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

Militia Hill

Photographed by Tom Bosse, March 4, 2017

1. Militia Hill Marker

Inscription. Fort Anderson was built here on Militia Hill in January 1892 as a base for the Tennessee National Guard to protect convict laborers and restore order. Hostilities escalated with as many as 2500 miners from Tennessee and Kentucky participating in the Coal Creek War.

In retaliation, troops fired on the town of Coal Creek (now Lake City), as can be seen through the Wye Gap in Walden Ridge to the east. Soldiers remained here until late 1893 when the state legislature appropriated funds to build Brushy Mountain State Prison, thus ending the convict lease system in 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 1892.

Location. 36° 12.883′ N, 84° 10.017′ W. Marker is in Rocky Top, Tennessee, in Anderson County. It is on Vowell Mountain Lane, on the left when traveling north. 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: Breastworks (here, next to this marker); American Chestnuts (here, next to this marker); Fire on Coal Creek (here, next

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to this marker); State Coal Mine (here, next to this marker); Siege on Fort (here, next to this marker); Ghosts of Convict Miners (here, next to this marker); Fort Anderson (here, next to this marker); Why Miners Fought (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 26, 2017, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee.)

Photographed by Tom Bosse, March 4, 2017

2. Militia Hill Marker

Militia Hill image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tom Bosse

3. Militia Hill

1892 view from Militia Hill overlooking the town of Coal Creek (later Lake City, now Rocky Top) during the Coal Creek War.

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

Photographed by Tom Bosse, March 4, 2017

4. Fort Anderson on Militia Hill

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

Photographed by Tom Bosse, March 4, 2017

5. Fort Anderson on Militia Hill

The National Register of Historic Places.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 13, 2017. It was originally submitted on March 26, 2017, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 1,381 times since then and 90 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on March 26, 2017, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.