Near Indian Springs in Catoosa County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

Old Federal Road

Photographed by David Seibert, June 29, 2008

1. Old Federal Road Marker

Inscription.
For the last eight miles this highway has followed closely the course of the Old Federal Road northeast Georgia’s earliest vehicular thoroughfare and first postal route. It led this way from the southeast Cherokee boundry, in the direction of Athens, Georgia, via Tate, Talking Rock, Spring Place and Ringgold, running toward Nashville, Tennessee. The Indians granted formal rights to open the trace in the 1805 Treaty of Tellico, Tennessee. Another prong of the route led toward Ramhurst, toward Knoxville, Tenn.

At this point the old route bore left, toward Rossville, passing just south of the road intersection ahead.

Erected 1992 by Georgia Department of Natural Resources. (Marker Number 023-6.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Georgia Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1805.

Location. 34° 57.9′ N, 85° 10.652′ W. Marker is near Indian Springs, Georgia, in Catoosa County. It is on Old Dixie Highway (U.S. 41) 0.2 miles north of Haggard Road, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Ringgold GA 30736, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Georgia’s Mountains. It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Deep South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

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 original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers.

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At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: 84th Indiana Infantry (approx. 2.2 miles away); a different marker also named 84th Indiana Infantry (approx. 2.3 miles away); Civil War in Tennessee (approx. 2.7 miles away in Tennessee); First Skirmish at Chickamauga (approx. 2.7 miles away); Reed's Bridge (approx. 3.3 miles away); 2nd Illinois Light Artillery (approx. 3.4 miles away); 86th Illinois Infantry (approx. 3.4 miles away); 125th Illinois Infantry (approx. 3.4 miles away).

Another marker is no longer nearby. 4th Michigan Cavalry (was approx. 3.4 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, circa 1993

2. Old Federal Road Marker

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, September 25, 2022

3. Old Federal Road Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on August 4, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 6, 2008, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. This page has been viewed 1,532 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on October 6, 2008, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. 2. submitted on October 7, 2020, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. 3. submitted on September 25, 2022, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.