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

Breastworks

Photographed by Tom Bosse, March 4, 2017

1. Breastworks Marker

Inscription. Soldiers of the Tennessee National Guard became easy targets for miners positioned on higher ground after trees were cut from Fort Anderson. Convicts then dug these breastworks to provide cover from attacking miners.

War correspondents from national news publications such as the New York Times, Washington Post, and Harper's Weekly magazine convinced soldiers to pose for photographs by standing guard over convicts during construction of the breastworks. Accidental discharge of his rifle by one of the soldiers killed a convict and put an end to the practice of posing for photographs.

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.

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: Militia Hill (here, next to this marker); American Chestnuts (here, next to this marker); Fire on Coal Creek

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(here, next 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.

Photographed by Tom Bosse, March 4, 2017

2. Breastworks Marker

Tennessee National Guard in Fort Anderson on Militia Hill. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tom Bosse

3. Tennessee National Guard in Fort Anderson on Militia Hill.

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 631 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 26, 2017, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.