "Violence in the coal fields peaked during the summer of 1892, when state militia fought pitched battles with armed miners, arrested over 500 of them, and killed 27. The miner uprisings prodded the General Assembly to end convict leasing, making Tennessee one of the first Southern states to get rid of the system."

Erected by Coal Creek Watershed Foundation.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Coal Creek Watershed Foundation series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1892.

Location. 36° 12.883′ N, 84° 10.017′ W. Marker is in Rocky Top, Tennessee, in Anderson County. It is at the intersection of Beech Grove Road and Vowell Mountain Lane, on the left when traveling north on Beech Grove Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Rocky Top TN 37769, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in East Tennessee and in Greater Knoxville. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, in Appalachia, and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Ghosts of Convict Miners (here, next to this marker); Why Miners Fought

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

(here, next to this marker); Coal Creek War (here, next to this marker); Convict Lease System (here, next to this marker); Militia Hill (here, next to this marker); Breastworks (here, next to this marker); American Chestnuts (here, next to this marker); Fire on Coal Creek (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Rocky Top.

Photographed by Tom Bosse, March 4, 2017

2. Fort Anderson Marker

Fort Anderson image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tom Bosse

3. Fort Anderson

Harpers Weekly Magazine drawing from the time of the Coal Creek War showing site of Ft. Anderson on Militia Hill.

Photographed by Tom Bosse

4. Fort Anderson

Photo of cannon on Militia Hill during Coal Creek War.

Fort Anderson on Militia Hill image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tom Bosse, March 4, 2017

5. Fort Anderson on Militia Hill

Cannon overlooking Rocky Top (formerly Coal Creek / Lake City), Tennessee.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 27, 2017. It was originally submitted on March 11, 2017, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 2,014 times since then and 126 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 11, 2017, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. 5. submitted on March 26, 2017, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.