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

Coal Creek War

Photographed by Tom Bosse, March 4, 2017

1. Coal Creek War Marker

Inscription. Welsh miners from the Knoxville Iron and Coal Company began mining coal at the foot of this hill in 1867, but were replaced by convict laborers during a strike in 1877. After convicts were brought to a mine in Briceville in July 1891, miners and business leaders met to plan a response.

Miners captured the stockades, sent convicts and guards on trains to Knoxville, and telegraphed Gov. Buck Buchanan informing him that convicts were no longer be allowed to take jobs from miners. The Coal Creek War then spread to convict mines in Oliver Springs, Tracy City, and Inman, Tennessee.

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 1891.

Location. 36° 12.883′ N, 84° 10.017′ W. Marker is in Rocky Top, Tennessee, in Anderson County. It is on Vowell Mountain Lane. Marker is located on Militia Hill. 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); Fort Anderson (here, next to this marker); Why Miners Fought

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(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.

Also see . . . Coal Creek War. (Submitted on March 11, 2017, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee.)

Photographed by Tom Bosse, March 4, 2017

2. Coal Creek War Marker

Photographed by Tom Bosse

3. Coal Creek War Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on March 13, 2017. It was originally submitted on March 11, 2017, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 1,060 times since then and 70 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 11, 2017, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.